Day in Health
Recent Posts
Medical Errors: How to Protect Yourself
Are You Addicted to Food?
Best & Worst Cities for Staying Young
Facebook Depression: Are Your Kids at Risk?
More Articles »
Related Topics
- Anxiety
- Fainting
- Heart Attack
- Heart Disease
Health Topics »
New research is revealing surprising
triggers for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading killer of
Americans. Being aware of these
lesser-known risk factors, and taking the right steps to combat them, could greatly
reduce your chances of a heart attack or stroke. Here’s a guide to 7 hidden CVD
risks and how to protect yourself.
Risk #1:
Watching TV. Couch potatoes beware: Too much TV can be fatal, a study reported in February. People who devoted more than four hours a day to screen-based entertainment—mainly watching the tube—during their leisure hours have more than twice the risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular events over a four-year period, compared to those who spent less than two hours a day in front of a screen. Another compelling reason to limit screen time: People who spent the most time watching TV had a 50 percent higher risk of dying prematurely from any cause, even if they also exercised.
Learn to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack.
Risk #2:
Snoring. Frequent loud snoring can trumpet obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a dangerous disorder that lifts heart attack and stroke risk, if untreated. OSA (bouts of interrupted breathing during sleep) often goes undiagnosed because people aren’t aware of the symptoms, which include waking at night for no apparent reason and unexplained daytime drowsiness. If you fit this profile, ask your doctor to order a sleep study. Because OSA mainly affects people who are heavy, treatment typically involves weight loss and in some cases, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a device that blows moist, heated air into your nose and mouth while you sleep.
Risk #3:
Gum disease. Brushing and flossing regularly could head off a heart attack. People with periodontal (gum) disease are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums. That’s because the same bacteria that cause gum disease can also spark inflammation inside the body, damaging blood vessels. One in three adults over 30 have gum disease and millions of them don’t know it. Ask your dentist to check your gums. A recent study found that periodontal treatment also improves blood vessel health—giving you a lot to smile about.
Check out this video to see what a heart attack looks like.
Risk #4:
Psoriasis. Here’s the real heartbreak of psoriasis: It hikes the risk for heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral artery disease (clogged vessels in the legs) as much as smoking does. Blame inflammation, which triggers the dry scaly patches, itching and burning of this chronic skin disorder. (Joints and organs can also be affected.) Some studies suggest that aggressively treating psoriasis may trim CVD risk.
Risk #5:
Migraines. Women who have migraine headaches with an aura (visual disturbances, such as flashing lights) at least once a week have quadruple the risk for stroke. One surprising theory: These headaches are linked to a common defect called patent foramen ovale (PFO), in which a hole between the heart’s two upper chambers that normally closes at birth remains open, sometimes leading to blood clots. Experts advise women who have migraines with aura to avoid birth control pills, which raise blood clot risk. One in four Americans have PFO, which is tied to increased stroke risk, particularly in those under age 55. To reduce the threat, people with PFO or migraines should follow the same heart-smart steps as everyone else, including shunning smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.
Risk #6:
Vitamin D deficiency.
Up to 50 percent of Americans have low levels of the sunshine vitamin, doubling their risk for heart attack and stroke. A relaxing solution: Sit in the sun and sip wine. The sun’s rays stimulate your body to produce vitamin D, while a recent study reports that drinking two 6.8 ounce glasses of wine a day raises women’s levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers inflammatory markers. Men get similar benefits at a slightly higher level of consumption.
Risk #7:
Pregnancy complications. Gestational diabetes, third trimester bleeding, or birthing a baby who is small for gestational dates can foreshadow future heart disease and strokes, warn new American Heart Association guidelines for women. Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) doubles risk for CVD and dangerous clotting in veins during the five to 15 years after pregnancy. The AHA advises at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise), plus a diet rich in fiber and low in fat, salt and sugar.
Risk #1:
Watching TV. Couch potatoes beware: Too much TV can be fatal, a study reported in February. People who devoted more than four hours a day to screen-based entertainment—mainly watching the tube—during their leisure hours have more than twice the risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular events over a four-year period, compared to those who spent less than two hours a day in front of a screen. Another compelling reason to limit screen time: People who spent the most time watching TV had a 50 percent higher risk of dying prematurely from any cause, even if they also exercised.
Learn to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack.
Risk #2:
Snoring. Frequent loud snoring can trumpet obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a dangerous disorder that lifts heart attack and stroke risk, if untreated. OSA (bouts of interrupted breathing during sleep) often goes undiagnosed because people aren’t aware of the symptoms, which include waking at night for no apparent reason and unexplained daytime drowsiness. If you fit this profile, ask your doctor to order a sleep study. Because OSA mainly affects people who are heavy, treatment typically involves weight loss and in some cases, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a device that blows moist, heated air into your nose and mouth while you sleep.
Risk #3:
Gum disease. Brushing and flossing regularly could head off a heart attack. People with periodontal (gum) disease are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums. That’s because the same bacteria that cause gum disease can also spark inflammation inside the body, damaging blood vessels. One in three adults over 30 have gum disease and millions of them don’t know it. Ask your dentist to check your gums. A recent study found that periodontal treatment also improves blood vessel health—giving you a lot to smile about.
Check out this video to see what a heart attack looks like.
Risk #4:
Psoriasis. Here’s the real heartbreak of psoriasis: It hikes the risk for heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral artery disease (clogged vessels in the legs) as much as smoking does. Blame inflammation, which triggers the dry scaly patches, itching and burning of this chronic skin disorder. (Joints and organs can also be affected.) Some studies suggest that aggressively treating psoriasis may trim CVD risk.
Risk #5:
Migraines. Women who have migraine headaches with an aura (visual disturbances, such as flashing lights) at least once a week have quadruple the risk for stroke. One surprising theory: These headaches are linked to a common defect called patent foramen ovale (PFO), in which a hole between the heart’s two upper chambers that normally closes at birth remains open, sometimes leading to blood clots. Experts advise women who have migraines with aura to avoid birth control pills, which raise blood clot risk. One in four Americans have PFO, which is tied to increased stroke risk, particularly in those under age 55. To reduce the threat, people with PFO or migraines should follow the same heart-smart steps as everyone else, including shunning smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.
Risk #6:
Vitamin D deficiency.
Up to 50 percent of Americans have low levels of the sunshine vitamin, doubling their risk for heart attack and stroke. A relaxing solution: Sit in the sun and sip wine. The sun’s rays stimulate your body to produce vitamin D, while a recent study reports that drinking two 6.8 ounce glasses of wine a day raises women’s levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers inflammatory markers. Men get similar benefits at a slightly higher level of consumption.
Risk #7:
Pregnancy complications. Gestational diabetes, third trimester bleeding, or birthing a baby who is small for gestational dates can foreshadow future heart disease and strokes, warn new American Heart Association guidelines for women. Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) doubles risk for CVD and dangerous clotting in veins during the five to 15 years after pregnancy. The AHA advises at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise), plus a diet rich in fiber and low in fat, salt and sugar.
No comments:
Post a Comment