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Uncontrolled Hypertension: The Old ‘Silent Killer’ is Alive and Well

The AHA! Team — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:53:13 +0000

Florida Atlantic University via EurekAlert! – In the United States and worldwide, cardiovascular disease is the leading avoidable cause of premature death and disability. Primarily heart attacks and stroke, cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 900,000 annual deaths nationally and about 10 million deaths globally. Uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attacks. Prevention and management of cardiovascular disease involves therapeutic lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise and adjunctive drug therapies of proven benefit. In a commentary published in The American Journal of Medicine, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine and colleagues alert health care providers that the old “silent killer” is alive and well. “Health providers should be aware that uncontrolled hypertension is one of the most common, serious and increasing conditions in their patients,” said Stacy Rubin, M.D., senior author and an assistant professor of medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Health providers urgently need to control blood pressure and should be mindful that sudden cardiac death accounts for 50% of deaths from cardiovascular disease and is the first symptomatic event in about 25% of cases. Moreover, for 76% of stroke patients, the initial presenting symptom is the stroke itself.” The authors note that controlling hypertension is effective and, at least in theory, straightforward. Landmark U.S. study in the 1970s, about 50% of patients were aware of their high blood pressure Before the Hypertension Detection and Follow Up Program, a landmark study conducted in the 1970s in the U.S., only about 50% of patients were aware of their high blood pressure. Of those, only 50% were actively treated. Of that group, only 50% received effective treatment. Therefore, only one-eighth of all patients were effectively treated. Today, these figures show that 54% are aware of their high blood pressure, 40% are actively treated and 21% are actively controlled. Guidelines have been developed in many countries worldwide and all tend to emphasize the need for strict control. According to the latest guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, healthy individuals should have a systolic blood pressure of 130 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or less, and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or less. “With these latest definitions, hypertension affects about 45% of the U.S. adult population,” said Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., co-author and professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Another clinical challenge is metabolic syndrome, which includes central adiposity, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated fasting blood glucose and hypertension.” Metabolic syndrome is a chief risk factor for heart attacks and stroke in the U.S. The authors caution that metabolic syndrome is a chief risk factor for heart attacks and stroke in the U.S., which is the heaviest society in the world. “For patients with metabolic syndrome, we believe that angiotensin converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors or their more potent next generation drugs, the receptor blockers, are the first drug of choice,” said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH., co-author, and corresponding author, the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine, senior academic advisor, and a professor of preventive medicine in the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “These drugs have beneficial effects on heart attacks, stroke, and kidney disease, another major consequence of untreated hypertension.” Making positive lifestyle changes like losing weight, being more physically active, and cutting down on salt intake has been shown to be beneficial for managing blood pressure. For those whose blood pressure is above 130/80, a combination of these lifestyle changes along with medications can safely and effectively lower blood pressure. Medications are typically started for individuals whose pressure remains above 140/90 despite these lifestyle changes. The authors suggest that both health providers and patients should be aware of the variability of blood pressure from day-to-day and from morning to night. As such, effective treatment is complicated by the health provider’s need to produce an algorithm to each of their patients. In addition, the patient must take an active role in monitoring their blood pressure. For this reason, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend the Omron blood monitor, which is used to measure blood pressure levels at home. Health providers should counsel their patients to check their blood pressure each morning and night “Health providers should counsel their patients to check their blood pressure each morning and night and whether to administer a particular drug or its dose, which should be adjusted accordingly based on the average of three readings taken about five minutes apart,” said Hennekens. “While uncontrolled hypertension remains alive and well in the U.S. and worldwide, strict attention to these issues by health providers has the potential to ‘kill the old silent killer.’” Co-authors are Barry R. Davis, M.D., Ph.D., professor emeritus of biostatistics and data science, University of Texas – Houston School of Public Health; Jared Greenwald, a high school and pre-medical student; John Dunn and Alexandra Matarazzo, both second-year medical students at FAU; and Katerina Benson, a second-year pre-medical student at FAU. Hennekens served as principal investigator (PI) of the Coordinating Center for the landmark National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funded Trials of Hypertension Prevention multicenter randomized trials for both phases I and II. Davis served as PI of the Coordinating Center for the landmark NHLBI funded Anti-Hypertensive and Lipid Lowering to Prevent Heart Attack multicenter randomized trials. – FAU – Journal The American Journal of Medicine DOI 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.07.005 To read the original article click here.

