>> UP NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." OUR PANEL TAKES A LOOK AT HEART DISEASE FROM HOW RISK IS DETERMINED AND THE LATEST ADVANCES IN TREATMENT TO WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART.

THEN WE JOIN THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR THE ANNUAL SYRACUSE HEART WALK.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, RAQUEL BATISTA EXPLAINS HOW CHILDHOOD STRESS CAN SHAPE OUR RESPONSES TO STRESS LATER IN LIFE.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS.

IT'S A COMPLEX OPPONENT, ONE THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.

EVERY MOVE, EVERY DECISION HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEIGHT.

ST.

JOSEPH'S HEALTH HAS PARTNERED WITH ROSWELL PARK, THE REGION'S ONLY DESIGNATED CANCER CENTER TO OFFER YOU ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED THERAPIES AND LEADING ONCOLOGISTS RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY, AMONG THE MANY MOVES YOU CAN MAKE, THIS ONE HOLE THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

I'M YOUR HOST Dr.

RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: HEART DISEASE.

DEATHS FROM HEART ATTACKS HAVE DROPPED ABOUT 90% SINCE 1970.

WHOA.

CONGRATS.

SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

BUT HEART DISEASE IS STILL OUR LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

AND YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD OF PEOPLE DOING ALL THE HEART HEALTHY STUFF WITH NO CLEAR SYMPTOMS, WHO SUDDENLY HAVE BYPASS SURGERY OR DIE.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE WE DIE FROM SOMETHING ELSE?

I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

JOINING US TO TALK THESE THINGS OVER ARE NOT ONE BUT TWO EXPERTS.

DR.

THERESA WATERS - CARDIOLOGIST AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY AND A PERM FRIEND WHO WAS-- WHO IS AN ENGINEER AND WHO IS SERIOUSLY UP ON ALL THE WAYS TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE, DID ALL THE RIGHT STUFF AND STILL HAD QUADRUPLE BYPASS SURGERY, Mr.

RUSTAN PETRELA.

FOLKS, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> AND DOC, TELL US ABOUT THE STANDARD RISK FACTORS.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF THEY'RE HAVING HEART DISEASE?

>> TYPICAL RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE ARE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES, EVEN IF YOU ARE ON MEDICATIONS AND WELL CONTROLLED THEY'RE STILL RISK FACTORS.

SMOKING.

A HISTORY OF SMOKING, EVEN IF YOU QUIT SMOKING.

OBESITY, SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE.

THOSE ARE NEWER RISK FACTORS AND A FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE.

SO MOM, DAD, BROTHER, SISTER, ANYBODY IN YOUR FAMILY WHO HAS HAD A HEART ATTACK, HEART FAILURE OR STROKE.

THOSE WOULD BE YOUR TYPICAL RISK FACTORS.

AGE AND ALSO MALE GENDER, ALTHOUGH I WOULD DEBATE THAT.

>> OKAY.

AND RUSTAN, WHAT DID YOU HAVE?

WHAT RISK FACTORS WERE IN YOUR PACKAGE?

>> ONLY ONE.

THE GENES.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> THAT'S IT.

FROM MY FATHER'S SIDE.

SO MY FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER AND THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF MY FATHER, MY UNCLE, HAD CARDIAC PROBLEMS, CORONARY HEART DISEASE.

>> SO YOU HAD-- YOU KNEW THAT.

>> I KNEW THAT.

I LEARNED THAT IN MY 20S.

BECAUSE AT THAT AGE, MY FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK, WAS NOT DEADLY.

AND I STARTED ASKING, AND I STARTED WORRYING A LITTLE BIT.

WAS TOO YOUNG TO WORRY TOO MUCH BUT I STARTED WORRYING A LITTLE BIT.

AND I STARTED ASKING DOCTORS, AND THEY KIND OF DISMISSED ME DUE TO MY YOUNG AGE.

LATER ON THEY PUT ME ON STRESS TEST WHICH DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING.

I WAS AN ATHLETE ALL MY LIFE.

AND THEN I DIDN'T WORRY FOR A WHILE.

AND THEN-- >> LET ME POSE A QUESTION.

SO THIS GUY COMES INTO YOUR OFFICE BEFORE HIS QUADRUPLE BYPASS.

