INVOKANA is the only diabetes treatment in Canada approved to treat this patient group

TORONTO , Jan. 28, 2020 /CNW/ - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today that following a Priority Review, Health Canada has approved INVOKANA (canagliflozin) as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and standard-of-care therapy, to reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), doubling of serum creatinine, and cardiovascular (CV) death in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy (also known as diabetic kidney disease) with albuminuria (>33.9mg/mmol).1

Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (CNW Group/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson)

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in Canada ; up to one in two people with diabetes will experience signs of kidney damage in their lifetime.2Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is progressive and if left untreated, can lead to dialysis or kidney transplant.3In addition, people living with diabetic kidney disease are at a high risk for heart attack and stroke.4

"This is an important advancement given the increased prevalence of diabetic kidney disease in those living with type 2 diabetes," said Adeera Levin, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.C.P., C.M., Head, Division of Nephrology, Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia , Executive Director, BC Provincial Renal Agency and CREDENCE National Lead Investigator for Canada .** "With this new indication for INVOKANA, physicians are now able to offer a treatment option that reduces the cardiovascular and kidney risks associated with diabetic kidney disease."

The new indication is based on results from the landmark Phase 3 CREDENCE study, the first dedicated renal outcomes study of any sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. In CREDENCE, INVOKANA added to standard-of-care therapy demonstrated a 30 per cent reduction in the risk of the primary composite endpoint, comprised of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), doubling of serum creatinine and renal or CV death, compared to standard-of-care therapy alone.5Results also showed INVOKANA reduced the risk of secondary CV endpoints, including a 31 per cent reduction in the risk of the composite of CV death or hospitalization for heart failure, a 20 per cent reduction in MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events; composite of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI] and nonfatal stroke), and a 39 per cent reduction in the risk of hospitalization for heart failure alone. Importantly, the study showed no imbalance in lower limb amputations or bone fractures and no new safety concerns were identified in this study of high-risk renal patients.

About CREDENCECREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) is a randomized, double-blind, event-driven, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 2-arm, multicentre trial that evaluated 4,401 patients with type 2 diabetes, Stage 2 or 3 chronic kidney disease (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 30 to <90 mL/min/ 1.73 m 2) and macroalbuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [ACR] >33.9 mg/mmol to 565.6 mg/mmol). All patients in the trial were receiving standard-of-care therapy, including a maximum tolerated labeled daily dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB).

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ABOUT INVOKANAINVOKANA is an oral, once-daily prescription treatment used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.6 INVOKANA belongs to a class of medications called sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, which offer a novel approach to treating type 2 diabetes by increasing the excretion of glucose in the urine, resulting in a reduction of blood glucose.7 INVOKANAhas been studied in more than 18,000 patients with type 2 diabetesacross 14 double-blind, controlled Phase 3 and Phase 4 clinical trials.

INVOKANAwas approved by Health Canada on May 23, 2014 as monotherapy or in combination with other antihyperglycemic agents as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. INVOKANA received Health Canada approval for reduction of therisk of major adverse cardiovascular events on October17, 2018and was approved as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and standard-of-care therapyto reduce the risk of ESKD, doubling of serum creatinine, and CV death in adults with type2 diabetes and diabetickidney diseaseon January 24,2020.8INVOKANAis currently approved as a single agent in 79 countries.

Common side effects reported with INVOKANAinclude vaginal yeast infection, hypoglycemia, yeast infection of the penis, urinary tract infection, increased urination, constipation, skin ulcer, nausea and thirst.

Please consult the Product Monograph available at http://www.janssen.com/canada/products for important information relating to:

Canagliflozin is licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation. Trademarks are those of their respective owners.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & JohnsonAt Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Learn more at http://www.janssen.com/canada. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/JanssenCanada. Janssen Inc. is one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

*All trademark rights used under license.

**Dr. Levin was not compensated for any media work. She has been compensated as a consultant.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding INVOKANA. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Inc., any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2018 , including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.jnj.comor on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

References

SOURCE Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

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Health Canada Approves New Indication for INVOKANA* (canagliflozin) to Reduce the Risks Associated with Diabetic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type...

