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LAS VEGAS, NV, June 14, 2021 ” On the heels of his #1 hit, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” with Olivia Newton-John, music legend and current Tik Tok sensation Paul Anka will release his second single, the title track from his forthcoming album, Making Memories. The album, with all of the songs penned and performed by this legendary songwriter, is set for release on August 13, 2021, on Green Hill Productions, a subsidiary of Primary Wave Music. Pre-save Making Memories now at: https://greenhill.lnk.to/PAMakingMemories. In addition, Anka will launch a 22-city North American concert tour, Anka Sings Sinatra, beginning October 22 and running through March 2022.
“I’ve been sitting around all year, like everybody else, and realizing all the memories that I’ve had of springs and summers of the past few years ” and those memories have gotten me through the last year,” said Anka about the inspiration behind Making Memories. “It’s been a time of reflection and reminiscing – with someone or without – about the foundation of the great life you’ve been blessed with. Plus, how heightened it’s been while being with a loved one during this time of being so confined and isolated.”
With the release of Making Memories a brand-new collection of reimagined classics and new recordings, Anka is not only excited about this new music but getting back on the road to perform in concert for his fans. This unique and highly anticipated tour will feature Anka paying tribute to his friend, one of the greatest entertainers ever to take the stage: Frank Sinatra. Tickets go on sale starting Friday, June 18, 2021. VIP Packages will be available in select markets and will include exclusive Paul Anka merchandise.
“The Anka Sings Sinatra tour will honor a great artist who has influenced me more than anyone else throughout my career, Frank Sinatra,” said Anka. “This show will also feature the hits that have spanned my career on this 65th anniversary year. It will be a night filled with his songs, my songs, my way!”
Speaking of songs, Making Memories will not only feature the new, #1 duet with Newton-John but, also a newly reimagined version of his 1957 hit, “You Are My Destiny,” which Anka performs with the multi-national classical crossover vocal group Il Divo. On the heels of “My Way’s” 50th anniversary, perhaps one of his most famous self-penned hits, Anka has rerecorded this classic with vocals by Michael Bublé and Andrea Bocelli. In addition to revisiting these classics, Making Memories also features all new songs written by Anka.
To this day Anka, who has been called the ‘Justin Bieber of his time,’ continues to inspire and influence many musicians ” from Drake to The Weeknd to Michael Bublé to Michael Jackson ” all who share respect and admiration for Anka and his music. Approaching his 80th birthday on July 30 with passion, the upcoming North American and new music, Anka will always be making new memories.
For additional information about the new album and concert tour visit www.PaulAnka.com and follow Paul on social media:
Instagram: @PaulAnkaOfficial Twitter: @PaulAnka
Facebook: @PaulAnkaOfficial TikTok: @OfficialPaulAnka
PAUL ANKA – “ANKA SINGS SINATRA”
TOUR SCHEDULE 2021-2022
2021
October 22 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury
October 24 Lancaster, PA American Music Theatre
October 26 Morristown, NJ Mayo Performing Arts Center
October 27 Bethlehem, PA Wind Creek Casino
October 29 Northfield, OH MGM Northfield Park
October 30 New Buffalo, MI Silver Creek Events Center Four Winds Casino
November 2 St. Charles, IL Aracada Theatre
November 6 Niagara Falls, ON Fallsview Casino
November 7 Ledyard, CT Mohegan Sun
November 10 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
November 12 Lynn, MA Lynn Auditorium
November 13 Bensalem, PA Parx Casino
November 16 Staten Island, NY St. George Theatre
November 19 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Center for the Arts
2022
February 17 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
February 19 The Villages, FL The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center
February 20* Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
February 22 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Broward Center: Au-Rene Theater
March 5 Los Angeles, CA Saban Theatre
March 10 Las Vegas, NV The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
March 12 Palm Springs, CA Fantasy Springs Casino
March 14** Scottsdale, AZ Arizona Musicfest
* Greatest Hits Show
** On sale June 28
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About Paul Anka:
Born July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Canada, into a close-knit family, Paul Anka didn’t waste time getting his life in music started. From an early age he sang in a choir, studied piano and honed his writing skills with journalism courses, even working as a cub reporter at the Ottawa Citizen. By 13, he had his own vocal group, the Bobbysoxers. Blinded by determination, he would take his mother’s car and drive to perform at every amateur night he could across the river in Quebec. Soon after, he won a trip to New York by winning a Campbell’s soup contest that required him to spend three months collecting soup can labels. After visiting the music hub of New York, was there that his dream to make it as a singer composer was solidified. There was not a doubt in his young tenacious mind. In 1956, he convinced his parents to let him travel to Los Angeles to visit his uncle, where he hitchhiked to a meeting with Modern Records that led to the release of Anka’s first single, “Blau-Wile Deveest Fontaine.” The inspiration for the song came from a book he was reading for a report he had to write for Fisher Park school by the former Governor General of Canada, John Buchan. Although it was not a hit, Anka kept plugging away. He went so far as to sneak into Fats Domino’s dressing room in Ottawa to meet him and his manager. In the dressing room, Fats Domino and Chuck Berry were sitting there and Anka sang his music to them. They told him to stay in school. When Anka returned to New York in 1957, he scored a meeting with Don Costa, the A&R representative for ABC Paramount Records, playing him a batch of songs that included “Diana”. Costa was duly enthusiastic about the potential of the young singer and songwriter. The rapid and enormous success of “Diana”, his first number one hit, made him a star at the young age of 15. Soon Paul found himself traveling by bus with the ‘Cavalcade of Stars’ with the top names of the day. He honed his craft surrounded by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Frankie Lymon, and Chuck Berry. Anka was the youngest entertainer to ever perform at the Copacabana. After a few hit songs, Anka confident in his talent as a writer wisely knew that being a songwriter meant the power was in the pen. As a result, he went on to write for Connie Francis, Leslie Gore, and Buddy Holly (including the last song Holly ever recorded, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”). Other hit songs include the Academy Award-nominated theme for the 1962 film in which he starred, The Longest Day. He notably penned the longest running theme in television history for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Songwriting and performing “are what gave me the confidence to keep going,” he says. In the early 60’s, he became a junior associate of Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Even with the British invasion, Anka still had chart records. He moved to Italy and outsold the Italians, selling an astonishing 4 million records there. In the late 60’s, Anka wrote “My Way” for Frank Sinatra and by the 70’s, he had another string of hits like “(You’re) Having My Baby”, “Don’t Like to Sleep Alone”, and “Times of Your Life” which confirmed his status as an icon of popular music. His later achievements as a recording artist included the charted song, “Hold Me ‘Til the Morning Comes,” a hit duet with Peter Cetera in 1983, the Spanish language album Amigos in 1996, and Body of Work, a 1998 duets album that featured Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Tom Jones and daughter Anthea Anka. If this wasn’t enough, it was revealed upon its release in 2009, that Anka cowrote Michael Jackson’s posthumous #1 worldwide hit, “This Is It,” which has further cemented his place upon the most prolific and versatile songwriters of any generation. Not one to rest on his laurels, Rock Swings and Classic Songs, My Way ” ingeniously featured songs originally created by some of the biggest rock performers of the day. Anka, of course, did the songs ‘his way.’ Rock Swings went Top 10 in the UK, and was certified gold in the UK, France, and Canada, hit No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums chart and went on to sell half a million units worldwide. On November 15, 2011, Anka released his first Christmas album in decades. Songs of December featured lush romantic versions of popular Christmas songs such as “Let It Snow”, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”. All were recorded with a full orchestra in the renowned Capitol studios and sung by a music legend. It is a true holiday classic. In April 2013, Anka released his New York Times Bestselling autobiography, published by St. Martin’s Press, entitled My Way. This autobiography is a remarkable story of a decades-long career as an entertainer, actor, and songwriter. During the same time, his new 14-song album entitled Duets was released by Sony Music Entertainment and featured artists such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones, Celine Dion, and Michael Bublé (who Anka was with from the start of his career as well as co-producer on his self-titled album in 2003). Duets provides a musical journey through the life and times of Paul Anka and includes heartfelt liner notes written by Anka himself as an introduction to the classic songs he and his collaborators have chosen. Duets set a milestone in Billboard Chart history because with the CD, Anka became the only artist to have a CD on the Billboard Top 100 Chart for seven consecutive decades. In 2014, Anka saw the release of another song he co-wrote with Michael Jackson entitled “Love Never Felt So Good” off of Jackson’s album Xscape. The song was also recorded as a duet with Justin Timberlake. As lead song off of Jackson’s CD and it’s first single, it has received massive radio, sales, and critical success and reached #1 in over 50 countries. 2018, Anka’s collaboration with Michael Jackson and Drake on the song “Don’t Matter to Me” was released on Drake’s “Scorpion”. The song alone had over 400 million downloads and reached the top 10 on Billboard charts. In 2020, Anka wowed the judges and audiences alike during his time on the hit television competition show, The Masked Singer.
