Higher blood pressure in teens
American adolescents are getting higher blood pressure — and they are getting much heavier.
A ten-years study of American school children has rung warning bells about the health of the next generation of adults.
High blood pressure in teenagers is often carried taken into adulthood.
This suggests that generation will have a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers say the higher blood pressure seems to be caused by the significantly heavier weight.
(The Journal of Pediatrics 1999;134:668-674)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Anger may cause
heart deaths
Having therapy for hostility and anger can reduce your risk of high blood pressure.
Patients with heart disease were given counselling and were found to still have lower blood pressure two months' after the counselling course.
The researchers concluded that anger and hostility were factors in causing high blood pressure.
And since high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, getting rid of anger could reduce the risk of heart deaths.
(Health Psychology 1999;18:1-5)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Harmless heart condition dangerous
A common heart disease previously thought to be harmless has now been shown to increase the risk of heart attack.
The problem is called aortic-valve sclerosis.
It is where the valve between the heart and the aorta (the largest artery in the body) gets thick and stiff.
About a quarter of people over 65 have the problem.
Now a new study shows that those with the condition have 50% more death from heart attack and cardio-vascular disease.
Researchers believe the thickened valve does not cause the problem, but that it is a marker for something else.
(The New England Journal Medicine 1999;341:142-147, 193-194)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Salad dressing good for heart
Regularly using an oil-based salad dressing may be good for your heart.
Researchers from Harvard say the oil in salad dressing contains alpha-linolenic acid — which protects the heart.
In a 10-year study they found that people who regularly eat salad dressing have far fewer fatal heart attacks.
The researchers say this is probably because people do not get enough of the good oil — getting too much of their fat from animal products.
The move towards low-fat salad dressings concerned the researchers because it removes an important source of linolenic acids.
(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 1999)
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from Zest South Pacific Division health newsletter September 3, 1999
Lifestyle causes heart problems
The information on the high incidence of heart disease in the
Appalachian region would indicate, on first glance, that the geographic
location in some way produces heart problems.
On reading the report in the news magazine, the true culprit was
smoking (Kentucky has the highest percentage of smokers of any state);
heavy fat diet (one stroke patient's family member was preparing a meal
for her of fried pork chops, fried potatoes, and no veggies); and lack
of exercise. While other causes were also mentioned, it was a strong
implication of their lifestyles that was the causative agent in high
incidence of heart problems.
Elaine Nelson
Entered
Elaine Nelson ageis@ix.netcom.com
March 31, 1999
Heart deaths up in poor area
White residents of Appalachia, a region
that symbolizes poor rural America, die from heart
disease at younger ages and in larger numbers than other
Americans. Reuters reports: Researchers from West
Virginia University attributed the phenomenon to a shortage in the
region of hospital heart units and cardiac rehabilitation facilities,
which are mostly clustered in more affluent and urban areas.
Elizabeth Barnett, assistant professor at the school of medicine,
and her team found white Appalachians have about a 20% greater
chance of dying from heart disease between ages 35 and 64 than
other white Americans, according to a summary of the research
released by the university.
SDAhealth email
from Rose Bowen, bowenten@swva.net
Entered on Dec 14, 1998
Brush teeth to save your heart
in animals, scientists said Friday that
Human and animal studies show that
bacteria in the mouth can cause heart attacks. They
can travel through the blood vessels to
coronary arteries, causing the buildup of plaque and subsequent
clotting that are the cause of most heart attacks.
Philadelphia researchers too bacteria samples directly from patients’ mouths
and exposed the samples to human blood platelets to confirm
the link between periodontal bacteria and heart disease.
SDAhealth email
from Rose Bowen, bowenten@swva.net
Entered on Dec 14, 1998
Reduce heart risk by 45%
A high intake of Folic acid and Vitamin B6 can reduce the risk of heart attack by 45%. Both folic acid and Vitamin B6 are found in green leafy vegetables.
Entered by Phil Ward - Oct 26, 1998
Excess iron is a heart hazzard
Having too much iron in the diet can increase the risk of heart disease.
Research in Greece shows that for every extra 50mg of iron a man 60+ has per month his chance of heart disease rises 150%.
For women, the figure is even worse. Every 50mg extra iron per month gives them 360% increased risk of heart disease.
Excess iron is most likely to come from eating meat.
(Source: American Journal of Epidemiology 1998; 147: 161-166.)
Entered by Phil Ward - Oct 26, 1998
Vitamins reduce stroke risk
A study of 29,000 people in China shows that antioxidant vitamins and minerals help reduce the risk of stroke.
People who took supplements of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, beta carotene, zinc and selenium had 29% less stroke.
(Source: Epidemiology 1998;9:9-15.)
Entered by Phil Ward - Oct 26, 1998
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Entered by Phil Ward - Oct 26, 1998
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