You hit the gym and eat well during the day. Then at night, there's so much else to do everything except sleep. But just like you need to invest in your fitness and food intake, you also need to catch the right amount of zzzs, especially if you're trying to build muscle.

Sleep and muscle growth go hand in hand, and not getting enough shut-eye can sabotage your workouts.

Credit: PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages

"Diet, exercise and sleep are the pillars of health and the key to building muscle," Kasey Nichols, NMD, a doctor of naturopathic medicine who specializes in sleep disorders, tells LIVESTRONG.com. "Without one of these pillars, your muscle-building routine will be suboptimal at best and permanently damaging at worst."

After a strenuous strength-training session, your muscles are in need of repair. When we sleep, our bodies are flooded with muscle-building, or anabolic, hormones including insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and testosterone, which help build and repair the damage, Nichols says.

"Missing sleep or not getting enough disrupts the amount and timing of anabolic hormone secretion, which means that you will not get the growth and strength increases you work so hard for at the gym," Nichols says.

A December 2017 study of over 10,000 people in the Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions found that good sleep quality is associated with greater muscle strength, while sleeping fewer than six hours a night may be a risk factor for decreased muscle strength. The authors point out that the number of hours you sleep is important, but the quality of sleep you're getting each night matters just as much.

"Each phase of our sleep cycle contributes to muscular repair and growth in different ways. This is why it is important to not just sleep enough but to sleep well," says Sarah Ray, a National Strength and Conditioning Association-certified trainer and head of business at Volt Athletics. "If you are breezing through or missing stages of sleep due to poor sleep environments, you're not optimizing the recovery window."

How much sleep is enough? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends adults get seven or more hours of sleep per night. If you happen to have a spare hour in the day and the choice between a full night of sleep and an extra hour of exercise, choose the sleep, says Sujay Kansagra, MD, doctor of neurology and sleep medicine, director of the Duke Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and Mattress Firm's sleep health expert.

"If you don't sleep, your workouts are likely to not be as effective anyway, since you won't perform as well," Dr. Kansagra says. "Sleep deprivation lowers motivation to exercise. It can also negatively impact exercises that require persistent effort for long periods of time."

A systematic review published March 2018 in Sports Medicine looked at 10 sleep intervention studies and concluded that getting more sleep was the intervention most beneficial to athletic performance.

And according to a February 2015 study in Sports Medicine, sleep deprivation causes a nervous system imbalance and ultimately slower and less-accurate cognitive performance, such as slower reaction times and suboptimal endurance, which are detrimental to any fitness performance.

Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages

Sleep is serious business for making fitness gains, so how can you make sure you're doing it right? Nichols and Dr. Kansagra have some tips for getting the most out of your shut-eye.

1. Make the Most of Your Morning

"Getting plenty of bright light in the morning helps keep your sleep timing on track, particularly if you have to wake up very early," Dr. Kansagr says.

In addition to letting the sunshine in, he recommends working out in the early hours of the day instead of after dark: "The increase in body temperature from exercise tends to be prolonged, sometimes making it hard to fall asleep."

"Having a scheduled time to go to bed and wake up is an underutilized strategy to get a quality night's sleep," Nichols says. "Our bodies are set by an internal clock structure that organizes our sleep-wake cycles. Sleeping and waking at the exact time each night helps to more effectively set this cycle."

3. Say No to the Nightcap

A glass of wine before bed sounds relaxing, right? Not so fast alcohol can actually disrupt your sleep, as evidenced by that unrested, foggy feeling you get the next morning.

In fact, an August 2019 study in Sleep found that consuming alcohol within four hours of bedtime resulted in restless, low-quality sleep. One of the reasons for this feeling is that alcohol suppresses melatonin production in the brain, Nichols explains.

"Melatonin is one of our primary sleep hormones. Try to avoid alcohol a few hours before going to bed to ensure you're getting the highest quality sleep," he says.

Instead of relaxing after a long day with a glass of your favorite alcohol, Nichols recommends trying a 30-minute meditation session before bed.

4. Make Bedtime Screen-Free

The television, tablet and cell phone they're all very tempting when you're curling up in bed. They're also one of the most common reasons people don't get enough quality sleep, Nichols says.