About Green Hill:
Green Hill Productions, a subsidiary of Primary Wave Music, is a boutique record label currently celebrating 25 of creating top-quality lifestyle music for every mood. With over 500 titles in its diverse catalog, Green Hill covers an amazing variety of genres and targeted themes including jazz, New Age, Celtic, Christmas, chillout, bluegrass, Cajun, easy listening, nature, piano, romance, relaxation, oldies, beach, western, world patriotic, big band, classic crooners, and many others. In addition, Green Hill produces recordings on such performers as Olivia Newton-John, Paul Anka, Frankie Valli, David Arkenstone, Beegie Adair, Jim Brickman, Jack Jezzro, Luke Master, and more.
Source: Caprio Media Design
Relieving Joint Pain
The health benefits of regular exercise are undeniable, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of exercise at least five times per week. However, high-impact exercises like running and weight training can lead to joint pain, especially if you have a joint condition. The good news is that smart exercises with low impact can alleviate joint pain and deliver the same health benefits.
Here are a few tips to consider:
Keep Moving
Trying to protect your joints by not moving actually does more harm than good. Regular exercise can actually help joint pain and ease symptoms of chronic joint conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just be sure to talk to your doctor about your exercise plan before you get started.
Go Low Impact
You don’t need to put tremendous weight on your joints or jump up and down in order to break a sweat or elevate your heartrate. When you’re already in pain, this type of exercise can actually make things worse. Instead, opt for high-quality, low-impact workouts.
There are now exercise machines available for home use that provide the same quality low-impact workout you’d get in physical therapy. Consider the Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer, a seated exercise machine that takes the weight off the joints while torching calories.
Unlike other recumbent machines which can be bad for the knees, the FreeStep mimics a natural stepping motion that prevents knees from traveling over the toes, as well as stabilizes the back and hips. And you don’t have to sacrifice workout quality ” in fact, research shows that FreeStep users burn 17.4 percent more calories than when using a recumbent bike at the same level of effort. Beyond calorie burn, it also offers full-body resistance training, which is especially important, as weak muscles can be a root cause of pain.
Hydrate
It may seem obvious, but ensuring that you drink the recommended daily intake of water is vital to reducing pain in your joints.
Proper hydration helps your body eliminate wastes and toxins that can lead to painful joint conditions. Plus, it helps to keep the joints lubricated and flexible, reducing friction and inflammation and helping to maintain healthy tissue.
Stretch Daily
Stretching increases flexibility and range of motion, improves movement and function, reduces pain and stiffness and prevents further injury. Just remember to move slowly and keep it gentle.
At the very least, spend a good five to 10 minutes in the morning stretching your hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles and hip flexors.
For a free photo guide to “5 Daily Stretches to Relieve Knee & Joint Pain,” visit teeter.com/freestep-guide.