WHAT WOULD YOU TALK WITH HIM ABOUT?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> I WOULD CERTAINLY GATHER ALL OF YOUR RISK FACTORS, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS SYMPTOMS AND THINGS FOR YOU TO BE AWARE OF.

IF YOU EXERCISE, MAYBE YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MUCH OF A TOLERANCE OR YOU MIGHT BE MORE TIRED OR FATIGUED.

YOU CAN'T DO WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO.

>> IF HE HAS HEART DISEASE.

>> YEAH IF YOU START TO DEVELOP HEART DISEASE.

WE WOULD TALK ABOUT YOUR RISK FACTORS.

MAKE SURE THEY'RE WELL CONTROLLED AND THEN BE AWARE OF CERTAIN SYMPTOMS.

AND IF YOU DEVELOP ANY OF THOSE, I WOULD RECOMMEND FURTHER TESTING.

>> SO RUSTAN, YOU WENT TO A DOC, YOU WERE CONCERNED.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

WHAT WAS THE NEXT THING THAT GOT YOU GOING?

>> WHAT TRIGGERED THE BIG CONCERN IS WHEN I TURNED 50, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT NUMBER AND I-- >> YOU ARE NOT 50 YET.

>> I'M 65.

>> 50 IS THE NEW 30.

>> SO I DIDN'T LIKE THE NUMBER AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO CONVINCE MY MYSELF I WAS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE.

I DECIDED TO DO THE SYRACUSE IRON MAN, HALF IRON MAN.

70.3 MILES 679 AND BEFORE DOING THAT, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS OKAY TO DO IT.

I GOT CHECKED.

IT WAS A STRESS TEST, AGAIN, DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING.

BUT THEN I STARTED DOING THE RACE AND I LEARNED THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME, SAME AGE, HEALTHY, ATHLETES, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, WHO HAD A FAMILY HISTORY, WOULD HAVE FATAL HEART ATTACKS.

AND I STARTED WORRYING BECAUSE SAME GROUP AGE, MY FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK WHEN HE WAS IN HIS 50S.

SO I SAW A DOCTOR, A CARDIOLOGIST.

AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM MY CONCERN.

I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO DO A FULL IRON MAN.

AND AFTER HE HEARD MY STORY, HE SAID YOU ARE RIGHT, THE GENES WILL COME FOR YOU.

>> THE GENES WILL COME FOR YOU?

>> THOSE WERE HIS WORDS, THE GENES WILL COME FOR YOU.

>> LOOK AT HER NODDING OVER THERE.

THIS IS A BIG CONCERN, RIGHT?

>> SO HE SAID LET'S DO AN ECHO ON KAROTID ARTERIES AND IF WE SEE SOMETHING THERE, WE WILL DO A CALCIUM SCORE.

>> A CHECK TO SEE HOW YOUR ARTERIES ON YOUR NECK ARE BLOCKED OR NOT BLOCKED.

>> BLOOD FLOW IN THE NECK.

>> THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE HEART, TOO?

>> IT COULD BE A RISK FACTOR FOR VASCULAR DECEASE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

>> VASCULARS ARE UP THERE, SAME THING AS THE VASCULARS DOWN HERE.

>> YES, BLOOD VESSELS.

>> THEY DID THAT TEST.

>> I COULD BE WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING OR WAS AT THAT TIME, IF YOU NOTICE SOMETHING THERE, THERE IS A REASON TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP AND DO THE CALCIUM SCORE.

I COULD BE WRONG.

>> CALCIUM TEST.

DID THEY DO THAT FOR YOU?

>> THEY DID IT AND IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS BECAUSE IT WAS TOO HIGH.

I WAS IN A VERY HIGH PERCENTILE, LIKE 90th SER PER PERCENTILE.

I DID NOT EXPECT THAT BECAUSE I HAD A VERY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

I NEVER SMOKED.

I DRIPPING VERY RAREY, LIKE A DRINK A MONTH OR SO.

WHICH IS NOTHING.

I EAT HEALTHY.

ATHLETE ALL MY LIFE.

I DON'T STRESS.

>> AND YOU GOT THIS 90th PERCENTILE IN THE BAD DIRECTION.

