to exercise," says Dr. Chugh.     
*Diet is key.  A Mediterranean diet still is considered
just about the heart-healthiest way to eat, but the latest
research confirms once again that it's also important to
keep calories under control. In addition to plentiful
amounts of fruits and vegetables, Dr. Chugh says that
omega-3 fatty acids in the diet from eating fish twice a
week or through high-purity fish oil are considered
beneficial.

Taking even one step toward improving your heart health
will be of benefit. Dr. Chugh points out that if you
correct just one risk factor, such as normalizing your
weight or giving up junk food to help with your blood
glucose levels, your prognosis will improve. This is
because cardiac risk factors aren't separate and unrelated
-- they expand exponentially. "It's not just individual
factors but the combination of the risks," he says. "Go for
whatever ones you can and by doing so you will decrease and
even reverse overall risk."

E-Cigarettes Toxic Too

In their ever-diabolical efforts to sell their dangerous
wares, cigarette manufacturers and marketers have created a
new smoke screen... electronic cigarettes, which are touted
as a safe alternative to smoking. These are small,
battery-powered, refillable devices that resemble
traditional cigarettes but don't actually burn tobacco.
While the product is said to contain "only" pure nicotine
(which is unsafe), a recent FDA analysis indicates nicotine
is not the only danger they present. 

SOMETHING'S BURNING

"E-cigarettes" are positioned in a way similar to nicotine
patches and chewing gums, as being helpful to smokers
trying to kick the habit, according to Steven Marcus, MD,
of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey.
The new "fake cigarettes" supposedly contain just liquid
nicotine -- but a recent FDA report found nitrosamines in
half the samples from the two leading brands tested.   Dr.
Marcus made it a point to say that "you should not get
nitrosamines unless you burn something" and that "these
things are not supposed to burn."  Nitrosamines are the key
carcinogens in tobacco. So the question is, if there is
nothing burning in e-cigarettes, then where do the
nitrosamines come from?

Also curious was the fact that manufacturers chose to
produce the e-cigarettes in a variety of flavors, from
chocolate to cherry in addition to the traditional tobacco
flavor. (Note: The FDA just banned flavoring in actual
cigarettes.) Though of course older folks may like these,
too, they seem especially appealing to kids -- and
e-cigarettes are primarily sold online, where age
restrictions aren't enforceable. Dr. Marcus told me he is
concerned about the potential for misuse of the product,
which can result in an overdose of nicotine, and be
dangerous to the heart. The bottom line, he says, is "this
is nicotine, this is dangerous, and the goal should be to
stop smoking."