With the right exercises and maintenance program, you can improve your health and get a stronger body, without pain. (StatePoint)
ARLINGTON, Va and SAN DIEGO, June 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Meals on Wheels America is expanding a successful research program showing how Meals on Wheels drivers can use a mobile app to alert care coordinators about observed changes in homebound meal clients’ physical or mental health, social needs or home environment. The program ” developed with the West Health Institute and the Brown University Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research ” will grow to include up to 30 Meals on Wheels sites across the country, helping ensure the wellness of an estimated 40,000 seniors.
As part of Meals on Wheels’ “more than just a meal” service model, staff and volunteer drivers deliver meals and visit clients in their homes regularly. They not only get to know their clients well through these visits; they may also be the only person some clients see in a given day. Collectively, this nutritious meal, friendly visit, and routine check-in help address three of the biggest threats to successful aging: hunger, isolation and loss of independence. By setting up drivers who know their clients with this app-based monitoring program, they are able to quickly and proactively notify Meals on Wheels care coordinators about any health or safety issues among their clients, facilitating connections with additional services and supports.
“When Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers are equipped with simple, yet effective screening tools while on their deliveries, they’re better able to react to changing conditions in seniors’ physical and mental state or environment before a particularly harmful health event occurs,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “This ability to respond in close to real-time can ultimately contribute to more agile coordination across medical and community-based service providers, improving outcomes and reducing costs.”
The expansion of this app-based alert and response program includes the following Meals on Wheels locations, and will continue through 2020:
A pilot of the alert and response program at two sites ” Meals on Wheels San Diego County and Meals on Wheels Guernsey County, Ohio ” demonstrated that Meals on Wheels drivers can effectively use an app called “Mobile Meals,” part of Accessible Solutions, Inc.’s ServTracker software, to send an alert to a care coordinator at the Meals on Wheels program about any changes in the health, safety or well-being of their home-delivered meal clients identified during a routine delivery. The care coordinator then responded by following up with the client to address their needs and refer them to appropriate health or social services as necessary. Within the two pilot sites, this alert and response program was tested across approximately 20 meal delivery routes serving nearly 900 clients.
“By collaborating with Meals on Wheels America, we’ve developed a safe, cost-effective and scalable program to preemptively identify and address concerns that too often result in deterioration of a senior’s medical condition or pose a major safety risk,” said Dr. Zia Agha, chief medical officer at West Health. “We’re excited learnings from this research program are now being implemented across the country within Meals on Wheels America’s expanded program that will positively impact as many seniors as possible.”
About West Health
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations including the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego, and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org and follow @westhealth.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
SOURCE West Health; Meals on Wheels America
(StatePoint) When you think about exercise, you likely envision using the treadmill or lifting weights. But every bit as important to your long-term health and wellness are activities that keep your mind sharp and your cognitive abilities strong and limber.
Here are several things you can do to help keep your mind sharp:
• Solve a Crossword Puzzle: A crossword puzzle asks you to reach into your long-term memory bank to solve clues. You may be filling in boxes, but well-constructed crossword puzzles will require you to think outside the box, as sometimes clues are a bit trickier than they seem at first glance, relying on wordplay or double meanings to work. A relaxing way to unwind and concentrate, consider adding this ritual into your morning.
• Get More from Nature: On your next nature hike, don’t check out mentally. Set goals and keep your senses alert, paying attention to sounds, sights and smells. New tech, such as Casio WSD-F30 Pro Trek Smart Outdoor Watch, can help. The watch features apps to support your hike, including Location Memory to record information on trails and viewpoints along the way, as well as Moment Setter to notify you when you reach your targeted altitude.
• Learn a Language: A multilingual brain works more efficiently, and it is never too late to pick up a new language. There are many languages apps available to help, some of them free, as well as more traditional taped audio lessons you can pop on while commuting to work or doing chores around the house.
• Make Math Fun: Want to build your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to problem solve? Delve into mathematics with fun math puzzles found online. Free online software, such as ClassPad.net, includes resources to help you solve problems, from simple calculations to statistics, graphing and more.
• Get Sleep: Sufficient high-quality sleep is one of the most fundamental ways to maintain a sharp mind and keep your brain healthy through the years. Between 7-9 hours a night is ideal for adults, according to the National Sleep Foundation. If you aren’t sleeping well, or feel foggy during the day, consider how to shift your evening routine to get more and better quality sleep.
