Posts Tagged ‘Heart Disease’

Sweet Food and Beverage Raise Risk of Heart Disease In Teenagers

In the online edition of Circulation on January 10, 2011, researchers from Emory University report that teenagers who eat sweet foods and drinks show physical signs that they have a high risk of heart disease later in adulthood.

Researchers revealed that among 2157 adolescents who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the average amount of added sugar consumed per day was 119 grams (476 calories), where 21.4 percent of total calories consumed by teenagers is a day.

Jean Welsh, the leader of the researchers and also a postdoctoral scholar say that we must keep blood sugar we consume. Soft drinks and sweet soda is the main contributor for the increased sugar in the body, is also a major source of calories that are not accompanied by other important nutrients. Awareness of the negative effects of the addition of sugar can help people, especially adolescents, to reduce the amount of sugar they consume.

Welsh research team found that teens who ate sugar had 9 percent level of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) higher, and 10 percent levels of triglycerides (another type of blood fat) are higher than those who only eat a little sugar. Adolescents who consume sugar levels also have higher HDL (good cholesterol) lower than those who consume less sugar.

Meanwhile, investigators also found that teens who eat large amounts of sugar showed resistance to insulin, which can lead to diabetes and has risks associated with heart disease.

The American Heart Association has recommended a maximum limit that can be consumed, it is based on the number of calories needed in each individual. For the women (including teens) are restricted to consume sugar is not more than 100 calories per day, and for most men, is limited to eating sugar is not more than 150 calories.

Researchers noted a warning, that the study did not explain that sugar can cause differences in cholesterol levels, but they relate to each other. The data they collect is also just within one day and may not reflect the food of the teenagers in general.

As covered in HealthDay edition of January 10, 2011, Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine, said that the study has three important messages. First, foods containing sugar has been consumed by a number of teenage population nearly twice the level that has been recommended. Second, the higher the level of consumption of sugar, the greater their risk of heart disease, too, including high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and low HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). Third, the dangers of excess sugar levels will be more clearly seen in adolescents who are overweight than those who are thin.

Therefore, watch and notice as early as possible when eating foods that contain sugar. This could be the beginning of efforts to prevent the teenagers grow into adults with diabetes or heart disease

Coronary Artery Stents

CHD is a major killer in the world with 16.7 million deaths annually. CHD is a state where there are plaques that clog arteries in the blood vessels. This causes the blood supply to the heart is reduced. Plaque is a combination of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. Although men are often associated with CHD but also menopausal women at risk of developing the disease. Among men, the main risk factors of CHD are smoking. In addition, other risk factors are advanced age, lack of exercise, family history of CHD, and chronic pain (cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus). Angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery (CABG) or bypass is the standard therapy for the treatment of arterial plaque.

What is coronary artery stents?

Stents (ring-shaped) coronary arteries are tube-shaped stainless steel wire used to open arteries clogged coronary arteries in angioplasty procedures. Stents are reduced in size until the smallest diameter which included a balloon catheter. Stents and balloons will be directed to the clogged area. When the balloon in pairs, then the stent is also growing, according to the size and shape as well as embedded in the walls of blood vessels. This is to keep the artery open when the balloon back and removed understated. Stents are settled in the artery permanently, keeping them open, improving blood flow to the heart muscle, and cure the symptoms of coronary heart disease (usually chest pain). Over time, will heal the artery wall and the inside of arteries (endothelium) will grow around the metal wire of a stent to keep the artery remains open.

Coronary artery stents is one of the angioplasty procedure. Angioplasty is a minimally invasive therapy is performed in a hospital to open a blocked artery using a catheter with a balloon on the end. Long thin tube-shaped hose known as a catheter inserted through the inguinal (groin) or wrist and then walk through the main blood vessels toward the blockage. Balloon with a small size is placed at the tip of the catheter, the balloon is then inflated so be great to dilate arteries and reduce the blockage.

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Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is a disorder or cardiac abnormalities at birth and is one of the biggest causes of death resulting from abnormalities at birth in the first year of life.

This condition occurs in 8 of 1000 live births and an estimated 1 million people in the United States have congenital heart defects. Some disorders need treatment immediately because the amount of disruption, but on the other hand, some defects are very minimal and does not cause physical complaints. Although congenital heart defects has been established since birth, but clinical symptoms or complaints can occur within several weeks, months, sometimes even only detected in adulthood.

Research shows that the genetic mutation, environmental factors, infections during pregnancy, and poisoning may cause or play a role in the formation of cardiac disorders. Even so, there are several inherited disorders of unknown cause.

Formation of the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) begins the third week of fetal growth. The circulation of the fetus will develop so that the fetus can grow and develop in the uterus by using the placenta as a source of nutrients, oxygen, and metabolic waste disposal.

Congenital heart defects generally can be tolerated as long as the fetus was still inside the womb. This is because there is a relationship of blood flow (shunting) through the ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale which is the bypass of blood flow and helps the circulation of the fetus. Problems usually only occur when the baby is born because at the time of birth, fetal shunt is closed and there were clinical signs of congenital heart defects such.

