Blood Flow Restored: Reducing Risks For Heart Disease

The human heart beats 100,000 times a day, propelling six quarts of blood through 60,000 miles of vessels–20 times the distance across the US from coast to coast. The blood flows briskly, surging out of a ten-ounce heart so forcefully that large arteries, when severed can send a jet of blood several feet into the air. Normally the relentless current helps keep blood vessels clean. But when an artery bends, tiny eddies form, as in a bend in a river. This is where bits of sticky, waxy cholesterol and fat can seep into the artery wall and oxidize, like butter going rancid. Other matter piles up too. Eventually, the whole mass calcifies into a kind of arterial stucco or plaque.

Until recently, Cardiologists approached heart disease as a plumbing problem. Just as mineral deposits restrict the flow of water through a pipe, an accretion of plaque impedes the flow of water through a pipe; an accretion of plaque reduces the flow of blood through an arterial channel. The more crud in the system, the greater the likelihood that a clogged artery will trigger a heart attack. Doctors now dismiss this "clogged-pipes model" as an idea whose time has passed. It’s just not that simple.

Most heart attacks are caused by plaque embedded within the artery wall that ruptures, cracking the wall and triggering the formation of a blood clot. The clot blocks the flow of blood to the heart muscle, which can die from lack of oxygen and nutrients. Suddenly, the pump stops pumping.

Today, heart specialists agree that heart attacks generally occur in arteries that have minimal or moderate blockage and their occurrence depends more on the kind of plaque than on the quantity. Scientists have been struggling to figure out what type is most responsible. Findings suggest, softer plaques rich in cholesterol are more likely to rupture than the hard, calcified, dense plaques that extensively narrow the artery channel. But understanding the root cause of the disease will require much more research. For one thing, human hearts–unlike plumbing fixtures–are not stamped from a mold. Like the rest of our body parts, they are products of our genes.

Heart disease is not a one-or two-gene problem. Most cardiac researchers suspect that dozens of genes contribute to a disposition: some affect arterial integrity, others inflammation. Both can cause and exacerbate arterial cracks. Additional genes affect the processing of lipids that turn into plaque. Many Cardiologists believe any person’s heart attack risk is “50 percent genetic and 50 percent cheeseburger.”

Start With A Blank Piece Of Paper: Fine Art Of The Sports Car

Where do ideas come from? Ferdinand Porsche’s work at the drawing board was like that of a playwright, with technology always cast in the leading role. Working intuitively, he made aesthetics an integral part of his solutions. From the very beginning, Porsche saw the road as a stage where he would put on a gala performance.

There are many reasons to fall in love with the lure of an open air Porsche 911. Whether it is the visceral connection to nature, the natural feel of wind in your hair or the energizing wide open sky–there’s something enthralling about driving the Porsche 911 with the roof down.

It’s also perfectly natural for your wife or girlfriend to get jealous of the other girl–the Porsche 911 convertible. A modern day reinvention of the original 1963 icon, the air cooled 911 is the most sought after collector car demanding higher sums than the water cooled cars that came after. The tactile engine and low weight makes the car much, much tighter and agile in movement. 

But the real reason Porsche enthusiasts continue to buy the air cooled Porsche 911 and why BMW drivers readily convert is not the 0-60 times, not even the badge appeal, but the outer-worldly handling of the rear engine car. The 911 is quick, of course, reaching the highway limit in 5.2 seconds giving the driver the undiluted joy of maneuvering the car on a congestion free, curvy road. 

Happy Diwali India

My uncle at the Berkeley Iscon Temple

As a child growing up in India meant celebrating Diwali, the festival of light with my family. Our home, which was a modest doctors apartment at the time got a new coat of paint bright yellow in color. I would also accompany my Obstetrician mother to the market to purchase some yummy Indian treats to share with our neighbors, and later in the evening we would light up a few firecrackers with my Orthopedic surgeon father (he went on to train in Cardiac Anesthesia in America). Diwali for the Hindus is the cultural equivalent of Christmas and the Chinese New Year. This tradition is now being passed onto my son who shares many spiritual traditions encompassing both Christianity and Hindusim. We celebrate anything that requires celebration from a variety of cultures. Yes, it is very important and exciting to share these momentous times with my son so he can have a wide international perspective as he journeys into a vibrant global culture.

Size 32 Waist Again, Hey Now

Been erging 30 minutes, running 1 hour (6.5 miles with elevation), and if possible swimming as cool down 5 to 6 days per week. Feels awesome!

Rowing At The Stanford Boathouse

Incredibly nice to be on the water again. I have been training on the ergometer and running uphill 6.5 miles six days a week since returning from vacation and feel rather healthy. When an oarsman friend from the gym who supports both Cal and Stanford rowing programs asked me to get in a boat, I asked why not? We had a good pull and I shall be doing more on the water training in the months ahead. Stanford has a good boathouse that this year sent 5 Olympians to the London Games, all thanks to Taylor, the head coach now for 13 years. However, the architecture of the modern Stanford boathouse is not the same as the wood soaked splendor found within the Berkeley boathouse, Bishop Ridley College boathouse or Washington boathouse: where you can sense the tradition of ancient oarsmen and oarswomen. Ah, I love this awesome sport. Terar dum prosim.

Aesthetica: The View From The Helm

There's No Place Like A Waterfront Home. 

Every morning I breathe-in an EPIC sunrise and in the evening a sailor's sunset. And within each moment I celebrate the outstanding life. This weekend was Cadence's half birthday, he is now 18 months young – his birthday is an event I celebrate every month. There's never a sluggish moment when you are young in the sun at our aquatic paradise. 

Things To Do Today: Running, Swimming, Boating

Listening to the waves: so relaxing. I can feel my pulse drop a few beats. Taking my son Cadence on a big boat today. Even with the rocking of the boat through the waves Cadence keeps moving with confidence. Cadence is tall for his age, FIT and loves to be in motion. We are both into big and small boats. The gusty winds and waves are incredibly fun especially when they come through the bow of the ship. And the fresh aquatic oxygen air is refreshing. We are also meeting a bunch of Cadence admirers on the bateau as well.