Getting drunk increases women's heart attack risk
Filed under: Prevention, Research, Women Heart Health
When it comes to alcohol and heart attacks, it appears that moderation wins again. That news comes out of the University at Buffalo, New York, where researchers found that women who got drunk once a month or more sharply increased their risk of heart attack.What's interesting is that women who drink actually seem to have a decreased risk of suffering a heart attack, when compared to women who don't drink at all. But being intoxicated -- or drinking enough alcohol to slur your speech and change your behavior -- appears to reverse that benefit. And, according to the study, being drunk even infrequently is enough to put you at risk.
So the final word, according to Dr. Joan M. Dorn is:
"...if you don't drink, don't start, but if you're concerned about heart health, light to moderate consumption does appear to lower risk, but there's an upper limit."
5 Great Ways to Burn More Fat Today!
"Can't find what you are looking for? Try Google Search" Calorie Feature Article 5 Great Ways to Burn More Fat Today!Author: HSF Vitamins "If you're trying to lose weight, give these 5 techniques a try. You'll melt off the pounds and feel great to boot."1. Do not eat poor quality carbohydrates before bed. Poor quality carbohydrates are those that contain sugar or are highly processed. These would include most breakfast cereals, breads, snack foods, candies, and even fruits and juices. Eating these foods immediately prior to bedtime will likely result in increased fat deposit and will prevent your body from maintaining a successful fat-burning mode.2. Increase your muscle mass! The more lean muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn even at rest. Muscle is extremely active metabolically. Do some resistance training, add some muscle, and crank up that metabolism.3. Never let yourself get too hungry, or too stuffed. It really is all about moderation. Time your meals so that you eat before you are starving . . . doing this one simple thing will cause you to almost always eat less. When you do eat, stop when your satisfied not when you are so stuffed you cannot even get down another bite.4. Double up on your cardio training. From time to time it may be beneficial to the fat-burning process for you to split your cardio training into two short sessions rather than one longer one. Studies suggest that people who do 30 minutes of morning cardio and then 30 minutes of evening cardio lose more fat than those doing just one 60 minute session.5. Eat more high fiber foods. Most of us do not get enough fiber in our daily diets, and that?s just a shame. Fiber not only promotes overall general health, but also can significantly aid in your fat-burning efforts. Leafy greens and salads are ideal sources of fiber. Check out the strongest FAT BURNERS available at www.hsfvitamins.com About the Author At www.hsfvitamins.com you will save money on the vitamins and fitness products you need to be your best everyday! Learn what to use and when to use it. We have great prices on vitamins, minerals, muscle products, weight loss - everything you need! ... Calorie Diet Negative Recipe SoupCalorie Carb Counter FatCalorie Burning Calculator
Lifestyle strategies for your healthiest heart
Filed under: Women Heart Health, Men Heart Health, Aging Heart Health
We often post tips and facts about having a healthy heart, but over at That's Fit, I think this post sums up what you need to do to have a healthy heart. Here's what they recommend:- Get a good night's sleep
- Get active -- this especially includes resistance training
- Drink wine in moderation
- Eat fish, or some other source of Omega 3's
- Floss regularly
- Quit smoking
- Take a daily walk
- An aspirin a day can take the heart problems away -- but talk to your doctor first.
Slow down, eat smaller bites for a healthier diet
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Obesity, Nutrition
The above sounds like something I say to my children every night at the dinner table. However, it is an approach that if taken literally could help Americans with our ongoing obesity struggles. The French long ago adopted the eat slowly and carefully approach and their portion control, coupled with a leisurely dining pace, has helped to keep their population of obese adults to a mere 11%, compared to the American national average of 37% adult obesity. In a society where we are so often on the go, it is hard to justify sitting down and slowly eating a meal when we could just as easily pack it in to plastic containers and munch away in the car while we run errands, pick up kids and multi task. And if we forget to bring a drink? No worries, we can stop at a drive thru and get a huge one for under two dollars. Or if we have been working all day, it is far easier to pile the kids in the car and have dinner at an all you can eat buffet. A buffet offers something for everybody and the plates are unlimited.
There is a lesson to be learned from the French. Smaller portions, spending a few extra minutes at the table and chewing our bites a few more times can help to give the feeling of fullness while still enjoying a meal. Being realistic about portions is another key to eating in moderation. The changes are small but key to reducing obesity and creating a healthy lifestyle. Click here to read more.
Hypertension in women & cola consumption
Filed under: Diet, Prevention, Women Heart Health
Results from the Nurses Health Study, between 1990/1991 - 2002/2003, had some interesting findings. One points to an association between cola consumption and hypertension in women.It was speculated that it was the caffeine in the cola that caused the hypertension, but the study did not find an association between coffee consumption and hypertension. The researchers found that it made no difference if the women were drinking diet or sugared cola. They are speculating that it might be one of the other compounds found in cola that causes hypertension. The study had some flaws, so further research is necessary, but it was clear enough to make the correlation.
Hypertension is a major risk factor in coronary heart disease, stroke and congestive heart failure. It has a huge impact on many lives, and even the slightest reduction in the number of people with high blood pressure would make a difference.