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New Study Links the Timing of Physical Activity to Greater Heart-Protective Benefits

AHA Publisher — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 08:00:48 +0000

News Staff via NaturalHealth365 – We all know exercise is essential for overall well-being and heart health. But does it matter what time of day you exercise? According to a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, it may. The data suggest that physical activity at certain times of day is linked to greater heart-protective benefits. Exercising During This Time of Day Could Be Best for Protecting Your Heart Health The recent study evaluated data from the UK Biobank on almost 87,000 men and women. The Biobank kept track of the physical activity levels as well as the heart health of the participants. By looking at the data, researchers sought to determine whether the time of day people exercise played a role in heart health. The participants were all healthy when the monitoring began. They wore activity trackers to determine the times of day they did physical activity. The participants’ heart health status was monitored for about six years. All participants were between the ages of 42 and 78, and over half were women. During the six years, over 3,000 study participants developed heart disease or a stroke. However, the participants who exercised in the late morning – primarily between 8 AM and 11 AM – appeared to have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. In fact, compared to people who exercised at other times of day, the morning exercisers experienced up to 24% lower risk of heart disease and 35% less risk of stroke! Why Does Exercise Timing Matter? Despite these results, researchers don’t have a clear answer as to why the timing of physical activity might make a difference. Interestingly, the increased heart-protective benefits of morning exercise were only noted in women. There was no difference seen in men. Still, the findings warrant further research into exercise timing. Researchers suggest that the benefits of morning exercise could be related to the way the body’s metabolism works at different times of the day. In other words, the timing of food intake could impact heart health benefits, influencing the study findings. This may be because nutrient storage and metabolism can change throughout the day. In addition, exercise holds many other benefits, including stress reduction and improving mood. So it’s possible that lower stress throughout the day also impacts heart disease risk. Whatever the case, the study suggests that morning exercise is ideal, especially for women. How to Promote Optimal Heart Health Even if you can’t exercise in the morning, it’s better to exercise whenever you can than not at all. However, starting the day with physical activity is probably a good idea for anyone who can do it, although exercise timing seems to mainly affect women. Morning exercise also can help you feel better overall and more prepared for the day. On top of exercise, eating a healthy diet is essential for protecting your heart. Aim for a diet rich in nutrient-dense organic fruits and vegetables and try to minimize toxic processed foods. Cutting back on sugar intake will also have heart health benefits. Sources for this article include: Academic.oup.com Consumer.healthday.com To read the original article click here.

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Healthy People With High Cholesterol Don’t Stand to Benefit From Statins, Research Says

