Why I Measure My Health

When we are young, we think that life will go on forever and we have so much ahead of us; our dreams, our passions and our family. Suddenly, without a moment's notice all of this can change.

It seems like yesterday when my Dad was leaving for a short vacation to Florida in the winter of 1991. He normally went for a couple of months, and I would always hug him and tell him how much I loved him. But this time he was only going for a couple of weeks so when he left I just punched him in the arm and said, "See you soon Dad, see you soon!" Then I received that fateful call on March 7 -- the day before he was to come home from his vacation. He had suffered a massive heart attack and died.

I never realized that would be my last message to him -- I miss my Dad, I miss him so much. In an instant I had lost my mentor, my best friend and my Dad forever.

My Dad was from a different era. He was not as health conscious as we are today. He was a smoker and he did not exercise. He was not like me. I was different: I ate healthy, I never smoked and I played tennis. I was your classic weekend-warrior when it came to exercise.

I was on the tennis court when it happened -- the shortness of breath that really put the fear of dying into me. I was scared and I did not know what was wrong with me. Luckily, I managed to walk off of the tennis court and make it to my doctor. He sent me for a series of tests and after five weeks it was an angiogram that finally determined that of my four main arteries, three were clogged at nearly 100%. I was barely firing on one cylinder and I needed an emergency triple bypass surgery. It was like the universe flipped a coin with my Dad and me and I got lucky.

Once I landed on the road to recovery, I took on my health crusade and went from weekend warrior to an exercise expert. As I progressed and graduated from my cardiac rehab therapy, I learned what it meant to be heart healthy and how to track my progress. Later, I was introduced to the Heart and Stroke Foundation online risk assessment tool where I was able to automate this process for myself. I firmly believe, what is measured is improved. And having access to a digital health tool helped make this easy and convenient.

Life is good; really, really good...but I still miss you Dad.

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Worst Foods For Your Heart

Processed Meat(01 of08)

Hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats -- even lean ones like turkey -- are made with loads of sodium and preservatives, often including nitrates and nitrites, both of which have been linked to heart problems. "With processing, you lose control over the quality of the ingredients," says Cynthia Thaik, M.D., a Los Angeles-based cardiologist.Processed meats are also higher in saturated fat and lower in protein than any red meat you could prepare yourself, writes director of the Yale Prevention Research Center and HuffPost blogger, David Katz.Not convinced to stay away? Processed meats have also been linked to a higher risk of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. (credit:Flickr:plindberg)

Red Meat(02 of08)

Yes, the processed picks are worse for your heart, but that doesn't mean you should go wild for steak. Instead, consider it more of a treat than a staple in your diet: It's still high in saturated fat, even when it's unprocessed. "I don't want to suggest that we have to go [completely] plant-based," says Thaik, "but moderation is always the key."If you're not planning on changing your carnivore ways anytime soon, at the very least pick a lean cut of beef, which, according to the USDA, contains less than 10 grams of total fat and 4.5 grams of saturated fat. Or opt for extra-lean, with 5 grams of total fat and less than 2 of saturated fat. Of the 29 cuts that meet these regulations, five are extra-lean, according to the Mayo Clinic, including eye of round roast or steak, sirloin tip side steak, top round roast and steak, bottom round roast and steak and top sirloin steak. (credit:Flickr:Ideas in Food)

Pizza(03 of08)

That cheesy slice may contain as much as two thirds of your daily recommended limit of saturated fat, according to Real Age, which is found mostly in animal products like beef, pork, butter, cream and milk. The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than 7 percent of total daily calories from saturated fat. (Based on a 2,000-calories-a-day diet, that totals out to about 15 grams a day of saturated fat). And even though you may think it's "just cheese," many dairy products are actually highly processed, says Thaik. To lighten up, skip extra cheese and top with veggies instead of pepperoni or sausage. (credit:Flickr:Bitman)

Alfredo Sauce(04 of08)

When you consider that the ingredients in this heavy sauce are butter, cream and cheese, it's easy to see why serving up this pasta dish would pose saturated fat problems -- especially if you're dining out where sauce is ladled over piles of noodles.If you really love an alfredo dish every now and again, ask for the sauce on the side and stick to just a tablespoon or two. If you're making your own at home, try a lightened-up recipe, like this one from SparkPeople, which replaces butter with olive oil, cream with skim milk and cuts down on the amount of cheese. (credit:Flickr:kthread)

Trans Fats(05 of08)

These fatty acids are created through processes that make vegetable oils more solid, according to the American Heart Association. They're cheap to produce, are used to make packaged and prepared foods last longer and can be re-used in frying. But trans fats raise LDL or "bad" cholesterol while also lowering HDL or "good" cholesterol, thereby putting your heart at risk. While a number of manufacturers have cut back on trans fat use in light of these health risks, packaged snacks, baked goods and some margarines may still contain it, according to EatingWell. Look for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils on ingredients lists and beware the "zero trans fat" labels -- many are hiding .5 grams and rounding down to zero. But considering that the AHA recommends getting no more than 2 grams a day, that adds up, and fast! (credit:Flickr:joyosity)

Fried Foods(06 of08)

As restaurants use their frying oil over and over again, the fat becomes more and more saturated, according to Live Science. And, as mentioned previously, trans fats are often lurking. Even though some restaurants may have cut back in the face of mounting health concerns, a number of joints still fry with solid oils like shortening, says Thaik.However, a 2012 found that how you fry makes a big difference. Among 41,000 Spanish adults, researchers found no link between fried food consumption and heart problems, likely because cooking with heart-healthy olive oil is more common than in the U.S, Time.com reported. (credit:Flickr:LearningLark)

Soda(07 of08)

"When we think of heart disease, a lot of people think cholesterol and fat, but we know that sugar, as it relates to obesity and the effect it has on insulin, has a lot to do with the development of artherosclerosis," says Thaik. In fact, drinking one sugary beverage a day leads to a 20 percent increase in a man's risk of having a heart attack, according to a 2012 study, even if those empty calories aren't causing weight gain, CNN reported. Soda has previously been linked to increased rates of heart disease in women, as well.And diet soda isn't any better. A 2012 study found that a daily diet soda increased risk for stroke, heart attack and death, although the exact cause is not yet fully understood. (credit:Flickr:Public Domain Photos)

Fast Food(08 of08)

There's little on the drive-thru menu that isn't loaded with saturated fat, trans fat, sugar or sodium, making most of your orders recipes for disaster. And the consequences for the heart are nearly immediate. A 2012 study examined the effects of fast food on the arteries after just one meal and found that the ability of the blood vessels to dilate dropped by 24 percent, YouBeauty reported."Not just fast food but processed food in general has a very high sodium content just by the pure nature of having to do the preservation," says Thaik. Soups and soy sauce are obvious culprits, she says, but saltwater sushi and even bread can be more surprising sources of salt. (credit:Flickr:cgo2)

Canada Health Infoway has launched a public education campaign called Better Health Together, aimed at helping Canadians learn more about the value and benefits of digital health.

Better Health Together digital health digital health measurement heart disease heart health

Why I Measure My Health

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