From math puzzles to crossword puzzles to nature walks, prioritizing workouts for the mind will help you stay sharp.
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PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Halfpoint / stock.Adobe.com
(StatePoint) When visiting one of the stunningly diverse 419 national park sites nationwide, experts say it is important to recognize the individuals who have spoken up over the decades to protect and enhance these incredible places, as well as the work that is still needed.
“It’s difficult to imagine what the U.S. would be like without the Grand Canyon or the Great Smoky Mountains or the Statue of Liberty. National parks offer more than hiking paths, beachfronts and mountaintops,” says Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “We find a sense of identity and inspiration in these treasured places. They speak to who we are as Americans.”
Additionally, national parks offer veterans, active-duty members and their families places of solace, healing, and reflection, while honoring their service. More than a quarter of our national park sites commemorate military history, from Gettysburg in Pennsylvania to places such as Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, where Buffalo Soldiers were the first park rangers.
National parks don’t exist as they do today by accident. Today, Florida Panthers still roam in Florida’s Everglades; hikers in Joshua Tree don’t gaze at what would have been the country’s largest landfill; and the country’s diverse and shared history is celebrated in national parks, from Cesar Chavez to Birmingham to Stonewall, thanks to the work of conservationists, including NPCA.
For 100 years, NPCA has served as a fearless defender of national parks. The idea for NPCA came at the urging of the first National Park Service director, Stephen Mather and his colleague, Robert Sterling Yard, who believed that national parks needed a voice, separate from the federal government, whose sole responsibility was to protect and enhance them for present and future generations.
“The earliest park advocates shared a goal that lives on today, of ensuring the wonder of these places is preserved,” says Pierno. Each of us serves as beneficiaries of their vision and action. Now it’s our turn to ensure that 100 years from now, people will still be able to watch Old Faithful erupt at Yellowstone, learn about the history of our democracy at Independence Hall and stand in amazement as brown bears wade into Brooks Falls searching for fish at Katmai in Alaska.”
Unfortunately, national parks continue to face threats, including pollution that is harming their air and water, climate change, energy development, inadequate federal funding and a list of repair needs that is nearly $12 billion across the entire National Park System. Experts say that parks are also threatened by attempts to derail policies and laws meant to protect these treasured places — from carving up national monuments for development to fast-tracking oil and gas leasing in and near some of America’s last truly wild places. To learn more, visit npca.org/100.
“We need our national parks, and they need us to stand up and be a voice,” says Pierno.
(StatePoint) For many people, owning a home is the American dream, and the single biggest financial investment they will ever make. With the stakes so high, in addition to picking out the perfect property, it’s critical to have the right insurance.
While homeowners may start out with the right amount when they first purchase their home, over time, their policy can become outdated. Why? One big reason is inflation.
“Labor and building material costs go up over time, which means that if your home were destroyed by a fire or natural disaster, for example, and you had to rebuild it in today’s dollars, it would very likely cost much more,” said Bob Buckel, vice president and product manager, Erie Insurance. “That’s why we recommend that all homeowners get ‘guaranteed replacement cost’ coverage.”
In addition to making sure your insurance keeps up with inflation, experts also recommend homeowners reach out to their insurance agent when:
There’s more to managing your money than paying your bills and successfully avoiding overdraft charges (although those are definitely steps in the right direction). Effectively managing your money takes time and planning, but the payoff may be a stronger financial future.
Create a budget. Some people avoid making a monthly budget because they think they don’t need one. However, having a clear idea of the money coming in and going out of your bank account each month can help you make better spending decisions. A budget doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as simple as a spreadsheet that lists your monthly income and expenses. Be sure to consider long-term debt, like student loans, and treat your savings account as a payee you owe each month.
Track your spending. In a similar vein, it’s a good idea to see where your non-bill-related spending goes. For example, you may stop by the grocery store more frequently than you realize, and each of those trips is likely going to cost you more than if you limited it to just once or twice a week. Many banks and credit institutions offer charts and graphs that break down your spending so you can see exactly where your money is going and use that information to make adjustments.