90 USED TO BE GOOD IN SCHOOL.

>> ABOUT THE BAD DIRECTION.

SO I GOT-- I PANICKED.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THE DOCTOR PUT ME ON MEDICATION.

I ASKED HIM, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

DOES IT MEAN THAT SOME BLOOD VESSEL IS TOO NARROW NOW AND THE DOCTOR SAID WELL WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WE CANNOT TELL FROM THE CALCIUM SCORE.

>> LET'S STOP HERE BECAUSE I PROMPTED Dr.

WATERS TO BRING A PICTURE OF THE CALCIUM STUFF.

AND TO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

SO HE COMES IN.

HE HAS THIS HIGH SCORE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW FROM THAT?

>> SO THE C.T.

CALCIUM SCORE IS ONE OF THE TOOLS IN HOUR TOOL BOX THAT WE CAN USE TO HELP RISK STRATIFY SOMEBODY.

HOW LIKELY THEY ARE TO HAVE SOME CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.

AND SO IF IT'S GREATER THAN 300, THAT WOULD PUT SOMEBODY AT A HIGHER RISK FOR HEART DISEASE.

THE CALCIUM SCORE, IF I CAN EXPLAIN WITH THIS PICTURE HERE, WILL HELP US IDENTIFY IF THERE IS HARDENING OF ARTERIES WHAT IS WE USED TO CALL IT.

>> I REMEMBER.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT LAYERS IN YOUR CORONARY ARTERIES.

AND THE CALCIUM SCORE PICKS UP THE CALCIUM IN THE BLOOD VESSEL.

SO IF THERE IS CALCIFICATION IN THE OUTER LAYER, IN THE MEDIAL LAYER OR IN THE INSIDE LAYER, NOW THE INSIDE LAYER IS THE LAYER THAT WOULD CAUSE THE BLOCKAGE IN YOUR ARTERY THAT COULD CAUSE YOU SYMPTOMS IF YOU ARE EXERTING YOURSELF.

YOU MIGHT HAVE CALCIFICATION IN THE MEDIA-- MEDIAL LAYER AND MAY NOT BE CAUSING YOU ANY PROBLEMS.

THE CALCIUM SCORE HAS TROUBLE IDENTIFYING AND DIFFERENTIATING THOSE TWO.

SO THE LOCATION IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT.

WE NOW HAVE NEWER CAT SCANS THAT ACTUALLY CAN HELP BETTER DIFFERENTIATE THAT.

AND WE HAVE CAT SCANS THAT CAN USE FLOW, >> IF I COULD JUST INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND.

THE THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT , SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ACCOUNT FOR THE HUGE DROP IN DEATHS FROM HEART DISEASE?

>> YES.

DEFINITELY.

>> THE MEDICATION.

>> MEDICATIONS, PRIMARY PREVENTION, SEEING YOUR DOCTOR EARLY, RAISING AWARENESS BY US BEING ON TV, SHARING OUR STORIES, SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S ALERTING PEOPLE TO COME AND BE SEEN.

AND BETTER SCREENING TESTS LIKE THE C.T.

CALCIUM SCORE.

WE CAN CAPTURE A LOT MORE PEOPLE AND THAT WAY IDENTIFY IT EARLY AND PREVENT IT.

SO RAISING AWARENESS, AND IF YOU DEVELOP ANY SYMPTOMS, THEN WE THEY'D TO DO THE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION WHICH IS THE PROCEDURE WE GO IN TO LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS A BLOCKAGE, WITH A CATHETER UP INTO YOUR HEART.

>> DID THEY DO THAT FOR YOU, RUSTAN?

>> YES.

BUT NOT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT CANNOT BE DONE RIGHT AWAY.

I WAS NOT HAVING ANY SYMPTOMS.

I WAS DOING MY SPORTS.

AND I NEVER FELT IF I SYMPTOM DURING THE EXERTION.

I WAS FEELING SYMPTOMS WHEN I WAS NOT EXERTING.

SO I WOULD BE IN MY OFFICE AND I WOULD START FEELING SOMETHING THAT I INTERPRETED AS A SIGN OF HEART ATTACK.