We read every day about new studies that found a connection between a food or beverage and a disease. Many people feel that they just want to give up and eat and drink what they want, because they can not stay informed of all the developments. I think that it is important to remember that it is invariably an "unnatural" food or beverage that causes harm. I have never heard of a study saying that drinking water or eating apples can ruin your health. It is also clear that most of these studies point to usage in excess. When we drink cola every day or eat chocolate by the pound, that's when we get into trouble. So, I guess, I will have to follow my grandmother's advice after all: "Moderation in all things."
The Honeymoon Period
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Research, Support
Not exactly romantic like a honeymoon, but definitely a significant event preceding a life long commitment -- the Honeymoon Period is a period of time when a patient is first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
During this time, patients sometimes seem as though their diabetes appears to go away. The patient's insulin needs are minimal and some patients may actually find they can maintain normal or near normal blood glucose taking little or no insulin. This can last between a few months to as long as a year.
Dr. Richard Bernstein, the best-selling author of "The Diabetes Solution" answered the following question from a mother regarding her child's diabetes and the influence of diet. He said:
If every newly diagnosed child with diabetes were put on our program at the time of diagnosis, we would rarely encounter the horror stories that we hear from nearly every parent. These include the roller coaster blood sugars with frequent and severe hypos, the need for snacks, the fear of delayed meals, personality changes and growth retardation. Furthermore, we find that the "honeymoon period" can be prolonged indefinitely if blood sugars remain within the normal range (about 90 mg/dl). Prolongation of the honeymoon period not only makes diabetes control much easier, but also preserves the pancreatic beta cells.
If Dr. Bernstein's idea about controlling the length of the Honeymoon Period through diet is possible - is it possible to ward off the onset of autoimmune diabetes (type 1 diabetes) through diet. The belief may be heavily supported by contrarians, who traditionally contest conventional medical wisdom. I'll admit - I could be one of them. I own Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution and I have to hand it to him - at first glance I thought I voluntarily entered a diabetic Twilight Zone. Then I reminded myself why I bought the book in the first place.
A link between Cholesterol and Cancer ... and it's not what you think
Filed under: Drugs
Having low cholesterol will improve your chances against heart disease and other heart problems, but it appears that very low cholesterol has a bad side too -- it's been linked to cancer, according to a new study.The findings come out of a study that was measuring the amount of damage that statins--a type of cholesterol medication that includes the brand names Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor--had on other organs in the body, including the liver. However, if you're on statins, there's no need to worry just yet. It's thought the risk is fairly minimal and researchers will have to investigate further to determine more information.
Crestor shown to reverse artery blockages in study
Filed under: Prevention, Research, Drugs
Atherosclerosis, better known as the buildup of plaque in the arteries, was thought to be an irreversible problem. The only option for actually reopening arteries was angioplasty or stents, and medication could only slow or arrest the gradual narrowing. But, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic found that by using the max dosage of the cholesterol drug Crestor, the fat clogs blocking their patients' arteries were reduced by 7 percent over 2 years.
This of course does not mean that people with clogged arteries should start downing bottles of Crestor, but it does sheds more light on the fact that lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol is the best way to prevent heart attacks. But, from this study it is possible to consider the future use of Crestor, and how it appears to actually reverse the plaque accumulation in blood vessels, something that starts as early as childhood.
Again, this is still further studies that need to be done, but this is promising information for people who thought that medication could only slow the eventual narrowing of vessels. In time, it's very possible that this method of using Crestor to clear blockages could be an alternative to surgery.
Wearble device text messages hospital during heart attack
Filed under: Women Heart Health, Men Heart Health, Aging Heart Health
Technology, especially medical technology, is constantly amazing me. Take, for instance, this device, which uses Bluetooth technology. It takes periodic ECG readings of the heart, and if it detects imminent heart failure, it will transmit that information to a user's cell phone. The cell phone then text messages the nearest medical center. The device is meant to be used by patients who have already suffered a cardiovascular event, and was created to help those patients get medical help more quickly in the event of a second attack.The Wearable Cardiac Telemedicine System will hopefully ease the minds of patients and help them to lead a more mobile life. It appears to still be in the development stages, but heart patients may soon have it available to them for use.
Tart cherries may help regulate blood sugar
Filed under: Diet, Type 2, Research
As tasty as most incredibly unhealthy foods may be, there is some competition in the taste department from healthier eats. One that I feel is worth mentioning on both TheDiabetesBlog and TheCardioBlog (chiefly because it is germane to both) is the tart cherry; natures way of making healthy eating happy eating.
In a test involving lab rats, researchers from the University of Michigan Health System found tart cherries to lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, lessen the amount of fat storage in the liver, lower oxidative stress, and increase production of a molecule that assists the body in metabolizing fat and sugar.
Antioxidant compounds known as anthocyanins are found in high amounts in tart cherries. Researchers say that a strong correlation appears to exist between the consumption of tart cherries and the clear changes in metabolic measurements such as those listed above.
Unfortunately, this study still remains at the rodent phase; it will take human clinical trials to determine if tart cherries carry similar benefits for us. FYI: U-M researchers already plan to launch a small clinical trial some time in the near future.