AHA Publisher — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000

University of South Florida via News-Medical – About 40 million adults in the United States regularly take statins to lower their cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, according to American Heart Association data from 2020. However, many of them don’t stand to benefit from these drugs based on new research from David Diamond, a neuroscientist and cardiovascular disease researcher in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida. Diamond and his co-authors reviewed literature from medical trials involving patients taking either a statin or placebo. They then narrowed their review to look at study participants with elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), the so-called “bad cholesterol,” which can be reduced with a statin. Some individuals with high LDL also had high triglycerides (fat in the blood) and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good cholesterol,” which put them at the highest risk of having a heart attack. But others with high LDL were very different. They had low triglycerides and high HDL, which meant they were healthier. People with optimal triglycerides and HDL levels typically exercise, have low blood pressure and low blood sugar, and are at a low risk of a heart attack. Diamond and his co-authors asked two questions: If people are at a low risk of a heart attack based on having optimal triglycerides and HDL, but they also have high LDL, does that raise their risk? Further, would these people benefit from lowering their LDL with a statin? Their findings, published in the journal Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, showed LDL alone has “a very weak association” with heart disease and stroke. Their review went further, showing that when people with high LDL and optimal triglycerides and HDL were given a statin, there was no benefit. Diamond put the findings into a diet and lifestyle context. “People who are not overweight, have low blood sugar, exercise and are on a low-carb diet typically have optimal triglycerides and HDL, and sometimes they have high LDL. Our findings show that the people who have this healthy combination of diet and lifestyle, as well as high LDL, showed no benefit from taking a statin.” David Diamond, neuroscientist and cardiovascular disease researcher, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida The authors say their review also challenges the long-held contention that low-carb diets, which are often high in saturated (animal) fat, contribute to heart disease. That contention has persisted for nearly 50 years, dating to when cardiologist Robert Atkins was challenged about the potential dangers of his high-fat Atkins diet before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Nutrition and Human Needs in 1973. “High blood pressure, obesity, smoking and high blood sugar are the primary drivers of heart disease,” Diamond said. “Cholesterol is an innocent bystander, and saturated fat in the diet has been undeservedly demonized.” Diamond acknowledges that his research is controversial and has resulted in strong support, along with criticism from some within the medical community who have challenged his views on LDL and statins. He cautions that it is intended to raise awareness and should not be considered medical advice. Diamond’s interest in the association between LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart disease and stroke is personal. About 25 years ago, he was overweight and diagnosed with high triglycerides and low HDL, a potentially lethal combination. His doctor told him he was at high risk of developing heart disease and prescribed a statin to lower his LDL cholesterol. Instead of taking the medication, Diamond began his study of diet and heart disease. “I learned my problem was that I ate too many carbs – bread, potatoes and sugar,” Diamond said. “I’ve been able to get my weight under control and reduce my risk of heart disease with a low-carb diet. In the process, I’ve become aware of the obsession with linking cholesterol to heart disease.” Diamond has since published more than a dozen papers on flaws in the consensus that cholesterol causes heart disease. His latest paper included a review of the medical literature linking statins to numerous adverse effects, including the development of diabetes, damage to muscles and kidneys and impaired brain functioning. “Certain statins have been linked to cognitive impairment because they interfere with the brain’s ability to produce cholesterol, which is essential for the creation of new brain connections and to form memories,” Diamond said. According to Diamond, people who are overweight and have diabetes may benefit from taking a statin because, in addition to lowering LDL, the drugs block excess clotting and inflammation, two known risk factors of heart disease. However, for those who prefer to take medication rather than make diet and lifestyle changes, Diamond has a message: “People who take a statin might not appreciate that they’re a little less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, but the adverse effects of the statin may cause them harm.” Co-authors for the study were Brigham Young University Professor Ben Bikman and Paul Mason, a physician in New South Wales, Australia. To read the original article click here.

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Summer’s Shocking Mediterranean Diet Study

