Blogging is hard

Please forgive me for not updating this blog on a regular and consistent basis.

I like to use this blog to write about significant new news or my opinion on something important. However, that takes time. I'm the father of three young, beautiful girls. I'm the busiest Interventional Cardiologist in the Stamford, CT area. I have a busy clinical practice. I spend a good deal of time doing administrative work as the Director of Cath Lab. There is only so much time in the day. Unfortunately, that means that this blog comes last.

Nevertheless, I am an avid reader of Cardiology, nutrition and fitness news. I like to use twitter to share interesting and important pieces of digital content on a frequent basis. To date, I have tweeted over 2000 times. I have more than 500 followers around the world. Please follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/drportnay

I will continue my reading and tweeting. I will try and update this blog at least a few times month.

Thank you for understanding

Naturally raise your HDL levels

High HDL levels are associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes. 

We are still awaiting a specific drug to raise HDL levels. 

Niacin (vitamin B3) is helpful is raising HDL levels. 

Weight loss, smoking cessation, and exercise raise HDL levels. 

Some diet experts advocate eating foods like avocados, lentils, peas, oatmeal, soybeans, and niacin containing foods - such as tomatoes, chicken breast, and mushrooms - to help raise HDL cholesterol. 

@drportnay, 2/28/11 11:31 AM

Dr Ted Portnay (@drportnay) 2/28/11 11:31 AM The Dr Ted Portnay Daily is out! http://bit.ly/eyo6B9 ▸ Top stories today via @drdavidkatz @doctorwes @drsharma @yourhealthnut

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@drportnay, 2/25/11 11:30 AM

Dr Ted Portnay (@drportnay) 2/25/11 11:30 AM The Dr Ted Portnay Daily is out! http://bit.ly/eyo6B9 ▸ Top stories today via @hearthub @missfitness33 @healthyamerica1 @scrippshealth

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@drportnay, 2/24/11 11:40 AM

Dr Ted Portnay (@drportnay) 2/24/11 11:40 AM The Dr Ted Portnay Daily is out! http://bit.ly/eyo6B9 ▸ Top stories today via @flheartgroup @healthtoheart @yonifreedhoff @yourhealthnut

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Recent tweets

1. Aspirin, Cost-Effective Heart Disease Preventionhttp://mnt.to/f/3Rvrabout 3 hours ago via NetNewsWire for iPhone
2. Drinking Reduces Heart Problems, But Beware Of Alcholismhttp://mnt.to/f/3Rxbabout 3 hours ago via NetNewsWire for iPhone
3. BMI-death link is same for Asians as Europeanshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Theheartorg/~3/1bImDHCH9aQ/1188959.doabout 4 hours ago via NetNewsWire for iPhone
4. The Dr Ted Portnay Daily is out! http://bit.ly/eyo6B9 ▸ Top stories today via @publichealth @tuftsmedicalctr @shmliveabout 9 hours ago via Paper.li
5. ?Ideal' CV health extremely low among the middle-agedhttp://bit.ly/dEYGzv via Cardiology Today iPhone Appabout 14 hours ago via Cardiology Today
6. Study Finds Nitroglycerin Improves Bone Densityhttp://cardiobrief.org/2011/02/22/study-finds-nitroglycerin-improves-bone-density/about 21 hours ago via NetNewsWire for iPhone
7. A good well written piece on the recent cell phone-brain connection @nprnews: Cell Phone Radio Waves Excite Brain Cells http://t.co/dyIZKTZ3:51 PM Feb 22nd via Tweet Button
8.  USATODAYhealth Simple tests can tell who can drive after stroke, study finds http://usat.ly/dZJvnJ1:55 PM Feb 22nd via twitterfeedRetweeted by drportnay and 7 others
9.  SHMLive One in five Medicare patients were readmitted in 30 days. Study project 75% of readmissions might be preventable. http://bit.ly/fH7IPd2:26 PM Feb 22nd via webRetweeted by drportnay
10.  MedicalNews High Triglycerides Linked to Stroke (CME/CE) http://bit.ly/ffhJ9x2:29 PM Feb 22nd via twitterfeedRetweeted by drportnay and 3 others
11.  TravisSaunders New study: reducing sedentary behaviour impacts energy intake more than expenditurehttp://goo.gl/JmrxY12:09 PM Feb 22nd via webRetweeted by drportnay and 3 others
12. CDC survey: Statin use increased 23% over past two decadeshttp://tinyurl.com/4e4hnkz11:31 AM Feb 22nd via NetNewsWire for iPhone
13. Reducing Medication Errors using an iPod Touch #HIMSS11http://tinyurl.com/4sbncmx11:30 AM Feb 22nd via NetNewsWire for iPhone
14. Physicians Replace Diseased Heart Valve Through Small Hole In The Leg http://tinyurl.com/4e72jtp11:30 AM Feb 22nd via NetNewsWire for iPhone
15. Gender Does Not Increase Risk Of Death From Heart Attackhttp://tinyurl.com/4wfgyt311:29 AM Feb 22nd via NetNewsWire for iPhone
16. Clot Risk Higher in Patients With IBDhttp://tinyurl.com/4cbztj711:28 AM Feb 22nd via NetNewsWire for iPhone

Preventing Heart Disease in Women

The American Heart Association just recently updated its recommendations for preventing heart disease in women

While not a dramatic update, it does change the criteria for high risk from those women with a 20% 10-year risk to those with a 10% 10-year risk.

The authors also added some new criteria for at-risk status, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and three pregnancy complications -- preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

So what are the risk factors for heart disease. I like to think of them as those that are "controllable" and those that are "non-controllable".

Non-controllable Risk Factors

- You have a family history of premature coronary artery disease or stroke (occurring in male family members less than 55 years old, or in women family members less than 65 years old).
- You are age 55 or older
- You are post-menopausal, or have had your ovaries removed
- During pregnancy, you have had preeclampsia (significant hypertension) or gestational diabetes, or you delivered a low-birth-weight baby.

Controllable Risk Factors
- You are overweight or obese
- You have a sedentary lifestyle
- You are a smoker
- You have hypertension
- You have high total cholesterol, and/or reduced HDL cholesterol
- You have diabetes
- You have metabolic syndrome
- You have increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
- You use birth control pills, especially if you are also a smoker

If you have any of these risk factors, this should be discussed with your doctor to better understand your individualized risk for heart disease and steps that can be taken to help reduce this risk.


Mosca L, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, et al. Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of CVD in women—2011 update. A guideline from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2011; DOI:10.1161/CIR.0b013e31820faaf8.