CINNAMON FOR YOUR HEART

 According to scientists, you are three times more likely to stay active and independent well into your 90s if you keep your heart and arteries healthy. The simple spice, cinnamon, can help you with that! According to scientists at the University of Tennessee, cinnamon can help balance blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides; nourishes heart tissues and prevent plaque buildup in arteries. Before you get too excited, this means you should add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to your daily diet and your heart could be beating more strongly in as little as two weeks. No mention was made to suggest cinnamon rolls would be helpful!

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CORONARY CALCIUM SCORING

Have you ever heard of Coronary Calcium Scoring? Personally, I had not or had never paid attention, if I had. A few years ago, during a routine exam with my cardiologist, he suggested that due to my heart disease family history, a heart attack at a young age, high cholesterol, etc, I have this scoring test. At the time and probably still, insurance did not cover this $100 test. I told my doctor, I would skip the test. My daughter, who was with me, told him to schedule it and she would pay. We argued and I ended up having the test. It's a good thing I did. My test showed significant artery plaque, he started me on a new medication. I had a check up with him last week. He told me the medications are working and my 'bad' cholesterol number has dropped.

Below are some heart health facts you should consider:

• Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in developed countries.
• Each year, over 1.5 million heart attacks occur in the United States.
• Annually, heart attacks account for over 500,000 deaths in the United States.
• The progression of atherosclerotic heart disease can be halted or potentially reversed when found early.