JOHNSTOWN — Last week at this time, I was overloading on information about heart catheterization, balloon angioplasty, implanted defibrillators, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and all forms of heart condition.

As I said, learning a little about virtually anything has always compelled me to check out additional information and tidbits on the subject.

But in the case of last week's theme, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, the interest was purely academic. I don't have heart disease and have no plans to start treating patients.

This week's theme, risk factors and prevention of heart disease, sparks a personal interest – as it should for all of us.

So again, I find myself immersed in gathering information – even though I've saved unused notes several previous interviews that included extensive discussion of risk factors and prevention measures. I thought about splitting the important subject over the last two Sundays of American Heart Month, but I want to devote the final package of stories to early prevention: Childhood obesity and tobacco prevention education initiatives.

And to top it off, I again allowed myself to get caught up in the Special Olympics Winter Games and spent extra time on the speed skating assignment. I hope it was worth it, because I am really inspired by the athletes, especially Hillary McFadden. Here's a link to the truncated story and full video:

Hillary McFadden story

I still managed to get a couple of worthwhile interviews completed yesterday for the Heart Month Project. I talked to exercise physiologist Gary Pagano at Windber Medical Center and a woman who lost 40 pounds and established an exercise routine to reduce her risk.

All that is my weak excuse for not posting to this blog yesterday.

Today, I crashed the Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Chamber of Commerce Women's Information Network luncheon, featuring a program by Joe Shetler, an exercise physiologist and nutritionist with Conemaugh Health System.

Although Shetler's weight-loss presentation did not specifically address heart health, obesity and sedentary lifestyle are two major risk factors I am addressing for the weekend package. His information about the importance of combining exercise and caloric intake reduction, commonly called dieting, provided some scientific background for the risk factor story.

And Pagano is always a wealth of fitness information.

Since I started getting serious about this heart-healthy lifestyle last year, I keep learning about new words and new foods. Some of them are just fun to say. They make my tongue feel good:

Quinoa – pronounced KEEN-wah, but kin-OH-ah is also accepted – is often cited as a superfood – high in both fiber and important proteins. It is a whole grain the cooks up like tiny rice. My Lovely Bride and I like to include it with rice in pilaf – sometimes with fish.

Edamame (ed-uh-MAH-mee), which is a Japanese word for soybeans picked just before they harden. As a snack or soup, they are also a good source of protein and fiber.

Then there is “inulin,” which usually comes from chicory root and is used as an additive to make foods high in fiber. It can be listed as “chicory root fiber” or “chicory root extract.” It is a little more controversial than some of the other healthy food “discoveries” because some feel the naturally occurring starch has been altered through manufacturing with unknown side effects, Patty Donovan wrote on the Natural News website.

My busy schedule with Special Olympics and Heart Month work yesterday also pushed my daily walking schedule aside. I only managed about 10 minutes on the Windber HealthStyles track while I waited for Pagano to finish a telephone conference.

I didn't eat at the women's luncheon, although the Holiday Inn buffet and desserts looked delicious as usual. I think I could have created a healthy lunch, sans dessert, but I didn't really have time to eat and take notes.

So I grabbed a fast-food veggie wrap on the way to Windber for an interview with one of the Windber Research Institute's cardiovascular risk clinic participants. He lost about 20 pounds and brought his cholesterol levels into the health range.

I did save 30 minutes of my lunch hour to complete my daily walk on the HealthStyles track, confirming the 30-minute brisk walk should cover about two miles at my pace.

Here is a link to the complete blog:

Johnstown Health Care Beat

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