I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY BRAIN WAS MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

>> SO MAYBE YOU WERE GETTING ANXIOUS ABOUT IT AND IT WAS DEVELOPING THE SAME KIND OF SYMPTOMS PEOPLE END UP IN THE E.R.

WITH ALL THE TIME.

>> WHICH I DID.

>> I ENDED UP IN THE E.R.

AND THEY DID THE BLOOD WORK.

THEY DID THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM AND THEY SAID, IT'S NOTHING.

WE DON'T SEE ANY HEART-RELATED PROBLEM.

COULD BE A PANIC ATTACK.

>> SO YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH THIS PUZZLE.

WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

>> YEAH, SO THE BRAIN AND THE HEART ARE CONNECTED AND SOMETIMES IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL BETWEEN THE TWO SYMPTOMS, TO TELL WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARE TWO CARDIAC SYMPTOMS.

>> ANXIETY OR HEART.

>> MY MOTTO IS THAT ANXIETY IS A RULE-OUT DIAGNOSIS.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRONG WITH YOUR HEART FIRST.

>> BEFORE YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO ANXIETY.

>> BEFORE-- YOU GOT IT.

YES.

>> I HAD THE SAME CRITERIA.

I'M A PSYCHOLOGIST AND PEOPLE COME IN TO SEE ME AND THEY SAY WELL I'M HAVING-- I SAY DON'T ASSUME IT'S ANXIETY.

ASSUME IT'S A HEART PROBLEM.

GO TO SEE THE HEART DOCTOR.

>> EVERYBODY RUSHES TO THINK IT'S ANXIETY.

OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT BE OVERWEIGHT, GAINING WEIGHT AND THEY THINK THEY'RE SHORT OF BREATH WHEN THEY DO THINGS.

ANOTHER SYMPTOM TO BE AWARE OF.

THEY ATTRIBUTE IT TO BEING OVERWEIGHT.

SO I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK.

AND YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BEST.

SO IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, KEEP GOING BACK AND-- >> TO YOUR DOC AND KEEP SAYING I'M CONCERNED.

>> BE PERSISTENT.

AND IF YOU NOTICE ANY CHANGES IN SYMPTOMS-- AND SOMEBODY WHO IS VERY ACTIVE LIKE YOU, YOU MIGHT NOTICE VERY SUBTLE SYMPTOMS.

YOU CAN'T GET YOUR TARGET HEART RATE UP IF YOU ARE MONITORING YOUR HEART RATE RUNNING.

YOU MIGHT BE MORE FATIGUED.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK SOONER THAN WOULD BE TYPICAL.

IF YOU NOTICE THOSE THINGS, THAT'S EARLY SIGNS THAT PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE AVID EXERCISERS WILL NOTICE EARLY ON.

>> WELL, GREAT ADVICE.

AND LET'S-- OUR "CYCLE OF HEALTH" TEAM JOINED THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR THE ANNUAL SYRACUSE HEART WALK.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S 2026 SYRACUSE HEART WALK!

[ CHEERING ] THIS IS THE ONE EVENT WHERE OUR COMMUNITY NOT ONLY TAKES A WALK TOGETHER, BUT TAKES A STAND TO HELP SAVE LIVES FROM HEART DISEASE AND STROKE.

PLEASE WELCOME THE 2026 SYRACUSE HEART WALK CHAIR STEVE GORCZYNSKI.

>> IT IS HEART WARMING TO SEE EVERYBODY COME OUT FOR THIS.

THIS IS THE SYRACUSE HEART WORK.

WE GET TOGETHER EVERY TIME THIS YEAR.

WE ARE HERE IN THE ARENA, A GREAT FUNDRAISER, AN OUTDOOR WALK, ONE MILE OR THREE MILE OR YOU CAN WALK INDOORS.

THERE IS A MINI HEALTH EXPO HERE.

A KIDS EVENT.

A GREAT COMING TOGETHER OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE ON THIS SUNDAY MORNING.

THE WORK THAT THE HEART ASSOCIATION DOES IS TREMENDOUS, BOTH PREVENTATIVE AND REALLY SERVES TO TEACH OUR COMMUNITY THE IMPORTANCE OF CARDIAC HEALTH.

>> HEEL OF YOUR HAND IS THE CONTACT POINT.