"We've all done it stayed up late into the night because we got stuck in a black hole of Youtube videos, Instagram swipes or binging our favorite television shows," he says. "We need to prioritize our sleep, which means making our bedrooms a place where we only sleep, and that is electronic-free."

More:
Sleep and Muscle Growth: Why You Need Sleep to Get Fit - LIVESTRONG.COM

The moment your doctor first said the words rheumatoid arthritis, a million questions probably went through your head. What does this mean for my future? Will I be able to work or raise a family? Will I ever feel like I did before my symptoms began?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the joints and other parts of the body. This causes painful inflammation in the joints as well as the eyes, mouth, skin, lungs and blood. Other symptoms include fatigue, stiffness and low-grade fever. There is no cure, but there are several medication options and lifestyle habits that can help (such as diet, exercise and reducing stress).

Every person with RA has a unique experience, and not even a doctor can tell you exactly what your journey will entail. But sneaking even a glimpse of what other RA warriors have experienced and learned since they were diagnosed can help you feel more prepared for the roller-coaster ride of RA.

Related: How Rheumatoid Arthritis Changed My Relationship With Pain

We asked our Mighty RA community to share what they wish they knew when they were diagnosed with RA bits of knowledge that might have made their path a little less bumpy, or that would have reassured them and shown them that what theyre feeling is completely normal. Consider the following list your RA cheat sheet. If youve just been diagnosed, youre now ahead of the game.

Because RA includes the word arthritis, many people assume the condition only targets the joints. However, RA is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation not only in the joints, but other body systems as well, including the eyes, skin, mouth, lungs, heart, and blood. Fatigue and low-grade fever are also common.

[I wish I knew] how many other things apart from joints are affected. I really thought it just meant having a few stiff joints like you normally hear about arthritis but its so much more than that, it affects almost everything. Natalie P.

Related: Fighting the 'Stoner Stigma' as a Medical Cannabis Patient

Again, because of its association with arthritis, people often dismiss kids who exhibit RA symptoms. Doctors might have told you your symptoms were just growing pains or misdiagnosed you with another condition. Not only is it possible to develop RA as a child or teen, but its also common enough that theres a name for it: juvenile idiopathic arthritis. An estimated 300,000 kids and teens in the U.S. are affected by JIA, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

[I wish I knew] that young people could get it too. I kept being told I couldnt have those issues because I was too young for that and I ended up internalizing that idea. I wish someone told me illnesses dont care whether youre young or old, theyll still get you. Nicole S.

Some people find that with the right medications, their symptoms are drastically reduced, giving them the ability to lead a relatively normal life. On the other hand, certain medications can have absolutely no effect or make you feel worse. The point is, its important to take medications seriously. Dont stop taking them without a doctors approval, and know that if a certain medication isnt working for you, there may be another that will work.

Related: 7 'Red Flags' You Need a New Rheumatologist

I wish my doctor had expressed the severity of everything and that if we found the right med combo that I had a chance to go into remission. Twice I quit the meds due to side effects and I wish a nurse or someone had called me and told me the importance ofthe meds and staying under a doctors care. Meredith I.

Many people with RA find that fatigue affects their quality of life just as much as the joint pain. Fatigue can make you feel like youve run a marathon even though its only noon and prevent you from working, spending time with friends and exercising. People who dont live with chronic illnesses may think youre just tired and will feel better after a nap, but fatigue typically isnt resolved with a few extra hours of sleep.

Not everybody will understand about the rest days or the fatigue that strikes. Julie R.

[I wish I knew] that I would experience unpredictable episodes of extreme fatigue that extra rest and/or sleep will not cure. Genevieve M.

Lifestyle habits dont cause RA, and changing up your eating or exercise habits wont cure it. However, some find that eating a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet, quitting smoking, prioritizing sleep, reducing stress, and staying as physically active as possible helps minimize their symptoms. Talk with your doctor about strategies that make sense for your body.

Growing up I wish I had known more about implementing a healthy lifestyle (eating the right foods, staying in shape, etc.) when I was younger and it wouldnt be as hard now. Montana F.

