Lots a controversy about @artificialsweeteners, mostly about screwing up your appetite.  Here's an interesting study about Splenda - have a splenda sweetened beverage and eat almost 40% more!  But only if you are overweight or obese!  Not a great weight management strategy!! https://www.mdedge.com/clinicalendocrinologynews/article/164312/obesity/sucralose-sparks-appetite-obese-not-lean

Dr Bruce talks about the MCG and how it could be useful in so many areas of health.
​Note- cuts off at the end.  ~24 minutes.

The weekend ended with the Grammys.  Always an interesting show - usually some stellar, once in a lifetime performances (see Michael Jackson, and my all-time favorite, Mary J Blige​).  Though this show wasn't killer, the speech that accompanied Logic's suicide prevention anthem was very powerful - I've included it below.  

These two experiences coming close together really speak to the power of music, but also the importance of each individual, the struggles we all face every day, and the difficulties many have just coping.  Music has the ability to evoke extraordinary emotions.  These emotions can also be used to our advantage, improving our sense of well-being and generally improving our moods.  

Today our biggest challenges come from how we respond to the constant assaults we face in all walks of life.  Five pillars need attention - diet, activity, sleep, stress management and love.  If we are inadequately attending to any of these, the structure of our body will start to fail.  

If you know people who are left out, whatever that looks like, try to reach out and provide some support.  You really will never know the difference you can make - even the slightest effort can manifest huge rewards for all involved.

Be well and be kind.

This patient was forced by his family to address the fact that he could be at risk for a heart attack.  What we found almost certainly will save his life!  
The MCG is THE BEST WAY to KNOW the STATE OF YOUR HEART!

It turns out that Dr. John Warner, President of the AHA, was unable to continue his hosting of the last American Heart Association's scientific sessions not because he had a "mild" heart attack as was previously reported.  In fact, as reported now in a American Heart Association PSA - Dr. Warner DIED the second morning of the scientific session, and realistically is only alive today because he DIED in a hotel filled with physicians responsive enough and skilled in delivering near immediate life-saving CPR.  The PSA makes the important point about more people taking the opportunity to learn how to do CPR.  You see, only 32% of people who have an episode of what's called SUDDEN DEATH receive CPR outside the hospital.  So there's lots of opportunity for improvement on that front.  The sorry statistic that is left out, though, is the fact that only 8% of people survive their out of hospital episode of SUDDEN DEATH.  Even if we got everyone CPR, we'd only have about 25% of folks back from the dead.  So why wait until they're dead?

The said truth is that the current standard of care does a terrible job of identifying people at risk for sudden cardiac death.  However, that is NOT the STATE OF THE ART care, just the standard.  There are technologies available to give us a better leg up - I talked about some of those in my previous blog from December.  

Do not rely on the standard of care to keep you safe - you owe it to yourself to identify your risks, your underlying conditions that remain undiscovered (and unexplored), and to take action once the information is available.  While I would love if you would consider letting me assist in that discovery, I am only asking that you start the process. TAKE ACTION!  The chances of surviving the "mild" heart attack just isn't very good.