PUT THE HEEL OF THE HAND DOWN, GRAB YOUR FINGERS OVER SO THEY'RE OFF THE CHEST.

I'M ENID REILEY AND I HAVE BEEN TEACHING CPR FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

LOCK YOUR ELBOWS OVER THE TOP.

AND THEN PUSH.

UNTIL YOU HEAR THE CLICK.

CPR IS ONE OF THOSE SKILLS THAT ACTUALLY CAN SAVE A LIFE.

AND IT'S A SKILL THAT ANYBODY CAN DO.

YOU ARE REALLY PUSHING FROM YOUR SHOULDER DOWN.

>> OH OKAY.

>> LOCK THOSE ELBOWS.

PERFECT!

>> IN THE EVENT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY WE LIKE TO SAY WE WANT TO BE A NATION OF LIFE SAVERS WHERE ONE PERSON IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS FAMILIAR WITH CPR TECH TECHNIQUES AND CAN BE CALLED INTO ACTION IF NEEDED.

>> THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING IT MORE SIMPLE SO PEOPLE ARE NOT AFRAID OR INTIMIDATED.

>> SCARIER THAN... >> YEAH.

>> DON'T BE INTIMIDATED BY IT.

IT'S HARD AND FAST, CENTER OF THE CHEST.

THEY MADE IT VERY EASY.

STUDIES SHOW OVER AND OVER AGAIN THESE SIMPLE SKILLS LIKE PUSHING HARD AND FAST IN THE CENTER OF THE CHEST CAN KEEP SOMEBODY ALIVE.

>> JUST SEEING ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED CPR BEFORE AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, AND COME DOWN AND REALIZE IT REALLY CAN BE VERY SIMPLE.

>> WE KNOW SO MANY OF YOU ARE HERE FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL REASONS.

HEART DISEASE AND STROKE ARE TWO OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH.

>> THEY VENT IS VERY PERSONAL TO MANY PEOPLE.

I'M A SURVIVOR OF CARDIAC ARREST.

AIM HERE IN THE SPIRIT OF GRATEFULNESS.

BUT THE REALITY IS WHEN CARDIAC ARREST HAPPENS OUTSIDE A HOSPITAL SETTING, ONLY ONE OF 10 PEOPLE SURVIVE.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU SEE HERE ARE REMEMBERING A LOVED ONE WHO WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE AND THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE HEART ASSOCIATION, IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN IN THE WAY OF CARDIAC ARREST, PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO ACT.

>> IF ANYBODY EVER HAS TO USE CPR, THE PERSON THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT ON IS GOING TO BE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW.

>> THAT'S WHY TODAY MATTERS.

EVERY DOLLAR RAISED AND EVERY STEP TAKEN MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE SMALL STEPS LEAD TO EXTRAORDINARY OUTCOMES.

>> SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY OF US, THE BOOP, BOOP, BOOP, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

WHAT TO DO?

WHAT IS IT WE SHOULD BE DOING?

>> I WOULD SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE SHOULD DO IS CONTINUE TO EXERCISE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR BODIES.

SEE YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR OR YOUR CARDIOLOGIST, BE MONITORED FOR BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL AND DIABETES.

EXERCISE 30 MINUTES A DAY FIVE TIMES A WEEK AND HEART HEALTHY DIET, PARTICULARLY A MEDITERRANEAN DIET WHAT IS WE RECOMMEND.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS GO TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR AND GET CHECKED OUT.

SCREENING TESTS, STRESS TESTS.

>> ALL OF THAT STUFF.

>> EVERYTHING.

>> AND YOU ARE ACTUALLY FROM, ORIGINALLY FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA.

I BET YOU ARE DOING THAT DIET, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I AM.

BUT I ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THE WORDS OF MY DOCTOR.

THE GENES WILL COME FOR YOU.

WHILE WE CAN DO THINGS TO SLOW THEM DOWN SUCH AS DIET AND EXERCISE, AND NO SMOKING, NO DRINKING, NO STRESSING, THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE MEDICINE THAT THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE CAN DO FOR US.

MEDICATIONS, INTERVENTIONS, SURGERY.

>> YOU DO MEDICATION?

>> I TAKE MEDICATIONS, YES.