Lets say it together: You did not cause your RA! In fact, scientists still dont know exactly what causes RA, though factors like gender, age and family history can contribute. Rather than spending energy feeling guilty about what you must have done to cause your RA, its more productive to focus on managing the condition as best you can.

[I wish I knew] that other kids had JRA as bad as I did, and that having the disease wasnt my fault. Alyson K.

There are a few blood tests physicians use to help diagnose RA. These tests look for the presence of antibodies that signify you have high levels of inflammation in your body. These tests include rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, ESR and CRP. These tests, combined with your symptoms and imaging scans, contribute to an RA diagnosis. However, just because you do not test positive for RA, does not necessarily mean you dont have it. If you still exhibit the symptoms of RA, you might have seronegative RA, which means you dont have the antibodies that usually indicate seropositive RA. Make sure you see a rheumatologist who understands this possibility (as well as the possibility of testing positive for RA, but actually having a different autoimmune disease like Sjogrens syndrome).

Wish I knew my bloodwork didnt have to be positive to RA. Danielle F.

If you have one autoimmune disease, you are at risk for developing another (or two). Experts think genetics may be at least partially to blame since one gene could be linked to several different autoimmune diseases. Exposure to environmental factors could be another trigger. About 25% of people with autoimmune diseases have a tendency to develop additional autoimmune diseases, according to research.

[I wish I knew] that I could be more prone to other autoimmune diseases as well. I am at three now. Dani L.

Since RA causes your immune system to attack healthy tissues, some drugs treat RA by targeting the parts of the immune system that cause inflammation. As a result, a common side effect is a weakened immune system and greater susceptibility to illness since youre less able to fight germs.

If youre taking medications that lower your immune system, youll want to take steps to avoid coming into contact with germs; for example, by frequent hand-washing and staying away from people who are sick.

If anyone suggests that RA is no big deal or can be easily cured, they must not know anyone living with RA. Far more than just joint pain, the condition often forces you to limit or alter activities you used to do with ease. Its only natural to experience some anxiety and/or depression while you come to terms with your diagnosis. Theres no shame in reaching out to friends, family, therapists and/or online support groups for help.

I wish I knew my life was going to change completely. Most people dont understand what RA really does to a person. I have found people that think and they have told me that RA is curable. Its very frustrating trying to explain them. They think they know more than my rheumatologist. Janeth G.

No two people with RA are exactly alike, and one medication can work amazingly well for one person and have no effect on someone else. Thats why its important to find a rheumatologist who is willing to try different treatment options and approach your relationship as a partnership. Settling for the first rheumatologist you meet, even if they arent enthusiastic about finding the best treatment for you, could mean you miss out on helpful disease management strategies.

I wish someone would have told me that a relationship with my rheumatologist was a beneficial step in my care. Finding a rheumatologist who believes we are a team and hears me out is so important to my overall care. Knowing me as a person and not just a patient humanizes my appointments. Elaine W.

Check out these stories for more insight on RA from our Mighty community:

Tatum O'Neal's Honest Photo Reveals the Painful Side Effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis

An Important Message to Doctors Who Treat Young Patients With Chronic Illnesses

What I Want Others to Understand About Life With Chronic Illness

See the rest here:
11 Things People Wish They Knew When They Were Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Yahoo Lifestyle

Half of Irish workers say their job leaves them too tired to exercise.

That is according to a new Mater Private report into the health and wellbeing of employees.

500 adult workers were surveyed about their attitudes towards diet, exercise and work life balance as part of this Healthy Working report.

It found one in four spend more than six hours a day sitting, and over half do not have the energy to exercise after a day's work.

The research also found that roughly seven in 10 employees experience stress at work, while four in ten claim they have suffered from 'burnout' at some point.

Mary Morrogh from the Mater Private Wellness programme says in many cases, health can take a backseat:

"We found that only 45% of people will go to their GP for a frequent check-up despite the fact that over 40% of people might have a serious illness," she said.

"The average spend of an Irish employee on personal health and well-being was only 2, which is less than a cup of coffee, just about the price of a newspaper every day."

She is encouraging people to create more healthy habits like to walk more and sit less.

She is also encouraging employers to introduce workplace benefits like healthy lunches, on-site health checks or subsidised health insurance.