Research big purchases. What constitutes “big” may vary depending on your circumstances and financial status, but regardless of the dollar amount, doing some due diligence before purchases is a good idea. The average millennial will do 4.6 hours of research before buying a big-ticket item like a mattress or car, according to a survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mattress Firm.
Millennials are also likely to seek input from others, with one in five consulting four or more people for their opinions on a purchase.
“Doing research before making a big purchase can make all the difference,” said Timothy Mayes, Mattress Firm’s senior manager of eCommerce merchandising. “There are several resources available such as online reviews, blogs and even guides on the best time to buy that can help save you money on larger purchases. If you find yourself overwhelmed with too many options, recommendations from friends and family are the best resources to help you narrow down your choices.”
Prepare for emergencies. If a single unexpected event would cripple you financially, it’s a good idea to build an emergency fund that could help you weather through a storm. A job loss, accident or illness would substantially alter your income, expenses or both, so having at least a few months of salary stashed in savings could make a major difference in how long that unfortunate scenario affects your life.
Finance purchases responsibly. Building credit takes time and responsibility, but if you don’t ever borrow money, you won’t have a chance to earn the rates reserved for exceptional credit holders. Financing a moderately sized purchase, such as a mattress, is a good starting point. It may be out of reach for a cash payment, but the balance you carry could be paid in a reasonably short timeframe. To build good credit, always make payments on time and make monthly payments larger than the minimum payment – which is usually just the interest – so you’re actually paying down the principal.
Following these tips and taking advantage of product sites that offer resources and information on a potential purchase may aid in your long-term financial health. Find more information at MattressFirm.com/blog. (Family Features)
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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Source: Mattress Firm
As the saleswoman took Susan Lucci’s purchases to be wrapped, the actress felt it again ” a tightening in her chest that radiated around her ribcage.
She’d felt something similar twice in recent weeks. Both had been mild enough to dismiss.
This time, Lucci described it as “an elephant pressing on my chest.” Using that phrase reminded her of a woman saying the same thing when describing the start of her heart attack.
“Is that what’s happening?” she wondered.
Lucci had good reason to wonder.
At 71, she was in such remarkable shape that in recent months Harper’s Bazaar hailed her as “hotter than ever” and Women’s Health called her a “fitness badass,” a nod to her nearly daily Pilates regimen. Good health also runs in her family; her mom is 101 and still going strong. And, as Lucci stood in that boutique, the only times she’d ever been hospitalized were to give birth to her two children.
Now she was on her way again.
Doctors found blockages clogging nearly 90 percent of the artery that supplies most of the blood to her heart and 75 percent of another artery. A heart attack is a full blockage, so she avoided that. Still, she needed an emergency procedure to insert a stent into each damaged artery.
Thanks to her willingness to seek immediate care, Lucci avoided a potentially fatal result.
Thanks to her healthy lifestyle, she left the hospital the next day ” and performed on stage two days after that.
And thanks to the fame she accumulated as Erica Kane on “All My Children,” Lucci hopes her story can help others. Just like a survivor’s voice spurred her into action, Lucci is encouraging everyone to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and to understand the importance of taking them seriously.
“Nobody has to die of a heart attack,” she said. “You just have to listen to your symptoms and act on them.”
Warning signs can be different for men and women. They can vary from person to person.
The most common is pain or discomfort in the chest; lightheadedness; nausea or vomiting; pain radiating in the jaw or neck; discomfort or pain in the arm or shoulder; and shortness of breath.
The form they take doesn’t matter, said Dr. Richard Shlofmitz, the head of cardiology at St. Francis Hospital on Long Island and Lucci’s cardiologist.
What matters, he said, is acknowledging them.
With the warning signs of a heart problem, the only decision should be which phone you use to call 911, he said.