ANTICHOLESTEROL MEDICATIONS.

>> WHICH ARE GREAT, I UNDERSTAND, VERY EFFECTIVE.

>> AND THE STEP I TOOK TO DO THE QUADRUPLE BYPASS, WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP.

IT GAVE ME PEACE OF MIND.

>> YEAH THEY WENT IN THERE AND CLEANED ALL OF THAT OUT.

>> I RECOVERED QUICKLY AND I'M BACK TO MY SPORTS.

AND NOW I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT ANYMORE BECAUSE I'VE DONE WHATEVER NEEDED TO BE DONE.

>> SO YOU ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT, SO LESS STRESS.

>> LESS STRESS.

>> IT'S A PARTNERSHIP, REALLY.

YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART, EXERCISE, EAT HEALTHY, TAKE YOUR MEDICATIONS AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS WE HAVE TO LOOK AND AFFORD YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BETTER AND NOT HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

>> ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU SUGGEST THAT ARE DIFFERENT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD HEART DISEASE DEVELOP FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER-- I MEAN I THINK YOU CALLED IT PRIMARY PREVENTION FROM KEEPING, GETTING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> YES.

>> BUT SOMEBODY WHO HAS ALREADY HAD A HEART ATTACK OR HEART DISEASE, ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN WHAT YOU SUGGEST TO PEOPLE?

>> THERE ARE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU MUST TAKE TO HELP PREVENT REMODELING OF YOUR HEART AND PREVENT YOURSELF FROM HAVING ANOTHER HEART ATTACK OR PROGRESSION IN THE BLOCKAGES THAT YOU MIGHT STILL HAVE IN YOUR ARTERIES.

SO TAKING MEDICATION USUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT, WITH SECONDARY PREVENTION, WE ARE REALLY PLAYING A PIVOTAL ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING ALL THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS AND YOU ARE AT YOUR TARGETS FOR YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE.

YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE AT THAT POINT.

BUT IN GENERAL, THE SAME PLAN WOULD BE STILL IN PLACE: EXERCISE, EATING HEALTHY AND BEING EVALUATED FOR ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AS YOURSELF.

>> ARE THERE DIFFERENCES FOR MEN AND WOMEN?

ANY DIFFERENCES IN WHAT YOU RECOMMEND OR SYMPTOMS OR ANYTHING?

>> NO, THERE MIGHT BE-- SOMETIMES WOMEN HAVE ATYPICAL SYMPTOMS.

SO YOUR TYPICAL SYMPTOMS FOR A HEART ATTACK WOULD BE PRESSURE, HEAVINESS IN YOUR MID SUBSTERNAL REGION.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE SHORTNESS OF BREATH FATIGUE, NAUSEA.

THEY MIGHT HAVE NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN, SHOULDER PAIN.

>> ARE WOMEN LESS LIKELY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THOSE THINGS?

I KNOW WOMEN HAVE-- >> YES.

I THINK THAT WOMEN MIGHT COMPLAIN ABOUT THOSE THINGS, BUT WOMEN ARE-- WOMEN HAVE HEART DISEASE AT AN OLDER AGE, I GUESS I WOULD SAY BECAUSE OF OUR HORMONES.

WE ARE A LITTLE MORE PROTECTED FROM ESTROGEN.

>> NO FAIR.

>> SOMETIMES WE MIGHT MISS THAT OR WRITE THOSE SYMPTOMS OFF IN A WOMAN.

SO I THINK THAT YOU JUST ALWAYS HAVE TO BE OPEN TO THAT.

SO WOMEN MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS.

THEY MIGHT COME WITH THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS.

AND MEN MIGHT HAVE THE ATYPICAL SYMPTOMS, TOO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE DIABETES.

SO I WOULD SAY IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

>> ANYTHING YOU ARE DOING DIFFERENT AT THIS POINT, RUSTAN?

WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES TO DOING ALL THE STUFF THE DOCTORS SAY.

>> THOSE ARE NOT CHALLENGES MUCH THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I DO.

>> THOSE ARE WHAT YOU DO.

>> SO YOU ARE REALLY DOING IT.

>> THE PERFECT PATIENT.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT HAVING A HEALTHY DIET IS NOT A BIG CHALLENGE AND SEEING THE DOCTOR.

