Connecting Those With Heart Defects to Needed Care

and safe over the years.

“Although most individuals with CHDs require lifelong congenital cardiac care, many children and adults experience gaps in care for several years or more,” says Dr. Sherry Farr from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Whether these lapses are due to loss of insurance, financial barriers or an inaccurate belief that their heart defect has ‘been cured,’physicians that these patients see for other reasons can facilitate continuity of cardiac care.”

(StatePoint) Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defects and doctors and affected families can help ensure that individuals with CHDs receive lifelong congenital cardiac care to stay healthy.

In 2010, it was estimated that approximately 1 million children and 1.4 million adults were living with a CHD in the United States. However, about 60% of individuals with CHDs don’t see a congenital cardiology specialist after age 18 for follow-up.

Congenital cardiology care is essential, even for those who are not currently experiencing symptoms. In addition to the need to manage the CHD, affected individuals remain at risk for developing acquired cardiac conditions of adulthood. These include a range of potentially serious conditions such as arrhythmias, atherosclerotic heart disease, congestive heart failure, endocarditis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and pulmonary hypertension.

According to advocates, a primary care physician is often the only doctor a patient sees, making it critical that patients disclose their CHD to their their doctors, and for doctors to help ensure they get the specialized care they need to stay healthy

Dr. Farr suggests that physicians start the conversation with patients by asking them if they ever had heart problems. After learning that a patient has a heart defect, they should then emphasize the need for continuous care, even in cases where patients feel well. Doctors should be prepared to both explain the vital role of congenital cardiologists and provide a referral for a specialist in the area. Patients with CHDs should share their health history at their appointment and be ready to ask questions and seek referrals.

The new CHD Awareness Toolkit from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers resources to help physicians connect people with heart defects to the care they need. It includes materials for pediatricians and family physicians (who treat children), internal medicine physicians and family physicians (who treat adults), obstetrician-gynecologists and emergency room physicians. To learn more or to download the toolkit, visit aap.org/CHDcare.

People with heart defects need lifelong congenital cardiac care. By getting the conversation started, patients and physicians can help ensure continuity of care.

Ranchero

Shepherd’s Pie

8 ounces extra-lean ground turkey or beef

1/2 cup chunky salsa

1 cup (one 8-ounce can) tomato sauce

Brown sugar substitute to equal 1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 cups (one 16-ounce can) French-cut green beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

2 cups water

2 cups instant potato flakes

1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder

3/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon chili seasoning

1/4teaspoon black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with olive oil-flavored cooking spray.

2. In a large skillet sprayed with olive oil-flavored cooking spray, brown meat. Stir in salsa,tomato sauce and brown sugar substitute. Add green beans and half of Cheddar cheese. Mix well to combine. Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking dish.

3. In a medium saucepan,bring water to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in potato flakes and dry milk powder. Add yogurt,parsley flakes,chili seasoning,black pepper and remaining Cheddar cheese. Mix gently to combine. Spread potato mixture evenly over meat mixture.

4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Place baking dish on wire rack and let set for 5 minutes. Divide into 6 servings. • Each serving equals:209 calories, 5g fat,16g protein,25g carb.,358mg sodium,2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges:2 Meat,1 1/2 Vegetable, 1 Starch.

Healthy Cheesecake

As we lightened up this Big Apple classic,we decided on a new motto: If we can fake cheesecake here,we can fake it anywhere. And we did, cutting nearly 200 calories,21 grams of fat and 141 milligrams of cholesterol,simply by using low-fat and fatfree dairy products and streamlining the crust.

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons trans-fat-free vegetable oil spread,melted

3 packages (8-ounce) reducedfat cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 1/2pints fat-free sour cream

1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 large egg whites

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. In 9-inch springform pan,stir crumbs with spread until moistened. With hand, firmly press mixture onto bottom of pan. Bake crust 15 minutes or until deep golden. Cool 5 minutes on wire rack.

2. Meanwhile,in large bowl,with mixer on medium speed,beat cream cheese until smooth. Combine sugar and cornstarch. Slowly beat sugar mixture into cream cheese. On low speed,beat in sour cream and vanilla. Add eggs and egg whites,1 at a time, until blended.

3. Pour batter over crust in pan. Bake cheesecake 1 hour. Edge will be set,but center will still jiggle. Turn oven off; let cheesecake remain in oven 1 hour. Transfer to wire rack. Run thin knife around edge of cheesecake to prevent cracking during cooling. Cool in pan,about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Remove side of pan to serve. Serves 16.

• Each serving:About 255 calories, 13g total fat (7g saturated),59mg cholesterol,250mg sodium,26g total carbohydrate,8g protein. For thousands of triple-tested recipes,visit our Web site at www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipe finder/.

1. U.S. STATES:What is the highest capital city in the United States?

2. SLOGANS:What was Woodsy Owl’s message from the federal government?

3. RELIGION:When is Maundy Thursday in the Christian religion?

4. MUSIC:What entertainer has been called “The Man from Memphis”?

5. DISCOVERIES:Who is credited with discovering streptomycin?

6. U.S. PRESIDENTS:Which president had a pet badger?

7. MATH:What is the decimal equivalent of the fraction one-third?

8. MOVIES:What film features the theme park “Walley World”?

9. GEOGRAPHY:Where is the Lombardy region?

10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does a sphygmomanometer measure?

Answers

1. Santa Fe,N.M. (7,000 feet above sea level)

2. “Give a hoot,don’t pollute!”

3. Thursday before Easter,marking the Last Supper

4. Elvis Presley

5. Selman A. Waksman

6. Theodore Roosevelt (“Josiah”)

7. .3333

8. “National Lampoon’s Vacation”

9. Northern Italy

10. Blood pressure

1. How many teams did David Cone pitch for during his 17-season majorleague career?

2. Who was the only 20-game winner for the Montreal Expos?

3. Name the former member of the NFL’s Cardinals to most recently be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

4. Who was the first Division I men’s basketball player to lead the nation in scoring and rebounding in the same season?

5. Name the youngest defenseman in New York Rangers history.

6. Who was the last runner to be a three-time winner of the New York City Marathon?

7. How many career victories did Nancy Lopez have on the LPGA Tour?

Answers

1. Five (Kansas City,New York Mets,Toronto,New York Yankees, Boston).

2. Ross Grimsley went 20-11 in 1978.

3. Cornerback Roger Wehrli in 2007.

4. Xavier McDaniel averaged 27.2 points and 14.8 rebounds a game for Wichita State in 1984-85.

5. Dave Maloney was 18 when he played for the Rangers during the 1974-75 season.

6. Alberto Salazar won it three consecutive years,1980-82.

7. She won 48 times.