Archive for the 'Cardiovascular Disease' Category
March 17th, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
A recent study from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah has found that people who increase their vitamin D blood levels to 43 or higher may lower their risk of diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Heralded as “One of the Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2007″, Vitamin D continues to surface in new research as a critical nutrient in maintaining good health and preventing disease, yet almost half of the world’s population has lower than optimal levels of vitamin D.
It is well known that hip fractures and muscle weakness, in people over 50, are linked with a deficiency in Vitamin D. Many recent studies have also found that low Vitamin D levels are associated with a number of serious, chronic diseases, such as diabetes, gum disease, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases, peripheral neuropathy, osteoporosis, cancer, stroke, mental decline, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease.
A Vitamin D deficiency can be treated with a simple daily supplement and a blood test can measure the circulating Vitamin D levels in your blood. A level of 30 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D is considered normal, although this may vary from lab to lab.
Many doctors are routinely drawing blood levels of Vitamin D to to make sure patients are getting enough vitamin D to optimize good bone health and prevent chronic disease. Ask your doctor about this.
Important Note: Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, thus toxicity can occur from high intakes of vitamin D. Overdosage can occur from large amounts of supplements or cod liver oil, but it is unlikely to result from sun exposure or diet. Parents should consult with their pediatrician before giving any child vitamin D supplements. Excess vitamin D can reach toxic levels and be harmful.
Source: “Boosting Vitamin D Can Do a Heart Good”, HealthDay News, March 15, 2010
March 15th, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
While moderate exercise has a protective effect on the heart, exercising too much can do harm, say Greek researchers from Athens Medical School.
In their recent study, male marathon runners had significantly increased stiffness of the aorta when compared with people who took part in moderate, recreational exercise.
The aorta is the major artery leading from the heart and is the largest and most important artery in the body. Stiffness of the aorta can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and even death.
Read more:
Source: “Marathoners Face Greater Risk of Artery Problems”, HealthDay, March 14, 2010
March 5th, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability, yet most Americans don’t know the warning signs of a heart attack, according to the CDC.
“Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening, but most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help,” says the American Heart Association.
Heart attack warning signs can include one or more of the following symptoms:
- Chest discomfort. This is the most common symptom. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Women are more likely than men to experience these symptoms, particularly back or jaw pain, as well as shortness of breath.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
- Other signs: These may include
- breaking out in a cold sweat,
- nausea/vomiting or
- lightheadedness
Chest pain is the most common symptom, but one study in the journal Chest revealed one in 12 patients do not have typical symptoms when having a heart attack. Heart-attack victims who don’t show symptoms of severe chest pain — often women, seniors or those with chronic conditions — are 10 times more likely to be misdiagnosed and also more likely to die of a heart attack.
Source: Chest 2004
March 3rd, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
A woman’s future risk of heart disease and stroke may be associated with the number of births she has in her lifetime, say researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
In their large recent study, women who gave birth two times had the lowest risk of future cardiovascular disease, whereas women with no, one, or three births had about 10 percent greater risk. The risk rose to 30 percent in women with four births and almost 60 percent in women with five or more births.
Another large and well-designed study designed a completely different tool to predict a woman’s risk of suffering a future heart attack, stroke, or other major heart disease in the next 10 years. Read more
Source: American Heart Journal, February 2010
Source: “Heart disease risk tied to mom’s number of births”, Reuters, February 25, 2010
March 1st, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Listen to music you like for 15 to 20 minutes a day — and consider it a healthful a practice like regular exercise and a healthy diet, says Dr. Michael Miller from the Center for Preventive Cardiology, in an article by Health Day.
Involve your child in music on a daily basis, says the Nemours Foundation.
A growing body of research is pointing to the healthful benefits of listening to pleasant music. It has been found to help with such things as pain, stress, depression, intelligence, memory, and sleep to name a few.
One recent study found that soothing music was associated with a reduction in heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure in patients with coronary heart disease. And another study found that music, like laughter, may benefit heart health.
Music therapy is being used successfully with stroke patients. Finnish researchers recently found that listening to music for a few hours a day was associated with a stroke patient’s early recovery.
“Listening to music offers many benefits to children, research indicates. Musically inclined kids appear better at math and reading, have shown better focus, improved self-esteem and seem to play better with other children,” report experts in a recent article by Health Day.
Much more research needs to be done, but the healthful benefits of music are surfacing in almost every area of our lives.
Source: “Health Tip: Introduce Your Child to Music”, Health Day, March 1, 2010
Source: “Tune Up Your Health”, Health Day, January 29, 2010
Source: Michael Miller, M.D., professor, medicine, and director, Center for Preventive Cardiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore
Source: Aniruddh Patel, Ph.D., Esther J. Burnham senior fellow, Neurosciences Institute, San Diego
Source: Robert Zatorre, Ph.D., Montreal Neurological Institute, and professor, department of neurology and neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal
Source: Bradt J, et al “Music for stress and anxiety reduction in coronary heart disease patients” Cochrane Database of Syst Rev 2009; DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006577.pub2
February 1st, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Half the population of the industrialized countries has a deficiency in magnesium. A deficit in this important mineral has been linked with allergies, asthma, attention deficit disorder, anxiety, heart disease, muscle cramps and other conditions. And now researchers are finding evidence that magnesium may also play an important role in memory and learning.
