According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, consuming carbohydrates with high glycemic index (GI) such as white bread, sweets and sugary cereals appears to be associated with the risk of coronary heart disease in women but not men. However, not all carbohydrates have the same effect on blood glucose levels.
Italian researchers studied 47,749 adult men and women who completed dietary questinnaires. They found that women who consumed the most carbohydrates overall had approximately twice the risk of heart disease as those consumed the least. Women whose diet had the highest glycemic load had 2.24 times the risk of heart disease than those with the lowest glycemic load.
The researchers concluded "we tentatively suggest that the adverse effects of a high GI diet in women are medicated by sex-related differences in lipoprotein and glocuse metabolism" and that further studies are needed to verify the link between high-glucose foods and cardiovascular disease in men.
Source: "Dietary Glycemic Load and Index and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in a Large Italian Cohort: The EPICOR Study". Arch Intern Med, 2010; 170 (7): 640-647
Showing posts with label heart disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heart disease. Show all posts
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, June 13, 2008
Higher heart attack risk in men with vitamin D deficiency
News source reported that researchers at Harvard analyzed medical records and blood samples from 454 men who had a heart attack or disease and compared them to 900 men who had no history of cardiovascular disease.
They found that men with a vitamin D deficiency (15 nanograms or less per ml of blood) had a higher risk of heart attack than those with a sufficient amount of vitamin D (30 nanograms per ml of blood or more). They concluded "the results further support an important role for vitamin D in myocardial infarction risk"
Source :"25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men - A Prospective Study"
Archieve of Internal Medicine. 2008;168(11):1174-1180.
They found that men with a vitamin D deficiency (15 nanograms or less per ml of blood) had a higher risk of heart attack than those with a sufficient amount of vitamin D (30 nanograms per ml of blood or more). They concluded "the results further support an important role for vitamin D in myocardial infarction risk"
Source :"25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men - A Prospective Study"
Archieve of Internal Medicine. 2008;168(11):1174-1180.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Being overweight does not increase death risk from cancer or heart disease
A new American federal report found that overweight increase the risks of dying from diabetes and kidney disease but not cancer or heart disease. The findings are based on decades of cause-of-death data collected by federal scientists. They also found a protective effect against all other causes of death.
Some dismissed the findings as fundamentally flawed while others saw that the dangers of being fat have been exaggerated. The author said the findings does not mean being overweight is good, but is associated with less mortality than expected.
Source : "Cause-Specific Excess Deaths Associated With Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity" JAMA. 2007;298(17):2028-2037
Some dismissed the findings as fundamentally flawed while others saw that the dangers of being fat have been exaggerated. The author said the findings does not mean being overweight is good, but is associated with less mortality than expected.
Source : "Cause-Specific Excess Deaths Associated With Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity" JAMA. 2007;298(17):2028-2037
Friday, October 12, 2007
Stressful jobs increase risks of heart disease recurrence
Did you know that job stress was a major predictor of repeated heart attack when compared with other risk afctors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and high blood pressure?
Previous studies have shown that job strain increases the risk of a first coronary heart disease (CHD) event. According to a new Canadian study of about 980 patients who returned to work after a heart attack, chronic job strain after a first MI was associated with an increased risk of recurrent CHD.
The author said preventive interventions should also take into account the person's work environment and "cardiologists and occupational health services be informed of this finding in order to reduce stressful work for those returning to work after a heart attack".
The ABC News said that workers should learn to manage stress at work to either change their thoughts or to change the situation.
Source: "Job Strain and Risk of Acute Recurrent Coronary Heart Disease Events" JAMA. 2007;298(14):1652-1660
Previous studies have shown that job strain increases the risk of a first coronary heart disease (CHD) event. According to a new Canadian study of about 980 patients who returned to work after a heart attack, chronic job strain after a first MI was associated with an increased risk of recurrent CHD.
The author said preventive interventions should also take into account the person's work environment and "cardiologists and occupational health services be informed of this finding in order to reduce stressful work for those returning to work after a heart attack".
The ABC News said that workers should learn to manage stress at work to either change their thoughts or to change the situation.
Source: "Job Strain and Risk of Acute Recurrent Coronary Heart Disease Events" JAMA. 2007;298(14):1652-1660
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Verapamil for cluster headache may cause heart problems
Cluster headache is a rare and severe form of headache that is more common in men. A drug, Verapamil, a type of calcium-channel blocker is increasingly used to treat cluster headaches and a range of symptoms including high blood pressure, angina and irregular heart beat.
A new study of 108 patients who had regular electrocardiograms (EKGs) found when high doses of Verapamil were used to prevent cluster headache, 1 in 5 patients developed some form of cardiac irregularity that could progress to serious heart problems.
More than 40% of the participants did not have access to the EKG service or unaware of the need for monitoring their heart. The researchers said that the drug is relatively new for treating cluster headache, therefore healthcare providers may be unaware of the problems. They highlighted the need for frequent EKG monitoring of patients treated with Verapamil for cluster headache.
The study "Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with cluster headache on verapamil therapy." is published in the current issue of Neurology 2007 69: 668-675.
A new study of 108 patients who had regular electrocardiograms (EKGs) found when high doses of Verapamil were used to prevent cluster headache, 1 in 5 patients developed some form of cardiac irregularity that could progress to serious heart problems.