Read this article:
Jobs leaving half of workers too tired to exercise - BreakingNews.ie

My name is Frances Carpenter (@isfrannyfityet), and I'm a 30-year-old executive assistant in Riverside, California. At 331 pounds, I felt like my weight was holding me back in life, and I decided to commit to a healthy lifestyle. By following a low-carb diet, meal prepping, and trading emotional eating for gym time, I was able to lose 151 pounds.

Growing up, I would always turn to food to make myself feel better about any and every situation, good or bad. My childhood was full of dysfunction, which caused me to constantly overeat. Through adolescence and into high school I gained a lot of weight. I was around 200 pounds my senior year.

I moved to another state after graduation and gained even more weight over about seven years, and I found myself at my highest weight of 331 pounds. I would constantly eat fast food. I was a nonstop snacker, eating between every meal, and I always found myself eating late into the night.

I had limited physical ability when I was at my heaviest and I was very sad and depressed, so I continued to eat to soothe myself with food. It was an extremely hard cycle to break.

I was 26, and I was at my highest weight of 331 pounds. I was always tired because my weight was constantly interrupting my sleep.

I couldn't walk for long periods of time, and I couldn't comfortably fit in restaurant booths or movie theater seats. I was in a horrible place physically, but it was also hurting my mental state. I knew I wasn't living my life to its full potential, and there were so many things I wanted to experience without my weight being the first thing I always had to consider.

Low-carb has always been my go-to approach for weight loss. With my low-carb meal plan, I am able to eat decent-sized meals, feel energized, and lose weight all at the same time. There are so many great low-carb meal plans and recipes available to people now, and I know it will be my long-term lifestyle.

I also have a regular exercise schedule. I currently work out five days a week, alternating between different body parts. Three days a week I do 60 minutes of cardio, and the other two I do 30 minutes of cardio, which is usually the StairMaster. I also spent about three years doing CrossFit, which helped me build a workout routine and get stronger as well.

Before I started this journey, I wish I knew more about the emotional aspect of weight loss and how it would impact me. It's fun and exciting to lose weight, but I found myself having to deal with a lot of emotions, old and new. Before I lost my weight, I was using food to comfort myself and soothe past traumas, and I can no longer do that. Now, I have more time to think about and process things that before I would have shut out with foodbecause I'm not spending that time and energy eating. It's possible to get through it, but its a lot of work from the inside out.

My weight loss has changed me in ways that I did not know were possible. It has of course made me more confident in the looks department, but I have gained a new level of self-love. Even four years later, this lifestyle is still somewhat new considering how much of my life I spent obese. I choose myself now, and have made it my priority to never go back to my old ways. I have a new outlook on life and enjoy the little things that I so desperately wanted before.

More here:
'Meal Prepping And Discovering CrossFit Helped Me Escape A Vicious Cycle Of Emotional Eating' - Women's Health

Tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia when your heart rate is faster than normal. A healthy resting heart rate for most adults is between 60 and 90 beats per minute (bpm), but adults with tachycardia usually have a resting heart rate greater than 100 bpm.

Here's what you need to know about what causes the different types of tachycardia and when the condition is considered dangerous.

There are multiple types of tachycardia, which are categorized by where they originate in the heart. Some are not considered a danger to your health while others should be monitored closely. These include:

Many types of tachycardia can lead to emergency medical events, like sudden cardiac arrest, a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. But according to Solomon Sager, MD, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the Chicago Cardiology Institute, you might not even know you have it.

While those with tachycardia won't always notice, there are a few common symptoms. The first indicator is a heartbeat that feels too fast, which you can check by taking your pulse. Other symptoms may include heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness.

You're more likely to develop some form of tachycardia as you age. That's because structural changes in the heart may cause these abnormal heart rhythms over time, Sager says.

Patients who have a family history of tachycardia or congenital conditions at birth are at a higher risk. Certain health conditions are also associated with an increased risk, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and anxiety disorders.

With the help of wearable health trackers like the Apple Watch, more people are discovering they have tachycardia, even when they don't experience symptoms. Sager says you should take this kind of data seriously and follow up with your physician if anything is out of the ordinary.