25 (Twenty Five) Tips For Healthy Heart

1. Eat more foods such as rice, vegetables, beans, spinach, fruits, fish, whole grains and yogurt.
2. Eat less foods such as milk, cheese and nuts
3. Add the garlic on your food recipes
4. Eat foods that contain beta carotene such as carrots, cabbage and tubers
5. Reduce the intake of sodium, no more than 1 ΒΌ teaspoon salt in a day
6. Eat meals regularly
7. Drinking water throughout the day
8. Change the habit of drinking coffee with tea
9. Exercise regularly
10. Using the stairs is better than using the elevator or escalator
11. Do home work (like sweeping, mopping, cleaning house) in addition to your sport
12. Maintain your ideal body weight
13. Stop smoking
14. Avoiding alcoholic beverages
15. Enough Rest

16. Monitor your blood pressure regularly
17. Monitor your body’s cholesterol levels
18. Manage your daily schedule, to avoid stress
19. Do the exercises are useful to relief stress such as pull in a breath, yoga and meditation
20. A lot of laughter is good medicine
21. Check your health regularly
22. Control your blood sugar
23. Know the history of heart disease and blood vessels in your family tree
24. Give and receive affection from the people you care about
25. Take the drugs that already prescribed by your doctor

Immunizations For Cardiovascular Disease And Blood Vessels

Low antibody levels within the body can cause a person susceptible to cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessels), particularly stroke in men. Study published in Academic Journal of Atherosclerosis, directing the research to make immunization for cardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is an inflammation of the blood vessel so that vessel walls become thickened and less elastic. It can cause blood clots and other heart diseases such as coronary heart disease. Until now it is not certain what causes atherosclerosis, but immune system is believed to have an important role. The researchers believe that levels of bad cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) play a role in the development of this disease. The team of researchers from the Karolinska Institute in collaboration with Lund University, finds that there is a natural antibody called anti-PC, which has a target against LDL lipid molecules, play an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Research suggests that individuals who have low levels of anti-PC have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Risk was further increased in men with stroke, nearly four times. Risk factors of low anti-PC stand alone and does not depend on other risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.

“Our research to obtain data that anti-PC can be used to improve diagnosis and therapy. We are also developing anti-PC as a vaccine to prevent atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, “said Professor Johan Frostegard, chairman of the research.

The study involved 349 people who have a period of 12 years of heart attack or stroke and 693 individuals without symptoms of cardiovascular disease.

The Danger of Comsuming Aspirin Daily

“Consumption of low-dose daily aspirin can help prevent recurrent heart attacks. But this would be risky if used on people who have never had a heart attack or stroke “, Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin reported.

Currently, approximately 50 million Americans consume low-dose aspirin (up to about 325 mg per day) to prevent heart problems and blood vessels. Some of them even do not have a history of heart attack or stroke (as primary prevention). This corresponds with recommendations from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), which states that consumption of low-dose aspirin can be used as primary prevention measures in diabetic patients who have heart disease risk and blood vessel (note that diabetes may increase the risk of developing heart disease dramatically) .

However, several recent studies indicate otherwise. There was not enough evidence to justify prescribing aspirin as primary prevention of heart disease. Benefit from the drug is not very meaningful, and konsumsinyapun not free from risks such as gastrointestinal bleeding (stomach, intestines) or stroke caused by bleeding, so the January 2010 recommendation suggested that the drug is only consumed by those who have a high risk.

Research Evidence
Although aspirin can thin blood and help prevent clots, consumption is still not free from risk, according to the UK review led by several experts.

For example, from two large studies conducted in each of 1.276 and 2.539 in diabetic patients, it can be concluded that those who consume 81-100 milligrams of aspirin per day had a risk of heart attack or stroke 4-7 years longer than those who do not consume aspirin. However, despite already having salute aimed at reducing gastric problems, those who take aspirin every day still have a risk two to four times more likely to contract gastrointestinal problems like ulcers (ulcus) with complications, compared with those not taking aspirin.

In addition, although able to prevent the formation of blood clots that can cause strokes in approximately 80% of people, aspirin can also boost the risk of haemorrhagic stroke, the cause of bleeding in the brain.

Without intending to scare, this article was created to show how many people are beginning to doubt and feel that the risk of aspirin daily consumption has exceeded the expected benefits to those who have never experienced a heart attack. So that aspirin is recommended only if its consumption can bring about greater benefits than risks that may be caused, namely those who had experienced heart attacks, bypass surgery, history of coronary artery blood vessel disease, or those who have no history of heart disease but classified as high risk heart disease, to those who have a bunch of heart disease risk factors, such as diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Because once you have these conditions, then you will start to look like someone who had experienced a heart attack.

The point is there should be dialogue between patients and health practitioners about the benefits and risks of aspirin consumption. So, if you are currently taking aspirin, but not included in one of the criteria above, then you should immediately consult this with your doctor before continuing treatment. However, you should avoid the consumption of aspirin daily without the advice and supervision of a physician.