James Gandolfini's death hit hard here in New Jersey. He was a larger-than-life figure in this state, and that, in a literal sense, may have had something to do with his sudden death at the age of 51.
The Star-Ledger, the newspaper "Tony Soprano" retrieved off his driveway every morning, interviewed Cardiologist Barry Cohen of Morristown Medical Center on June 21st about identifying and potentially avoiding fatal heart attacks, which (pending an autopsy) is believed to have killed Mr. Gandolfini.
Dr. Cohen is Medical Director of the cardiac catheterization lab at Morristown, and author of the book "Coronary Heart Disease: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment."
Dr. Cohen described a fatal heart attack as a situation where the arteries feeding the heart muscle - he used the helpful analogy of a gas line to your engine - become clogged. There is instability in the electrical impulses to the heart, and the heart goes into a chaotic rhythm.
Symptoms of a fatal heart attack are familiar to many: shortness of breath, chest pain, arm pain, throat pain and sweating. However, approximately one-third of heart attacks occur without any warning.
While Mr. Gandolfini was overweight, that in itself is considered an independent risk factor. There are others, including elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which can be weight-related; and smoking. The most important factor is family history. I have read many times that family history is 50%, and all other factors can add up to the other half. So no matter what shape you are in, you can't out-run your genes.
As far as triggers to an actual heart attack, everyone is familiar with these: stress, anger, and, again, smoking.
As far as prevention, Dr. Cohen's suggestions are solid and sound: a diet low in saturated fats, with lots of fruits and vegetables, and exercise. If you are smoking, quit now! See a doctor regularly for check-ups, and monitor your blood pressure. Don't just shake it off if you feel any of the symptoms of a heart attack mentioned above. It may be the warning sign to get medical help before a fatal heart attack occurs.
Larger than life in a mythic sense is one thing - in a literal sense, it's quite different.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
MS BIke Ride 2013
Every year, members of my health club and I participate in the "Coast the Coast" 25-Mile Bike Ride for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, held the third Saturday of May.
The ride starts at my old college, Monmouth University in West Long Branch, winds through the side streets of Monmouth County to Spring Lake, and returns up Ocean Avenue through Belmar, Asbury Park and other well-known Shore points.
While there are some very serious riders participating, it is a non-competitive event, with people of all ages and abilities out on various types of bikes, raising money for a great cause. I am happy to say that "Team Mountain Fitness" raised over $1800 and had a strong showing of 12 riders!
Since age eight, my son, Max had always participated, but his year could not due to a conflict with a track meet. However, my brother-in-law, Bill, and nephew, Daniel, joined in for the first time, and it was good to have the family representation.
The weather forecast looked great, but like most days this Spring in New Jersey, dawn brought clouds and mist. Luckily, the skies held up for us, as "Team Mountain Fitness" embarked together on our ride.
The ride down was leisurely, and at the halfway point, all the riders stop for juice and protein bars provided by the MS Society. The comraderie on this day is really special, as everyone mingles and takes pictures. It is a day that holds true to the Mark Twain saying, "There are no strangers. Just friends you haven't met!"
I pick up the pace on the return trip, and my quads get a good workout as I push my Trek hybrid bike against the wind as we head back north along the ocean. I try to get back in time to get off my bike and take pictures of the rest of our group as they finish. We eat lunch at the college gymnasium, and just beat the rain which comes soaks the state the rest of the weekend.
One of my favorite days of the year!
The ride starts at my old college, Monmouth University in West Long Branch, winds through the side streets of Monmouth County to Spring Lake, and returns up Ocean Avenue through Belmar, Asbury Park and other well-known Shore points.
While there are some very serious riders participating, it is a non-competitive event, with people of all ages and abilities out on various types of bikes, raising money for a great cause. I am happy to say that "Team Mountain Fitness" raised over $1800 and had a strong showing of 12 riders!
Since age eight, my son, Max had always participated, but his year could not due to a conflict with a track meet. However, my brother-in-law, Bill, and nephew, Daniel, joined in for the first time, and it was good to have the family representation.