Sometimes people wonder whether they’re having a heart problem. Maybe it’s indigestion or a pulled muscle. Once the pain subsides, they think it’s resolved. Shlofmitz recommends putting the symptoms to a three-prong test:
Did they flare during exertion (which can be as minimal as shopping)?
Did they go away at rest?
Have they occurred more than once?
If the answer to all three is yes, call 911.
“The heart doesn’t fix itself,” he said.
Lucci wants her message to resonate with women, especially since learning that heart disease is their No. 1 killer, claiming more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined.
“We’re not on our own to-do list,” she said. “We are nurturing others. That’s what we do, and we have places to go and people to see, and we don’t think we can fit (caring for ourselves) into our schedules.”
She knows women fear overreacting or being a burden because both of those thoughts crossed her mind. She especially lamented “taking this wonderful doctor’s time away from someone who really needed him.” (As it turned out, Shlofmitz said he sees people in her dire state “probably 2 percent of the time.”)
A recent study backs that up. Researchers in Europe found that women having a heart attack wait about 37 minutes longer than men before calling for medical help.
Ten years ago, Lucci walked the runway in the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection fashion show as a celebrity model. On Thursday night, she’ll walk the runway again ” as a survivor.
Lucci made that connection for the first time during an interview with American Heart Association News. Her eyelids fluttered, appearing to blink away tears. With a smile stretched wide, she said, “There’s so much gratitude in being a survivor.”
Preventing heart disease is always best, but Lucci’s story shows that sometimes it’s inevitable.
“I would like women to pay attention to the symptoms that they’re feeling ” to be in touch with their bodies and to act on those symptoms,” she said. “If you think something needs medical attention, pay attention and go to the doctor.”
Source: American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.
Couples who have shared their lives for decades usually think they’ve long since resolved their differences. However, it’s not uncommon for older couples to face the threat of an unwanted separation in later years because of varying health needs.
Belmont Village Senior Living provides seniors, especially couples, the opportunity to age successfully together by providing a supportive environment and enriching programs for a variety of care levels. The company is a recognized leader in interpreting University-led research into therapeutic programs, offering a whole brain fitness lifestyle that engages people at all activity and cognitive levels. From MBA® (Mind, Body, Awareness), a self-directed program for independent residents who want to stay active and maintain mental acuity, to Circle of Friends®, a dedicated, seven-day-a-week program for residents with mild to moderate memory impairment, to the more tailored care plans for residents with late-stage memory loss, Belmont’s tiered approach allows both partners to interact with their peers socially and maintain their own mental and physical fitness in ways that are appropriate to each partner’s needs.
“Cognitive issues such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are particularly challenging for couples, especially as one partner steps into the caregiving role. Often the affected partner still functions well in other ways but needs a higher level of support than even they may realize. This creates stress for both partners that can make time together difficult and time apart worrisome,” said Beverly Sanborn, Belmont Village Vice President of Program Development. “In those situations, we’ve seen that our Circle of Friends program helps to give them back their personal space in a way that alleviates guilt, fear, and very real physical and emotional strain, allowing the couple to better enjoy time spent together.”
At every tier, Belmont Village provides daily activities that offer engagement and socialization. Professionally trained memory coordinators and activity assistants work with each resident to create a personal, “just right” cognitive challenge, which research shows can help to build cognitive reserve in the brain to keep the mind active, longer, when combined with a healthy diet and an exercise regimen that includes a combination of aerobic and strength-training. And because Belmont Village buildings are licensed throughout to the highest level of care, couples with differing care needs can continue to live together and stay together, even if care needs change.
With 28 locations nationwide and 13 in California, Belmont Village offers unprecedented senior living,
maintaining the highest standards since 1997. Belmont Village designs, builds, owns and operates every community. Each community features a signature blend of hospitality and amenities combined with premier health and wellness programs. Residents have everything they need to thrive ” professionally managed fitness center with therapy services, a licensed nurse and well-trained staff on-site 24/7, and a vibrant social calendar. Hospitality and amenities will include chef-prepared meals, concierge services, an outdoor heated swimming pool, screening room, and a full-service salon. For more information, visit www.belmontvillage.com.
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