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But he didn't plan to try out the system himself. In early January, however, he experienced the special response plan for real: "It was around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, on a Tuesday. There was a little dusting of snow on the driveway and I was pushing it, which I shouldn't have, I guess. But I hadn't had a problem with that before," said Denny. "And then I started getting what I would call real chest pain. So I came straight into the house and went and grabbed my nitro. The pain got worse. I waited for a few minutes, and took another shot. The pain got a little less but it wasn't going away, so I called 911." Calling 911 is the recommended procedure in such a situation for Ottawa residents, because the system is designed for the ambulance paramedics to determine if a STEMI case is involved, and if it is, to get the patient into the Heart Institute on a priority basis. If the patient goes independently to a hospital emergency department, valuable time may be lost in initial transport, admission, diagnosis and later transfer to the Institute. And time is of the essence: the goal is for reperfusion (re-establishing blood flow) within 60 to 90 minutes, to minimize heart muscle damage. This involves the Heart Institute's specialized catheterization capabilities. Denny continued: "They said, can you get all your medications, so I grabbed all of those and put them in a bag, then lay down on the floor by the front door (to wait for the ambulance.) I was able to move around and that, but it was certainly the worst chest pain I've ever experienced. The ambulance got there pretty quickly. They even called my wife at work to let her know they'd arrived." Denny found the presence of the ambulance crew reassuring, helping to ease the panicky feeling one can get with a heart crisis. "Then of course they go into their diagnosis stage, an ECG right on the spot, before they even loaded me on the stretcher. At that point they said that it certainly seemed to be a STEMI. And then they got me into the ambulance and called the Heart Institute to say they were bringing me in. The rapidity of events really impressed Denny. "We're in the Meadowlands-Merivale area, not that far away from the Civic. In light traffic it's 10-12 minutes. However, I do know that from the time I called 911 about 2:15, until I was out of the lab, 'repaired' and resting in bed, was less than two hours. I was astounded when I saw the clock in the room and it was only 4 p.m. You go in, and the paramedics take you right down to the lab and there's the team of doctors, nurses and technicians all waiting and ready for you." Denny was not given any "clot-buster" medication (fibrinolytics,) but had to chew on a couple of aspirins. He also received an intravenous drip in the ambulance. In the catheterization lab, he got his second stent, which fixed the blockage that led to the STEMI. "Next day I felt so good, but the day after I kind of went downhill. Not terribly, just an overall reaction. They told me the intervention itself is so minimally invasive that you don't have the whole post-operative wipe-out effect. But the problem is your body still had the trauma of the MI, and I think that's what sort of creeps up on you afterwards." Denny had little warning of this attack. He'd had angioplasty and then a double bypass in 1993 to solve an angina problem, and a stent implant eight years later when one of the bypasses became blocked and he suffered an MI. But the build-up to this STEMI event was different. "I just didn't have the same level of energy. I was experiencing some things that didn't seem to be chest pain, certainly not like the previous angina. I was generally not feeling up to par; something very hard to put your finger on. There was nothing specific, just generally feeling down a little bit." When all was said and done, the Institute didn't ask Denny for a report card, but it appears he'd assign nothing but an "A" in every category. "I'd have a hard time saying they could have done anything better. The paramedics are fantastic. Then they hand you over to the superb Heart Institute staff that we Alumni know so well." As for other people experiencing heart troubles, Denny advises: "Follow the 911 route. Calling the paramedics is really the best thing for Ottawa residents to do."
Annual General Meeting & Dinner - June 6
It's a bright day in this mild winter of 2006 so writing a note for the Spring Bulletin doesn't seem too strange. Besides, I'm feeling pretty good. As you will see elsewhere in this Bulletin, I experienced a STEMI in early January. I guess I had to verify what Dr. Labinaz told us at last year's Spring Lecture. When the pain hit, I followed his advice and called 9-1-1; thus, making me an experienced user of, and an advocate for, the Ottawa paramedic service. My thanks to the two paramedics who arrived shortly after my call, made the diagnosis and got me to the Heart Institute very quickly. Their proficiency and caring for their patient and their deserved pride in their work was amply demonstrated. I can only reemphasize what we are advised - when you experience chest pain, call 9-1-1.