Physicians treat tachycardia in a variety of ways, often involving critical lifestyle changes. Sager says people diagnosed with AFib are encouraged to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and treat underlying health issues, such as sleep apnea or diabetes. They should also cut down on alcohol and quit tobacco.

People with ventricular tachycardia more often require medication, surgery, or ablation. Doctors may prescribe antiarrhythmic medications to prevent arrhythmias from coming on, beta blockers to slow heart rate, and blood thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Patients who still have tachycardia despite medication may undergo catheter ablations. During this two- to four-hour procedure, a cardiologist guides a flexible wire into the heart that burns affected heart tissue using radiofrequency energy. This stops abnormal electrical signals with a 90% success rate in some types of tachycardia.

If you experience a prolonged or recurring high resting heart rate, along with other symptoms of tachycardia, you should go to the emergency room or call 911.

Read more from the original source:
What is tachycardia, and when a high heart rate is dangerous - Insider - INSIDER

When Ryan Grover sat down with Coach Philip Tabor at CrossFit Coordinate in Cary, North Carolina in April 2019, he had no idea he was about to embark on a journey that would help him lose nearly 100 lb. in just nine months.

The 29-year-old weighed 348 lb. at the time. Today, hes down to 250 lb.

The first thing Tabor got Grover to do was to come up a selfish reason he wanted to lose weight. After some soul searching, Grover had a breakthrough.

I never had a dad I could throw a ball with, or just go outside and play and be active with. And I realized that when its my turn to have kids, I dont want to be this way. Through conversation with (Tabor), we talked about what my dad was like, and it helped me realize what I wanted, Grover said.

Thus, what he really wantedhis real reason whywas to lose weight and become healthier and fitter so he could be a more capable father than his father was to him.

Identifying this purpose is a big part of what helped him stick to his commitment to exercise and clean eating in the months that followed, he explained.

The reason Tabor asks his clients to find their selfish reason is simple: Nobody loses weight for others. They might say it, but at the core we only make changes when they are selfish in nature, Tabor said.

Some people say (they want to be able to have) better sex. Others say (to live a) long life. One client did it because his dad just died and he was headed there next. But whatever the reason, its their reason and I keep that in front of them. It drives them, he added.

When people are able to find their deeper reason for wanting to lose weight and get healthy, theyre then able to change their identity and their perception of themselves, Tabor explained.

In Grovers case, it allowed him to shed the idea that he was an obese man, and start doing the things healthy, strong, fit people do, Tabor said.

Thats why the weight came off so fast, he added.

Clearly the approach works, as Grover is one of four clients at CrossFit Coordinate who have lost 100 lb. in the last year, while five others lost at least 60 lb.

A second key to Grovers success is having a coach to keep him on track, Grover explained.

The accountability part was the big piece for me, so I could do simple things like send (Tabor) pictures of my food. He would give me advice like, Next time. shrink the portion of potatoes. Having that constant nudge from someone has been really helpful to keep me on track, Grover said, adding that the nutrition coaching he received from Tabors wife Holly Tabor, also played an integral role.

Today, Grover no longer eats at fast food joints, and he doesnt overeat regularly like he used to. Instead, he mostly eats lean protein, a lot of vegetables and some starch.

And because Grover feels like he has made habit changesas opposed to embarking on a strict, short-term diethe said he knows these changes are here to stay.

It took a while to get used to the new routine, but now I dont have a lot of cravings. I do want a pizza every now and again, but I dont miss fast food. It actually hurts when I eat it because my body is working on a much cleaner diet, he said.

He added: Its definitely a lifestyle change. I dont want to go back.

The rest is here:
Ryan Grover Took Up CrossFit and Lost 98 Pounds in 2019 - BarBend

ARKPORT This time of year, were all looking for a fast and easy way to lose weight and theres no shortage of suspicious claims out there.

Fad diets create a buzz because they often promise just that. But anyone who is serious about losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle shouldnt be fooled. Katie Ferraro, MPH, RDN, CDE, nutrition expert for TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, provides five sound reasons to avoid the fad diets and eat sensibly instead.

Water Weight Is Not Fat Loss: The initial weight loss with most fad diets is water weight. It is easily gained back and then some when normal eating resumes.