The weather forecast looked great, but like most days this Spring in New Jersey, dawn brought clouds and mist. Luckily, the skies held up for us, as "Team Mountain Fitness" embarked together on our ride.
The ride down was leisurely, and at the halfway point, all the riders stop for juice and protein bars provided by the MS Society. The comraderie on this day is really special, as everyone mingles and takes pictures. It is a day that holds true to the Mark Twain saying, "There are no strangers. Just friends you haven't met!"
I pick up the pace on the return trip, and my quads get a good workout as I push my Trek hybrid bike against the wind as we head back north along the ocean. I try to get back in time to get off my bike and take pictures of the rest of our group as they finish. We eat lunch at the college gymnasium, and just beat the rain which comes soaks the state the rest of the weekend.
One of my favorite days of the year!
Bob Beckert Run 2013
The Bob Beckert 5-K Run is an annual event for me and many members of our health club, as chronicled in earlier posts. It is an important run for me. Our club is one of the sponsors, it's local, I practice on the course dozens of times through the year, and it's my first race following the Long Branch half every Spring.
Held on the first Sunday of June (and benefitting a scholarship fund at Watchung Hills High School in Mr. Beckert's name), it transitions the winter training aspect of my running year to the summer racing part.
It's my favorite part of the running year, as the doldrums and pain of intervals on the treadmill hopefully pay off with decent times in my races. I love the heat as well, and the Beckert Run did not disappoint, with the temperatures in the 80's, and sticky!
Two weeks prior to the race, our club's running group did three race-paced mile intervals on part of the course, finishing with the killer hill up the high school parking lot at the end. I also took two days off from
running before the race (just lifting), to be fresh, and to also rest a mysteriously aching right knee.
My traditional mile warm-up on the high school track felt good, and I was mentally and physically ready to go.
The first mile is mostly downhill and key to getting a good finishing time. Although it takes me longer and longer to "get in fifth gear" every succeeding year, I did start relatively fast, and reached the mile at 6:02.
I was neck-and-neck with a runner in his mid-20's at that point, and we informally ran together through the duration, each within two steps of each other throughout. This helped us both through the middle of the race, as we held in fifth and sixth places in the field of 200 or so.
When it came to the aforementuioned hill at the end, he gained a step on me, I closed near the end, but finished sixth overall in a satisfying time of 20:02, seconds off my best on the course, and first in the 50-59 age-group.
The key, I felt, was maintaining contact with the other runner throughout the race. I never started daydreaming or thinking of body parts hurting or things going wrong. It was steady oxygen-debt running, but focused, focused, focused. On to the next race...!
Held on the first Sunday of June (and benefitting a scholarship fund at Watchung Hills High School in Mr. Beckert's name), it transitions the winter training aspect of my running year to the summer racing part.
It's my favorite part of the running year, as the doldrums and pain of intervals on the treadmill hopefully pay off with decent times in my races. I love the heat as well, and the Beckert Run did not disappoint, with the temperatures in the 80's, and sticky!
Two weeks prior to the race, our club's running group did three race-paced mile intervals on part of the course, finishing with the killer hill up the high school parking lot at the end. I also took two days off from
running before the race (just lifting), to be fresh, and to also rest a mysteriously aching right knee.
My traditional mile warm-up on the high school track felt good, and I was mentally and physically ready to go.
The first mile is mostly downhill and key to getting a good finishing time. Although it takes me longer and longer to "get in fifth gear" every succeeding year, I did start relatively fast, and reached the mile at 6:02.
I was neck-and-neck with a runner in his mid-20's at that point, and we informally ran together through the duration, each within two steps of each other throughout. This helped us both through the middle of the race, as we held in fifth and sixth places in the field of 200 or so.
When it came to the aforementuioned hill at the end, he gained a step on me, I closed near the end, but finished sixth overall in a satisfying time of 20:02, seconds off my best on the course, and first in the 50-59 age-group.
The key, I felt, was maintaining contact with the other runner throughout the race. I never started daydreaming or thinking of body parts hurting or things going wrong. It was steady oxygen-debt running, but focused, focused, focused. On to the next race...!
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