The unexpected athlete A
lifelong exercise-phobe who nearly flunked gym in high school, Anne
Elise O’Connor never dreamed she would compete in
a triathlon at the age of 51. Even the diagnosis of myocarditis –
a potentially fatal inflammation of the heart – at age 30 was not
motivation enough for a healthy lifestyle change. For nearly 20 years
she continued to avoid exercise until she became sick again. Surviving
breast cancer at 48 was the wakeup call she needed.
Novel biomarker for heart failure also predicts risk of death An international research team, led by James Januzzi Jr., MD, of the MGH Cardiology Division,
has found that blood levels of a protein called ST2 both indicate the
presence of heart failure among patients with shortness of breath and
powerfully predict the risk that a patient will die during the following
year.
Avoiding high gas prices and enjoying a better commute MGHers have many choices to avoid giving in to high gas prices and frustrating
commutes. As a charter member of A Better City Transportation Management
Association (ABC TMA), the MGH offers staff and employees incentives
to participate in several commuting options.
Treating arm pain through the mind/body connection It is increasingly recognized that patients may benefit from an approach to
care that addresses both the cognitive and physical aspects of pain:
mind/body medicine. The
MGH Orthopædic Hand and Upper Extremity Service recently introduced
the Multidisciplinary Arm Pain Program to integrate the best of both
traditional and mind/body medical care.
In memoriam: Peter Michael Yurchak, MD Peter Michael Yurchak, MD, of MGH Cardiology, died July 30 of pancreatic cancer in Boston. A gifted cardiologist and teacher, Yurchak was widely considered a true gentleman. He was 74.
August 17, 2007