Carbs Are Still King: Glucose is the preferred energy source for your body and brain. Healthy sources of carbohydrates, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are optimal to fuel your body. Keep in mind: Nobody ever gained weight from eating raw veggies.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Research indicates that 1 to 2 pounds per week is the ideal rate for sustainable weight loss. Your friends may be losing over 5 pounds per week, but they will likely regain that and more.

Your Diet Shouldnt Deprive You: To truly follow some of the craziest fad diets out there, you would never be able to eat at a restaurant or enjoy food at a social event. The way you choose to craft a healthy diet should fit into your real life rather than being a barrier to living a full life.

The Scale Isnt All That Matters: When you eat healthy foods and exercise more, not only does your weight drop, but other metabolic measurements, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar, will improve. A fad diet might help you shed pounds quickly, but if its raising your cholesterol and stressing you out, the weight loss isnt worth it.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded more than 70 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a Real People. Real Weight Loss. philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. TOPS has members male and female, age 7 and older in thousands of chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is $32 per year in the U.S. plus nominal chapter fees.

Local chapters meet in Arkport, Hornell, Canisteo, Dansville, Wellsville and Bath.

To find a local chapter, visit http://www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

Read more:
Local TOPS Club offers five reasons to forgo fad diets - Hornell Evening Tribune

Eric Gorder, For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 9:18 a.m. CT Jan. 24, 2020

Heart healthy foods include berries, avocado, whole grains and leafy greens.(Photo: Alicia Devine/Democrat)

As we burn through January at warp speed, we will soon embark on February, American Heart Month a month of focus on heart disease prevention.

While most everyone is still focused on their New Years resolutions, this is a great time to start thinking about and changing the foods you are putting into your bodies. Many articles will come out in February pertaining to what the top five, 10 or 15 foods are to strengthen and protect your heart. I thought it would be interesting and fun to take it a step further with those popular heart healthy foods and tell you why they are important for you.

Leafy greens are high in minerals, antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which helps protect arteries.

Whole grains are high in fiber, which is strongly linked to reducing bad cholesterol (LDL), and helps reduce inflammation.

Berries are super high in antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation which contribute to heart disease.

Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which also help lower bad LDL cholesterol. They are also super high in potassium aiding in cholesterol management.

Walnuts are another super food in that the high amount of monounsaturated fats help lower your bad LDL cholesterol.

Careful with this one! Dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, which help boost heart health, but only in small amounts and it needs to be 70% or higher in cocoa.

Tomatoes are another superfood in that they contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene that promotes HDL, good, cholesterol.

Seeds are surprisingly high in fiber. They also have omega-3 fatty acids which help control blood pressure and cholesterol.

Like dark chocolate, edamame are high in flavonoids which help to control overall cholesterol levels.

Known for its ability to increase fat burning and improve insulin sensitivity, green tea is also very high in polyphenols and catechins, helping to prevent cell damage and reduce inflammation.

Notice, all of these foods are whole, unprocessed and available year-round. There is also a common theme of high fiber, omega 3 fatty acids and plenty of phytochemicals that help balance your LDL and HDL for a healthier total cholesterol. Most are very impactful in small amounts and combined with moderate exercise and a complete diet low in sugar will help protect your heart, control your weight and have you bragging all the way home from your most recent health checkup.

Do yourself a favor and incorporate these foods into your daily meal plans. Youll set a great example for your family and bulletproof yourself from the leading cause of death in the United States heart disease.

Eric Gorder is the senior healthy living director for Greater Green Bay YMCA and a certified corrective exercise specialist. Reach him at 920-436-9667 or eric.gorder@greenbayymca.org.

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Why you need to include these heart healthy foods in your diet - Green Bay Press Gazette

Endurance training while consuming a diet low in carbohydrates has garnered much interest lately. But is this the right approach for everyone and how does it impact protein requirements and performance?

Assistant Professor Jenna Gillen and Associate Professor Daniel Mooreof the University of Torontos Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) recently wrote anarticle for the Sports Medicine Bulletin of the American College of Sports Medicine in which they discussed the findings of their recentresearch study, published in the November 2019 issue of the journalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise,that investigated the relationship between training on alow-carb dietand the dietary protein requirements of endurance athletes.