More than 40% of the participants did not have access to the EKG service or unaware of the need for monitoring their heart. The researchers said that the drug is relatively new for treating cluster headache, therefore healthcare providers may be unaware of the problems. They highlighted the need for frequent EKG monitoring of patients treated with Verapamil for cluster headache.
The study "Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with cluster headache on verapamil therapy." is published in the current issue of Neurology 2007 69: 668-675.
Vitamin supplements may not protect your heart
Some previous researches have found viatmin C, E and beta carotene linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but a new study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine casts doubt on these findings.
The latest study involved 8000 women who have a history of cardiovascular disease, randomly assigned to 2 groups : one taking vitamin alone or in combination and one a placebo over 9 years. The results showed that the antioxidants, either alone or in combination had no effect on reducing the risk of heart disease or death in high-risk women.
Some experts suggested that the form of vitamin in over-the-counter dietry supplements may be different from the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables and recommended that lifestyle change with healthy diet and regular exercises is the key to prevent heart disease.
Read the abstract - "A Randomized Factorial Trial of Vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene in the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women - Results From the Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study " Arch Intern Med. 2007;167 (15):1610-1618. 13-27 August.
The latest study involved 8000 women who have a history of cardiovascular disease, randomly assigned to 2 groups : one taking vitamin alone or in combination and one a placebo over 9 years. The results showed that the antioxidants, either alone or in combination had no effect on reducing the risk of heart disease or death in high-risk women.
Some experts suggested that the form of vitamin in over-the-counter dietry supplements may be different from the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables and recommended that lifestyle change with healthy diet and regular exercises is the key to prevent heart disease.
Read the abstract - "A Randomized Factorial Trial of Vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene in the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women - Results From the Women's Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study " Arch Intern Med. 2007;167 (15):1610-1618. 13-27 August.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Soft drinks linked to heart disease
A large scale US study showed that people who drank more than one soda per day had an increased risk of developing heart disease.
The researchers were surprised that it did not matter whether it was regular or diet soda, both were associated with increased risk of developing metabolic syndromes, a group of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors, including a larger waist measurement, high blood pressure, low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of sugar in the blood stream.
However, the researchers said that these are just theories, further studies would be needed before recommendations are made about soft drink consumption. Read the press release.
The study "Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of Developing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Adults in the Community" is published online in the journal Circulation 2007, July 23. Read the abstract.
The researchers were surprised that it did not matter whether it was regular or diet soda, both were associated with increased risk of developing metabolic syndromes, a group of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors, including a larger waist measurement, high blood pressure, low levels of "good" cholesterol and high levels of sugar in the blood stream.
However, the researchers said that these are just theories, further studies would be needed before recommendations are made about soft drink consumption. Read the press release.
The study "Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of Developing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Adults in the Community" is published online in the journal Circulation 2007, July 23. Read the abstract.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Obesity drug Rimonabant questioned
Rimonabant (Acomplia) by Sanofi-Aventis, was licensed for use in the UK since June 2006 for the treatment of obesity.
However, adverts have claimed the drug can cut levels of potentially harmful cholesterol, fats and sugars in the blood to a greater extent than would be expected by weight loss alone. In theory, this should help to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
A report published in The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) on 30 May 2007 said there was no proof that the drug had any beneficial effects outside those expected by weight loss. The drug had not been effectively compared with other less expensive drug treatment for obesity.
The DTB authors said Orlistat (Xenical), costs less and approved for use in the NHS is the drug for obesity with the most evidence for efficacy and safety to date, and they have previously concluded that it is a reasonable option for obese patients where diet and exercise and/or behavioural measures alone have failed.
However, adverts have claimed the drug can cut levels of potentially harmful cholesterol, fats and sugars in the blood to a greater extent than would be expected by weight loss alone. In theory, this should help to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
A report published in The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) on 30 May 2007 said there was no proof that the drug had any beneficial effects outside those expected by weight loss. The drug had not been effectively compared with other less expensive drug treatment for obesity.
The DTB authors said Orlistat (Xenical), costs less and approved for use in the NHS is the drug for obesity with the most evidence for efficacy and safety to date, and they have previously concluded that it is a reasonable option for obese patients where diet and exercise and/or behavioural measures alone have failed.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
If you think life is unfair .....
A study of 8,000 Government senior civil servants working in London, "Unfairness and health: evidence from the Whitehall II Study", published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2007; 61:513-518, found that thoughts of unfair treatment can directly lead to a greater risk of coronary problems. ( f/t via Athens password).
The results showed that those who thought they had experienced the worst injustice were 55% more likely to experience a coronary event than people who thought life was fair. Those who reported low levels of unfair treatment had 28% higher chance of suffering heart disease than those who had no complaints. People who reported moderate unfairness saw their risk rise by 36%.
The results showed that unfair treatment in other aspects of life was linked to increased risk of heart disease. The researcher said "the key message is that we must try to promote fairness in society".
The results showed that those who thought they had experienced the worst injustice were 55% more likely to experience a coronary event than people who thought life was fair. Those who reported low levels of unfair treatment had 28% higher chance of suffering heart disease than those who had no complaints. People who reported moderate unfairness saw their risk rise by 36%.
The results showed that unfair treatment in other aspects of life was linked to increased risk of heart disease. The researcher said "the key message is that we must try to promote fairness in society".
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