Kitchener-Waterloo Oldtimers' Hockey Club Inc.

K-W Oldtimers' Hockey Club Inc. is now a Partner for Life and has made a pledge of
20 blood donations for the remainder of 2011

How can you help?

Donate blood on behalf of Oldtimers' @ have your donation counted towards our goal of 20 donations
Sign up online www.blood.ca/partnersforlife using ID#KWOL012436 or tell the front desk staff at the next clinic you attend!
Call 1-888-2-DONATE or visit www.blood.ca today & make your appointment to save a life!
If you are interested in booking a group appointment please contact Tara Gutscher at tara.gutscher@blood.ca or 519-884-5728

K-W Blood Donor Clinic - 94 Bridgeport Road E
Mondays - 3:30pm to 7:30pm
Tuesdays - 8:00am to 1:00pm & 2:30pm to 7:30pm
Wednesdays - 8:00am to 1:00pm & 2:30pm to 7:30pm
Thursdays - 3:30pm to 7:30pm
Fridays - 8:00am to 12:00pm
Saturdays - 9:00am to 1:00pm

"CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES IS IN BLOOD SIGNAL MODE RIGHT NOW & REALLY NEEDS YOUR DONATIONS. PLEASE DONATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"

Health and Prevention Committee News and Recommendations

NEWS

We are working on approval for 30 spots that will be available for members in January 2012 for St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid with Adult CPR (includes AED) training, paid by the league, more information to follow.

EARLY SEASON PREPARATION

Get physical; run, walk, bike, swim etc.
At a minimum, a couple of workouts prior to your first few games
Have an annual physical
Have your blood pressure checked, easily done at any pharmacy and if it's high or low, get in to see your doctor
If you have risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history) discuss with your doctor a pre-season or early season stress test, especially if you are inactive during the off season

GAME PREPARATION

Pre-game warm up - stretch, skate a few laps and then stretch again
Don't eat a large meal or drink alcohol before a game
Notify your captain of medical conditions (strokes/heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, previous injuries, etc.) in case anything happens during the game
Notify your captain of the medications you are allergic to, in a medical emergency paramedics need this information

DURING THE GAME

Drink plenty of water or a sports drink
If you have chest/arm pains, discomfort, dizziness or nausea, trouble breathing, let your team mates know

AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS SAVE LIVES

Where are they located?

AUDITORIUM - both sides of the ice surface: on wall beside dressing room 15 and 4
RIM PARK - On the wall by the registration/information desk just inside the main arena entrance.
KINSMEN/KIWANIS ARENA - On the wall near the elevator at ice level between the two rinks.
CONESTOGA COLLEGE - At the Front Entrance (Key Room).

FIRST AID KITS

First aid kits are available at every game and are with the timekeepers or team captains

TRAINING

First Aid, CPR, AED Contact your Health & Safety committee for details. See your handbook

HEART MATTERS Q & A

Dr.Evans: Re your excellent article Oct.5 on above, I have some questions which I would ask you to respond to.

-is there any way[s] that the average person[with no symptons] can confirm that he or she may have arterial blockage without going through a hospital procedure eg angiogram etc?
Possibly a stress test. They put you on a treadmill and attach electrodes to your heart and see if supply can keep up with demand. Can do with chemicals in some as too obese or otherwise unwell to do activity. Not a perfectly accurate test but less invasive.

-if a person has no known cardiovascular issues[high blood pressure,diabetes,high cholestorol level etc],isn't overweight,doesn't drink or smoke,can he or she still have arterial blockage that could cause a heart attack or stroke?
Unfortunately yes. But this does not mean we need to investigate everybody.

-can high blood pressure cause arterial blockage? If so,how?
It shears cholesterol off vessel walls and takes it frther downstream where the river is thinner..Also high BP makes your heart work harder as it is pumping against a higher pressure system. This makes your heart bigger and stiffer (like Arnold shwartzenegger). With the heart we don't want Arnold, we want Abebe Bikila (the long distance runner)

-can high levels of stress cause arterial blockage? If so,how?
Yes it can. Depression can triple your risk of heart attack. We don't totally understand.. possible neiro-hormone related and stress can make your arteries "twitchier". Also-in the case of angina, stress simply increases your heart rate which can tip you into symptoms.

-does most arterial blockage occur near the heart? If so,why?
No can happen anywhere there are arteries and muscles. Just that your heart is your most important muscle (some would argue the brain)

-is clearing the blockage with an angioplasty and stent more efffective and superior to a bypass? If so,why?
Tough one. Not more effective and you have to usually repeat more often but less invasive. For people who have one or two bad arteries probably preferable. Also good evidence that graded exercise very effective for single vessel disease.

-what are the chances of the bypass clogging after the procedure[assuming the person has followed doctor's orders 100% after the operation] ie what is average number of number of years before clogging could start to occur?
Most benefit. Not sure the exact failure rate but I think about 20% and increases w time. More if just get angioplasty or stent,.10 years or so brings you back to pre-risk but in some has longer lasting maybe die to lifestyle

-of all the factors that cause arterial blockage, what is the #1 factor and the one you are concerned about most?
Sedentary.

-is there any foods, liquids, non-prescriptive pills, tablets, special diets etc that are effective in aiding the self-cleansing process of the arteries? If there are, could they possibly clear minor clogging of the arteries eg 10 to 40% clogging over a period of time?
Short answer. Aspirin, colourful vegetables, Mediterranean diet.daily activity- walking.Positive outlook.

-if you were to recommend the very best book on the heart and related issues for the average person, what would it be?
Not sure maybe heart for dummies and "love in the time of cholesterol" for more of a story.

K-W Oldtimers' Hockey Club Inc. is now a Partner for Life and has made a pledge of20 blood donations for the remainder of 2011