KPE writer Jelena Damjanovic recently sat down with Gillen and Moore to find out more about their research and what it means for training regimens.

Jenna Gillen(left) and Daniel Moore(right) are both researchers in U of Ts Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (photos courtesy of KPE)

How would you define a low-carb/high-fat diet vs. a high-carb/low-fat diet?

Gillen: A high-carb/low-fat diet typically involves consuming 50 to 65 per cent or more of daily calorie intake as carbohydrates and 20 to 35 per cent as fat. Alternatively, a low-carb/high-fat diet consists of less than 25 per cent of your daily calorie needs from carbohydrates and greater than 60 per cent coming from fat. Protein intake isnt specifically increased or decreased with either approach, and is generally similar with both dietary strategies.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of following a low-carb/high-fat diet for endurance athletes? How does it influence performance?

Gillen: The rationale for athletes following a low-carb/high-fat diet is that it can increase our muscles ability to use fat as an energy source during exercise, which is a fuel source that we have an abundant supply of compared to our more limited reserves of carbohydrate. However, this adaptation comes at a cost as there is also a decrease in muscles ability to use carbohydrates during exercise. From a performance standpoint, this isnt optimal because carbohydrates are a more efficient energy source than fat they produce more energy per litre of oxygen consumed and we rely almost exclusively on carbohydrate to support high-intensity exercise. As a result, eating a low-carb/high-fat diet can actually compromise an athletes overall performance and ability to perform high-intensity exercise during a race or sporting event.

Are there other ways that carbohydrate availability can be manipulated to improve endurance performance?

Gillen: Instead of following a low-carb/high-fat diet, athletes may choose to perform some of their endurance training sessions under conditions of low-carbohydrate availability. With this approach, athletes still consume high amounts of carbohydrate daily, for example 50 to 65 per cent of energy needs, or six to 10 grams ofcarbohydrate per kilogram body weight, but perform select training sessions at times when liver and muscle carbohydrate stores (glycogen) are lower. Examples would be performing exercise following an overnight fast and/or in close proximity to an earlier high-intensity exercise session. This type of carbohydrate periodization throughout training has been shown to increase energy-producing mitochondria in muscle and improve endurance performance.

What are the current recommendations for daily carbs, fat and protein intake among endurance athletes?

Moore: Recommended carbohydrates vary depending on the volume of training an athlete is doing. However, if they want to make sure their training is high quality, which would be fueled by carbohydrates because they are a faster, more efficient energy source, then theyd likely be in the range of sixto 10 g/kg/d. We speculate that protein requirements scale with training volume, but if theyre running more than 50 kilometres per week, that requirement would be around 1.6 to 1.8 g/kg/d and perhaps more with higher volumes. However, provided they are meeting their energy requirements, most endurance athletes consume sufficient protein. Fat generally just makes up the balance of the energy unless athletes are specifically eating low-carbohydrate diets. This is not suggested if their goal is to train or compete as fast as they can, as fat cant provide energy as quickly as carbohydrates.

Does following a low-carb diet increase dietary protein requirements of endurance athletes? How much more?

Moore: Our research would suggest requirements may indeed be elevated, at least during the initial adaptation to a low-carb diet. This is because amino acids provide a greater percentage of energy when exercise is performed with low-carbohydrate availability, such as before a meal and with low muscle and liver glycogen (the bodys carbohydrate stores). However, as mentioned, this is not recommended if theirgoal is to train or compete at a high intensity or perform a personal best. As for how much more protein is required, research has not addressed this question yet. Our study did suggest that just periodizing carbohydrate intake so that exercise is performed with low liver or muscle glycogen may increase protein requirements by about 10 per cent with only a short 10-kilometre run.

Why is it important to make that adjustment in protein intake (if on a low carb diet) and how best to do it?

Moore: It is important to increase your protein intake if you are training with low-carbohydrate availability as the extra amino acids that are used as energy must be replaced through the diet. This can be accomplished by modestly increasing the protein content of your post-workout meal or including an extra protein-containing snack throughout the day.

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Training on a low-carb diet boosts protein needs for endurance athletes: U of T researchers - News@UofT