Committees of the Board, which must be chaired by a Board member, now include:
The Board has defined the activities of the Alumni and assigned the responsibility for carrying out those activities to the Officers and Directors, which should clarify who does what. My thanks to Vice-President Gene Szabo for chairing the planning session in my absence and my compliments to those who gave up most of a Saturday to devote their efforts towards improving the delivery of services to the Alumni members and, ultimately, to the Heart Institute. Just a reminder to note our two upcoming events, which are advertised elsewhere in the Bulletin, in your agendas, bulletin boards, refrigerator notes, etc.:
And, finally, on February 5th, the Heart Institute Telethon raised $4,439,586. I had the pleasure of presenting your Alumni's contribution of $240,000. Have a great spring and summer. 
Erna M. Peters - passed away in hospital on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, aged 80 years. During a very active life in retirement after her highly successful nursing career, Erna did volunteer work, including many years with the Heart Institute Alumni, where in recent times she was responsible for all the very important bank deposit duties.
by Dr. Ruth McPherson On October 19, 2005, Dr. Ruth McPherson, MD, PhD, FRCPC delivered a most enlightening lecture entitled "Genetic Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease". She covered a wide-ranging spectrum of topics including the state of the art of international research as well as the research that she is leading in the University of Ottawa Heart Institute's Lipid Clinic with collaborating partners in the US and beyond. Her research focuses on identifying risk factors for coronary heart disease and obesity. Following her talk, Dr. McPherson accepts a thank you memento In a systematic fashion she traced the causes of coronary heart disease, from human genomes to personal lifestyle. The non-modifiable causes include: age, family history of heart disease, diabetes, and male sex, although both genders over 70 are facing a similar risk factor. The modifiable causes include smoking, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess weight, diets high in saturated or trans fat and cholesterol, chronic infections such as gingivitis, and insufficient exercise. She raised the alarm about the significantly growing obesity of the North American population and the associated human and financial health care costs. She also emphasized that recent research studies indicate that the optimal level of cholesterol is much lower than that recommended in the past. She encouraged the audience to strive for an LDLcholesterol below 2.0 mmol/L, if they have a personal history of heart problems or diabetes. Dr. McPherson outlined a series of remedies to combat heat disease both proactively to reduce the probability as well as to maintain a healthy lifestyle after an incident. These include:
At the conclusion of her well-attended speech, Dennis Doucette, President of the Alumni Board, congratulated Dr. McPherson for her devotion to research, furthering the reputation of the Institute, and sharing her experience and results.
By: Marketa Graham, RD
The Enlightened Eater's™ Whole Food Guide. Harvest the Power of Phyto Foods is an excellent resource for a nutrition-savvy reader wishing to reduce risk of heart disease, cancer and many other ailments. It is best suited for those with some knowledge of healthy eating and craving for more in-depth nutrition guidance. Rosie is a well known and accomplished registered dietitian with a great skill of being able to translate nutrition research, which can sometime be confusing, into a practical and easy to understand guide. All nutrition information in this book is extremely well referenced and evidence-based. The author walks you through the chapters of key components of healthy eating such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, soy, nuts and seeds, oil... and oh yes, chocolate and wine while highlighting benefits of these disease-fighting phyto foods. It is well organized so that the reader can absorb the information without getting overwhelmed and it is written in an easy to understand format. A seven-day sample menu is provided reflecting the Mediterranean style of eating, known for many health benefits especially for protection against heart disease. There are no pictures or photographs in this book but it is a pleasurable to read and is a great value. The variety of recipes throughout the book are fresh, are easy to follow, full of flavour and nutrition superstars.