THE DOCTOR SETS THE APPOINTMENTS.

I SET THE-- I GO TO THE APPOINTMENTS.

NOT A DIFFICULT THING.

EXERCISING IS MY LIFESTYLE, SO TO ME THOSE ARE NOT CHALLENGES.

>> THIS IS REALLY ALL BECOME LIKE PART OF YOU, PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU ARE THE PERFECT PATIENT.

THIS GUY IS THE PERFECT PATIENT.

I'M SIGNING UP YOU UP WITH Dr.

WATERS.

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE HER HAPPY.

>> YOU CAN BE OUR SALES GUY IN OUR WAITING ROOM.

>> THERE WE GO.

THE PICTURE OF... >> I'M JUST TELLING MY STORY.

>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND BEFORE WE WRAP OUR SHOW TODAY, IT'S TIME FOR OUR MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE.

THIS WEEK Ms.

RAQUEL BATISTA EXPLAINS HOW CHILDHOOD STRESS CAN SHAPE OUR RESPONSES TO STRESS LATER IN LIFE, INCLUDING OUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> HI, I'M RAQUEL BATISTA, A THIRD-YEAR MED STUDENT WITH MY MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE ON CHILDHOOD STRESS.

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS OR ACES LIKE ABUSE, VIOLENCE OR ADDICTION CAN REDUCE CORTISOL RECEPTORS, THE BRAIN'S STRESS BREAKS.

WITH FEWER BREAKS, THE BODY GETS STUCK IN FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

THAT'S WHY SMALL STRESSORS LIKE A TOUGH EMAIL OR TRAFFIC CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING TO SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A LOT OF ACES.

OVER TIME, CONSTANT STRESS RAISES RISK FOR MOOD DISORDERS, INFLAMMATION AND HEART DISEASE AND AUTO IMMUNE ISSUES.

BUT HEALING IS POSSIBLE.

MEDICATIONS BALANCE BRAIN CHEMISTRY, THERAPY HELPS PROCESS TRAUMA AND EXERCISE, MY FAVORITE, IMPROVES MOOD, LOWERS INFLAMMATION AND GROWS NEW BRAIN CELLS FOR FREE.

EARLY ADVERSITY IS TOUGH, BUT THE RIGHT TOOLS HELP US RECOVER.

I'M RAQUEL BATISTA AND THIS HAS BEEN MY MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME BEE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS DR, THERESA WATERS CARDIOLOGIST AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY AND THE GUY WHO FIGURED IT OUT WITH HIS DOCCS AND IS STILL TICKING AND DOING THE RIGHT STUFF TO KEEP ON TICKING, AND TO HEAR OUR COMPANION RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, GO TO COMMUNITY F.D M. AND IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT PAST CONSENSUS OR THIS EPISODE, GO TO WCNY.ORG/"CYCLE OF HEALTH" OR MY WEBSITE Dr.

NECKUP.ORG.

FOR "CYCLE OF HEALTH," I'M PSYCHOLOGIST RICH O'NEILL.

WE HOPE YOU TAKE THIS EPISODE TO YOUR HEARTSO WE WILL SEE NEXT WEEK AND THE NEXT AND THE NEXT.

BIFOR NOW.

BYE FOR NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ UP NEXT ON “CYCLE OF HEALTH.” DOCTOR RICH AND COMPANY DISCUSS THE MAJOR HORMONAL MILESTONES IN A WOMANS LIFE.

AND HOW WOMEN CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THESE CHANGES, TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH THROUGHOUT A LIFETIME.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE.

GRACY LIN, EXPLAINS WHY YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE LETTING PEOPLE KISS YOUR NEWBORN.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

THURSDAYS AT 8:30 ON WCNY TV.

THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS.

IT'S A COMPLEX OPPONENT, ONE THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE, EVERY MOVE, EVERY DECISION HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEIGHT.

ST.

JOSEPH'S HEALTH HAS PARTNERED WITH ROSWELL PARK, THE REGION'S ONLY DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER TO OFFER YOU ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED THERAPIES AND LEADING ONCOLOGISTS RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AMONG THE MANY MOVES YOU CAN MAKE, THIS ONE HOLDS THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.