MIAMI (CBSMiami) — A South Florida hospital is treating brain aneurysms with new technology. The treatment is minimally invasive and can help get life back to normal for so many people including Bernadette Fields. Last June doctors told Fields she had a large brain aneurysm, which is the bulging of a blood vessel, behind her eye. “What ran through my mind is that it could break and I could die. That’s what went through my mind,” said Fields. For four months, the 72-year old woman waited in fear for her life because doctors said she could bleed to death if the aneurysm ruptured. Given Bernadette’s family history, she had reason to worry. “Well my father had an aneurysm,” she explained. “He died from one.” Fields got good news from Dr. Ali Sultan, a neurosurgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital, when he told her about a new FDA approved Pipeline Embolization Device. It’s a small mesh tube inserted through an artery in the leg and threaded to the area in the brain where the aneurysm is located. “We’re able to treat aneurysms that we’ve never been able to treat in a short amount of time and in a very safe manner,” explained Dr. Sultan. Fields is the first patient to have the procedure performed at Jackson Memorial Hospital. In photos shown at a news conference at JMH Wednesday, the aneurysm was bulging prior to the procedure. After the procedure, the bulge was gone. “What this does is it allows the aneurysm to shrink over time,” said Dr. Sultan. The worry is over for this hardworking waitress. Now she’ll continue living her life to the fullest. “She’s pretty lucky that we’re able to treat this with this type of stent because her particular case was more dangerous than the average aneurysm in that area,” said Dr. Sultan. Jackson is just one of 30 hospitals nationwide now performing this newly approved procedure.  

Reader FitFabCities loves intervals, and wants to get you in on the fun, too! She shared her own Tabata workout in our Community. I love workouts that get you in and out of the gym quickly and this high intensity training ( HIIT ) Tabata workout does just that. So here is how it works: Tabata protocol has you do 20 seconds of high intensity work followed by 10 seconds of rest and you can do any kind of intense interval from sprints to  burpees to pushups. You complete that pattern back and forth for a full four minute block, take a much needed break then put those four minute blocks together to make up an 8, 12, 16 or 20 minute workout. Another great thing: Tabata protocol has been scientifically proven to be the workout that burns the most calories in the least amount of time and high intensity interval training is one of the best ways to flatten your abs and reshape your body. (I’m not kidding, click  here and check out the benefits section.) The whole workout is complete in 16-24 minutes. Oh yeah, and if that wasn’t enough to make you fall in love with Tabata, it also raises your metabolism for the next 24 to 36 hours so you burn an additional 100 to 150 calories watching Emily take down the Graysons on  Revenge (my new obsession) or someone start a fight on Real Housewives (my forever obsession). Who doesn’t love that? Get the workout breakdown and video after the break.

Weight-Loss Research: Want to lose body fat? A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that focusing on calories — not the balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate — is the key, the WSJ reports . Those on a low-protein diet did gain less weight than those on regimens with more protein, but body fat increased by about the same amount among study participants, the paper reports. Meantime, a separate study appearing in JAMA suggests that the benefits associated with weight-loss surgery are tied to biological changes that can occur independently of weight loss, the paper reports . Blunt Childhood Obesity Ads: A new ad campaign running in Georgia is causing controversy for its blunt portrayal of childhood and adolescent obesity, Time’s Healthland blog reports . The Strong4Life campaign, from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, features overweight kids and teens saying things such as “Mom, why am I fat?” Experts are torn on whether such shock tactics work; some say a better approach would be to offer practical advice for families on eating more healthfully. Concern Over Dioxin Limits: Farmers and others in the food industry are worried that pending federal guidance on consumption of chemicals known as dioxins will set a safety threshold that falls below what consumers eat now, leading to confusion and alarm, the WSJ reports . Dioxins can appear in agricultural products such as meat and dairy products. A spokeswoman for the EPA says the final guidance will take public comments into consideration. Higher Readmissions: A study published in JAMA finds that heart-attack patients in the U.S. more often find themselves back in the hospital within a month than patients in other countries, possibly because of a shorter initial stay, the Los Angeles Times’ Booster Shots blog reports . The median length of hospital stay in the U.S. was three days, compared to eight days for Germany. Image: iStockphoto

Here’s a crazy story that FitSugar reader Beaner posted in the RunningSugar community group about a recent run. The only jewelry I wear when I do cardio is my nose ring and my weddings rings, but last week the warmer weather inspired me to go for a run, so I quickly threw on my running clothes and headed out the door. Just as I finished my warm-up, the strange whistling in my ear made me realize I forgot to take off my absolute favorite pair of earrings. There was no secure place to put them, so I just tucked the dangly parts underneath my hat. Problem solved. Like I said, it was especially warm that day, so after a few minutes, I ended up having to pull off my hat and stick it in my pocket. I was doing my usual three-mile loop and just as I was coming up the hill toward home, I realized I had lost one earring. Without even thinking, I turned around and started running the loop backwards – I knew it must have dropped when I took my hat off. Sure enough, there it was sparkling on the ground, and I was beaming. I scooped it up and headed back home. Using the Nike + GPS app, I was tracking my run and realized this whole earring mishap resulted in a six-mile run, and my pace was 20 seconds faster than normal. Who knew a little earring could be such an awesome personal trainer? I was happy running my moderately-paced three miles, but this incident made me realize I was totally capable of running faster and longer. Since then, I’ve been pushing myself to run four miles instead. It’s not a huge difference, but I definitely feel stronger, faster, and I’m actually enjoying the longer run. I’m definitely not recommending you lose one of you favorite personal possessions in the name of a good workout, but take this as a little whisper of inspiration to kick your running routine up a notch. Need more workout inspiration or have a running question? Check out the RunningSugar community group, and something you post might be featured here on FitSugar.