The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni has operated a website for some time: This was established and is intended as a standing resource for Alumni members and others, to obtain important reference material and news via their computer. The Alumni board is currently looking at ways to improve the site, and members should see an upgrade in both appearance and content soon.
What is "whole grain"? When you see the words "whole grain" it means that all three parts of the grain kernel are used in the food product. These include: Bran is a source of fiber, B vitamins, minerals (zinc, iron, copper, selenium, magnesium) and antioxidants. Be label-smart! A few simple label-reading tips can help you identify foods that are rich in whole grains and fiber for the greatest heart health benefit.
Make whole grain and high-fiber foods a regular part of your diet! Your goal should be to eat 25 to 35 grams of fiber a day.
Will eating grains make me gain weight? Popular diet books often tell you to eat less carbohydrate. Eating too many calories and not being active leads to weight gain. Research has shown that reducing carbohydrates without reducing calories does not lead to weight loss. The bottom line: Watch your food portions, eat variety of foods and be physically active every day. These whole grain recipes are reprinted with permission from: Enlightened Eater's™ Whole Foods Guide. Harvest the Power of Phyto Foods by Rosie Schwartz, 2003.
June 6th, 2006 - 6:30 p.m. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: Pursuant to section III article 32-39 inclusive of the Constitution of the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc., the Twentieth Annual General Meeting of the Alumni will be held on the 6th of June, 2006 at Capone's Restaurant, 831 Industrial Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario at 6:30 p.m.
Interim Financial Statements of Note: These statements have not been audited and are provided for the general information of the members. The figures could change to reflect some year-end and audit adjustments. Audited financial statements will be available at the Alumni's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June. For those who will not be attending the AGM but would like to receive the audited copy of the financial statements, please contact the Alumni office after June 6, 2006. D.B. "Sam" Perrin THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.
THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.
The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc.
As you may have noticed, getting your donation receipts to you has been somewhat slower than usual. In part, this resulted from having less than our normal complement of volunteers. If you have some computer skills and would like to help out in the Alumni Office by processing donations and memberships, and inputting data into the system, or if you have bookkeeping skills, the Alumni could certainly use your help. Please call Angie Ross at 761-4379.
by on Please call 761-4370 soon, to indicate your wish to attend this popular lecture  The talk will cover new, minimally invasive heart operations that have been developed in Canada by Dr. Ruel, and that can result in patients undergoing a less risky type of bypass surgery.
The Bulletin is published in Ottawa by the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc., a not-for-profit corporation located at 40 Ruskin Street. It is distributed free to members of the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni and contains information on health and other matters of interest to members. Contents do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Board of Directors nor does the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc. nor the producers nor the printers and distributors of the publication assume any responsibility for opinions expressed. All communications and contributions should be sent to the address below. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40045889 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Bulletin Editor email: alumni@ottawaheart.ca Editor: Hugh J.M. Spence Contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission. The Bulletin is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific conditions. You should seek medical advice for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regime.
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After listening to Dr. Marino Labinaz' lecture on the subject last spring, and then summarizing it for the newsletter (
Your Board of Directors met on Saturday, January 7th to decide on the modus operandi of the Board and to put in place plans and a structure to carry out the activities of the Alumni. They decided that the Board should be both an operational and a policy board:
Enlightened Eater's™ Whole Foods Guide. Harvest the Power of Phyto Foods.
Research shows that eating a diet high in whole grain products reduces risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and being overweight. The actual fiber in the whole grains is not the only component that does the "magic". Whole grains are packed with a many nutrients - such as B vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and plant chemicals that each play a part in health prevention.
Dining out - Each year the Alumni Association invites its volunteers out to dinner, in appreciation for their many hours of willing support. The 2005 event was held at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club on Dec. 5; shown (l. to r.) at the head table are Executive Director Angie Ross, Vice-President Gene Szabo, and two of the volunteers, Mary Carley and Helen McGurrin.