Pat Schwind Presents: Strategic Edge Thursday, 02/26/2009

Economist, Dr. Stephen Happel: Economic Update & Critique of the FED.

Minutes of 02/12/2009

1. Attended 02/12/2009 : Mark Sorhdal, Olga Strickland, Rich Woods, Les Landon, Tom Costanzo, Keith Cyrnek, Russ & Margot Wittenberg, John Kizis, Ed Stroup, Angelica & Adam Vargas, Julio Arreola, Dennis Reed, John Millar, Pat Schwind, & our speaker Naturopathic Cardiologist, Dr. Decker Weiss.

2. Our topic was Get “HEART SMART”, & wow did I need that. Dr. Decker Weiss (Dr. W.), initially trained as a conventional cardiologist; he interned with Dr. Ted Deitrick at the Az. Heart Institute. But he felt that he could do more good for society as a Naturopathic cardiologist. He studied at the 120 year old Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, here in Phoenix. He believes that angioplasty, stents & bypass surgery should be used rarely, in very limited circumstances, & that in most situations, statin drugs should be taken for limited periods only. He recommends much lower cost remedies, which often carry a fraction of the risk of conventional treatments, such as lots of water, exercise (especially yoga, tai-chi & other martial arts), a truly healthy diet with the proper herbs, vitamins & supplements, along with relaxation methods & 'a good nights sleep'. I loved some of his comments: "Herbs are much more predictable than conventional drugs, because they've been around a lot longer..... Surgeons typically don't want heart surgery for themselves." On 2-7, I woke up in the middle of the night with some wicked chest pain, & the weirdest feeling I've had since I was a hippy. The feeling just 'went away' in 30 seconds, so I went back to sleep. In the next 5 days, I had some more chest pain with indigestion, & a real bad incident while doing a heavy (aerobics) work out, 2-10. Two days later at the S/E, Dr. W. offered a free consultation to anyone in attendance. I jumped on it, & got to see him the next day. I also set up an immediate appointment at my MD's office, & saw his Nurse Practitioner, that day, just hours after Dr. W. spoke at the S/E. Laura, the NP, said "I think you're a candidate for a heart attack", & immediately set up an appointment with a conventional cardiologist, for the next day. Both he (Dr. Berkowitz), & Dr. W. said, "I think you're gonna have a heart attack, maybe real soon"! Dr. W. said, due to the urgency, to "just get an exam set up with the other guy, but don't let him put any stents in, or do surgery". However, the angiogram (2/16) showed I had a major artery in my heart, 99% blocked; so while "on the table", my wife & I "caved", & agreed to an immediate stent; 2 actually. I saw Dr. Weiss since; he would have suggested an alternative treatment to the stents; but that's life. Because I felt I had to "do something immediately", Dr. W. never had a chance to use his approach to the issue. However, for the 'follow-up' treatments, I'm going to use Dr. W., because I really believe in the natural approach. Stents have risks themselves, & sometimes they become 'the problem'. If you have any suspicion that you need to see a 'heart guy', I highly recommend you call Dr. W. I really like his advice & explanations, way more than the conventional "surgery & pills" approach.

3. Our next meeting is this Thursday, 02/26/2009

   Please arrive before 7:30 AM at “JIM’s CONEY ISLAND CAFE”, 1750 No. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, at the southwest corner of Scottsdale & Cavalier, Click Here for a map, 1 block south of McKellips, ~ 1 mile north of the 202 Freeway.

   Our speaker will be Economist, Dr. Stephen Happel: Economic Update & Critique of the FED.

   Bring Guests!

4. Future Speakers
   • 2/26- Economist, Dr. Stephen Happel: Economic Update & Critique of the FED.
   • 3/12- Marriage Survival 101: Lessons from the front lines of marriage longevity, with my good friends Bill & Barb Blewster (45 years) & Dr. Paul & Cybil Eppinger (50 yrs).
   • 3/26- How’s that WAR on DRUGS: Phoenix NORML & Tom Dean, Former Litigator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
   • 4/9- John Chester Stuart: One Man's Struggle Against an Unjust System.
   • 4/23- Project Justice: Do we Really 'Lock Up' Innocent People in America?
   • 5/7- Kenpo Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish: Self Defense for Women. We'll have a real live 'Hands On' demonstration, in the parking lot, (on thick carpet). Pat Schwind plays 'Snidley Whiplash'.
   • 5/21- DEBATE: Do Gay Folks Choose to be Gay or are they Just Born That Way? Speakers so far: Sharon Slater of 'Family Watch International', Bill Gemmill, & local Attornies Marc Victor & Brad Braun.
   • 6/4- Dr. Tamara Divic of WHEAT, (World Hunger, Education, Advocacy & Training Organization): "Can we Eradicate World Hunger"?
   • 6/18- Atheist Monti Gaither: How Religion has Messed Up the World, Forever!
   • TBD'd- Former Olympic Wrestler & Current Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Mike Van Arsdale.

Sincerely, Pat Schwind, MBA