Uh-oh. So you showed up to the gym, ready to work out, only to discover that you forgot your socks. Or, even worse, your shoes! Before using this as an excuse to get out of a workout, see our solutions on how to hit the gym floor even when missing an essential piece of clothing! Sports Bra Forgetting your sports bra is enough to ruin any workout - I know, I’ve been there. Before you hightail it out of the gym, know that there are workouts you can still do (but others that should always be avoided). Keep in mind that lack of proper support from a sports bra can cause pain , elasticity loss, and stretch marks. Not a pretty sight, right? Wearing your regular everyday bra, choose low-impact activities that are not going to cause much, if any, bounce. Weightlifting, yoga, and walking on the treadmill are all good bets. Gym Lock While it may be tempting to leave belongings in a gym locker without the protection of a lock, don’t. Gym theft does happen, and when your stuff is stolen from an unsecured locker, most gyms will not cover the loss. While it may be annoying, bring your belongings with you onto the gym floor. Stash your bag next to the machine you’re working out on; if you’re taking a class, leave your bag against a wall where you can see it. See how to handle forgetting your shoes, pants, or socks after the break!

I’m in a cycling state of mind, and not just because the Tour de France starts this weekend. After a stint roaming around city streets while I was on vacation, I’m hooked on finding the best bike to do the same at home. But as a beginner city cyclist I’m overwhelmed by all the information and choices available. To dip my feet in the bicycling waters, I checked out the bikes at Lombardi’s Sports , a local sport shop, and learned some tips from the bike specialists there. The first thing they recommend is to figure out the main purpose for your shiny new ride. Knowing a rough percentage of the time you envision yourself commuting to work or whether you primarily want to use your bike for exercise will help you decide whether a road, hybrid, or mountain bike is for you. Read on for more recommendations for first-time bike buyers.

The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation is known as a miscarriage, though we don’t as yet know all of the reasons that cause a miscarriage. However we do know that a miscarriage can sometimes be devastating for all concerned. Before looking at what causes a miscarriage, here are some facts about miscarriage that may help put things in perspective: 20 to 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Up to 75% of miscarriages take place in the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy. Some miscarriages occur so early that the woman may not yet be even aware that she was pregnant. There is very little that a woman can do or not to do to prevent a miscarriage – working, having sex, exercising and other normal behaviors are not what causes a miscarriage . We don’t yet know all of the reasons for a miscarriage, though a woman’s advanced age, certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, certain prescription medications, lifestyle habits of either parents and so on are known to increase risk of miscarriage. General reasons understood for what causes a miscarriage are: Chromosomal Abnormalities These are thought to be the cause of up to 60% of miscarriages according to some experts. A mismatch of chromosomes from the mother and the father; when the egg and the sperm meet, can result in a miscarriage. In such miscarriages , the chances are high that a woman will go on to have a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby. Genetic Reasons Sometimes the genetic abnormalities that a fetus has are so severe, that life in the uterus cannot be sustained and this is what causes a miscarriage . A proper heart or brain may not have formed, and there could be other severe malformations; genetic problems that could result in a pregnancy loss. Tissue rejection New reasons for miscarriages are now coming to light and according to some experts, one of the reasons are Antiphospholipid antibodies. These are antibodies within the system, that attack one’s own tissue, including embryos, ejecting them and thereby causing miscarriage. Uterine Abnormalities Sometimes it is a physical reason such as malformations of the uterus that prevent a child being carried to term It may be necessary to use an MRI to detect such malformations and in some cases surgery could correct these problems. Sometimes it is the scarring in the uterus or an incompetent cervix that prevents a baby being carried to term. Infections and medical conditions Exposure to certain diseases when a woman is pregnant, such as measles can cause miscarriages. Certain bacterial infections, or infections of the urinary tract and so on may also be responsible for causing a miscarriage. An estimated 5 to 10% women have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and this is one of the reasons thought to cause miscarriages. There are hormonal imbalances that are thought to be the cause of miscarriage. Thyroid imbalances and uncontrolled diabetes are thought to create unfavorable an uterine environment which, in some cases is what causes a miscarriage.

The sad outcome of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan hit close to home for many around the world. It also may have reminded you that the need for an emergency plan and kit for your family is essential. But there’s much more to consider than the three days of food and water supply you need to keep on hand. While it may not be pleasant to think about, making a kit helps ensure you are best prepared for the unexpected. So what are you waiting for? Check out the list of essential medication and health-related items you need to have in your emergency kit after the break.

As a big fan of movies, quotations from films are often in the forefront of my mind. One line of dialogue that’s made an indelible impression on me is from the 2005 box-office bomb, The Weather Man. In the film, the esteemed actor Michael Caine offers some prescient words of wisdom to his adult son, Related posts: Theaflavins and Heart Health Hazelnut Heart Health The Truth About Garlic and Heart Health Herbs for Allergies, Heart Health and Chronic Fatigue Olive Oil and Heart Health

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