In a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, mice given extra doses of a new magnesium compound had better learning abilities and working memories. This is an interesting study in that it provides evidence that a magnesium deficit may lead to decreased memory and learning ability, while an abundance of magnesium may improve cognitive function. The findings, described in the Jan. 28 issue of the journal Neuron, are early however. Before we start taking magnesium supplements, more research needs to be done.
It’s good to keep in mind, however, that the average adult needs to consume between 300 and 400 milligrams of magnesium a day from magnesium-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables.
Source: Magnesium May Boost Brain Power, Fox News Health, February 1, 2010
Source: “Health Tip: Finding Magnesium in Food”, Health Day, January 14, 2010
Source: American Dietetic Association, www.eatright.org, February 2010
January 21st, 2010 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Scientists are getting closer to unraveling the mystery of aging and now a new study points to evidence that omega-3 fatty acids appear to slow the biological aging process. University of California researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids may slow aging by protecting the body’s chromosomes from the usual damage that occurs with aging. In their recent study of patients with heart disease, those who had the highest intake of omega-3 fatty acids had the most slowing of their biological aging process, while those who had the lowest intake of omega-3 fatty acids had evidence of the fastest rate of aging.
To determine the speed of biological aging, the researchers measured the length of telomeres on the patients’ chromosomes. Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of chromosomes and the shortening of telomeres has been linked to not only the aging process, but cancer and a higher risk of dying. Telomeres allow cells to divide while keeping the genetic material intact. Every time a cell divides, telomeres get progressively shorter until the cell ultimately dies. This normal aging process can be sped up by environmental factors such as obesity, poor diet, inactivity and smoking. Scientists theorize that counteracting telomere shortening could allow people to be healthier and live longer.
In the University of California study there was no distinction between meals of fatty fish and fish-oil supplements—leaving open the question of whether it’s better for people to eat more fish, to eat plants such as flaxseed or just to take omega-3 supplements.
Experts point out that the results of this study are preliminary and need to be replicated before physicians should use them in practice, but a number of other studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial to heart health, and the American Heart Assn. recommends that patients with known coronary artery disease get at least one gram a day of omega-3 fish oil through intake of oily fish, such as salmon, herring and sardines, or the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.
Source: MedPage Today January 19, 2010
Video source: JAMA
June 8th, 2009 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Actos (pioglitazone), an oral drug used in Diabetes, appears to slow the rate of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, according to researchers at the Phoenix VA HealthCare System.
In their recent study, prediabetic patients taking pioglitazone preventively had a 38% lower rate of change in atherosclerotic progression in the carotid artery over three years compared to patients taking placebo.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, but also is found in certain foods. Throughout life, beginning in childhood, there is a gradual build up of cholesterol and other substances on the inner lining of an artery referred to as atherosclerotic plaques. In Diabetes, the rate of atherosclerosis progression is even more accelerated.
Over time, these plaques can harden and narrow an artery enough to slow or even block blood flow. The illustration above shows the build up of an atherosclerotic plaque on an artery wall.
Atherosclerotic plaques are often unstable and can rupture into the vessel lumen causing a blood clot to form. This can result in a sudden blockage of an artery. This is often the process by which people experience heart attacks or strokes. In some people, the first sign of atherosclerosis might be a heart attack or even sudden death.
Diagram courtesy of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Reaven PD, et al “Pioglitazone reduces long-term progression of carotid atherosclerosis in IGT” ADA 2009; Abstract 15-LB.
May 27th, 2009 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
A genetic link between a severe form of gum disease (periodontitis) and heart disease has been found by German researchers. The association between the two diseases has been known for years, but a genetic connection hadn’t been confirmed until this most recent discovery.
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it.
Periodontal disease is caused by plaque which is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. The bacteria create toxins that can damage the gums.
Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontal disease. In this stage, the gums can become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this point, the disease is still reversible and can usually be treated by daily brushing and flossing.
Periodontitis is the more advanced stage of periodontal (gum) disease when the gums and bone that support the teeth can become seriously damaged. The teeth can become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.
Early preventive measures are very important when it comes to taking care of your teeth and gums. Brushing at least twice daily and flossing once daily, are important steps to protect your teeth and gums. Regular visits to the dentist are essential to monitor for tooth decay as well as to detect any other serious conditions such as periodontitis. Eating a well-balanced diet is also important. Choose a variety of foods from the basic food groups, such as whole-grain breads, cereals and other grain products; fruits; vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; and dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt.
Healthy gums are firm and pale pink. If you chronically have bad breath or your gums are puffy, dusky red and bleed easily, or show other signs or symptoms of periodontitis, see your dentist right away. The sooner you see receive dental care, the better your chances of reversing damage from periodontitis and preventing other serious health problems.
Source: European Society of Human Genetics, news release, May 25, 2009
Source: American Dental Association, ADA.org: Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)
May 20th, 2009 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
Almonds appear to enhance immune health and reduce inflammation, according to researchers from the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK. The results of their research were presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Philadelphia.
Almonds have also been found to be a high-fiber food and are quite heart healthy. They’re a good snack with a lot of nutrition packed into a convenient package. About a handful of almonds provides an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, fiber, monounsaturated fat, protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and iron.
Source: Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK, May 2009