AHA Publisher — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 07:00:41 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – When it comes to heart conditions, many people still believe a low-fat diet is best. They may be willing to reduce carbohydrates to achieve their weight goals, but proactively add high-fat foods? That’s a step too far. For them, the low-fat dogma taught decades ago is just too hard to shake. This summer’s shocking Mediterranean diet study may be just what they need to be convinced that fats are good for your heart. Here are the highlights of the study, what you need to know about the Mediterranean diet, and how you can best implement it for optimal health, weight, and youthfulness. Summer’s Shocking Mediterranean Diet Study This summer’s Mediterranean diet study was published in The Lancet in May 2022 (1). However, it actually started over a decade ago. In 2009, researchers took 1002 participants who had diagnosed coronary artery disease (plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries), including 827 men and 175 women, and divided them into two groups. Group 1, which consisted of 502 participants, ate a Mediterranean diet. If this is unfamiliar to you, a traditional Mediterranean diet emphasizes foods high in monounsaturated fats — particularly olive oil and nuts — along with legumes, whole grains, poultry, and fatty fish. It also encourages high amounts of fruits and vegetables. Group 2 ate a low-fat diet. This means they actively minimized high-fat foods including those considered unhealthy fats AND healthy fats. Their diets encouraged lean versions of fish and poultry, and more calories per day from carbohydrates, particularly whole grains, legumes, and potatoes. The results? For those who’ve held strongly to the low-fat recommendations of former decades, the results are shocking. Mediterranean Diet Study Results After 7 years of following their assigned diets, the participants were once again tested for coronary heart disease markers. The Mediterranean diet group had a 26% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke, compared with people in the low-fat group. The researchers concluded that the Mediterranean diet was superior to the low-fat diet in preventing major cardiovascular events in secondary prevention. Of course, this is not the first study that clearly shows the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Study after study has shown that the Mediterranean diet is effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and overall mortality. Much of the research has found that it supports healthy reductions in inflammation, blood sugar, and body mass index (2, 3, 4). Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto — the Most Effective Mediterranean Diet Plan If you’re looking for a great way to take these shocking results and make a healthy Mediterranean diet your eating lifestyle, look no further than Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto! Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto is a revolutionary new approach that combines the best of the Keto Zone™ Diet with the Mediterranean Diet to support healthy weight, gut health, brain health, reduced inflammation, healthy aging, and more (5). Specifically, it encourages: A Healthy Weight: Almost all current negative health conditions are linked to, or exacerbated by, obesity (6). By utilizing healthy ketogenic diet principles, Beyond Keto promotes healthy changes and outcomes as soon as the first two weeks (7)! In addition, the Mediterranean diet component continues to support healthy weight and healthy body composition. Its focus on lean proteins, seafoods, healthy oils, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetables provide a wonderful well-balanced, satisfying dietary lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight (8). Energy, Vitality, and Mental Focus: One of the greatest benefits of the ketogenic diet is the production of ketones. Ketones are natural energizing compounds that support healthy mental focus and vitality. The Mediterranean diet also encourages great energy and vitality with the abundant variety of healthy foods. Rather than experiencing the ups and downs of a high-sugar diet, you will enjoy steady, youthful energy from delicious, colorful whole foods. Optimal Blood Sugars and Metabolism: An amazing aspect of both the ketogenic diet and the Mediterranean diet normalized blood sugars. By using both eating styles in Beyond Keto, you’ll remove harmful refined starches while focusing on healthy fats, high fiber beans, peas, lentils, vegetables, lean protein and low glycemic fruits such as berries. Part of the improvement comes from weight loss. The other part comes from a diet that supports healthy metabolism and hormones (9). Healthy Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and Blood Pressure Levels. Both the Keto Zone and Mediterranean diet aspects of Beyond Keto support heart health. First, Beyond Keto promotes a healthy weight, which can help optimize heart health. Next, by choosing the incredibly heart-healthy foods in the Mediterranean diet, you can continue to encourage great heart health In fact, the foods in the Mediterranean diet and Beyond Keto work to support heart health, healthy cholesterol, and achieve whole-body health (10). Natural Unprocessed Foods Full of Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds. One of the worst dietary habits plaguing humans worldwide is the consumption of ultra-processed foods. In fact, researchers have found that ultra-processed foods are linked to most modern health conditions and even overall risk of death (11)! Thankfully, you’ll eat healthy, high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods rather than ultra-processed ones (12). Healthy Gut Microbiota. Amazingly, Beyond Keto combines Keto Zone and Mediterranean foods to support gut health! This is great news for the millions of people who suffer from less-than-optimal gut function. In fact, studies have found the Mediterranean diet specifically improves gut microbiota and its associated metabolism functions. The diet’s prebiotics from healthy fibers along with healthy fats and polyphenols support gut health, hormone balance, and metabolism (13). All in all, Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto is a wonderful eating lifestyle full of delicious foods that will help you achieve great health and your weight goals. Bottom Line This summer, take this Mediterranean diet study, its results, and run with them. Choose a healthy lifestyle that’s full of healthy fats, vegetables, proteins and very few processed foods. It’s a great time to support your heart health, brain health, and whole-body health with Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto! To read the original article click here.

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Salt Substitute Is a Cost-Effective Intervention for Stroke Prevention and Improved Quality of Life

AHA Publisher — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 07:00:38 +0000

Northwestern University via News-Medical – A salt substitute that contains less sodium was a cost-effective intervention for prevention of stroke and improved quality of life, according to an analysis published in the journal Circulation. A previous study found the substitute was effective at preventing stroke and heart attack, so these findings further cement this intervention’s usefulness, according to Darwin Labarthe, MD, PhD, MPH, professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Epidemiology and a co-author of the study. “Because hypertension is so highly prevalent, and costs of its morbidity and mortality outcomes are so great, a cost-saving intervention has huge implications for national health expenditures.” Darwin Labarthe, MD, PhD, MPH, Professor of Preventive Medicine, Division of Epidemiology Reducing salt intake reduces blood pressure, which is a primary contributor to disease and death from heart attack or stroke. As many as one billion people around the world have uncontrolled high blood pressure, Labarthe said, and that number only continues to grow. Salt substitutes — in this study, a salt made of a mix of sodium chloride and potassium chloride — have been shown to reduce blood pressure. A previous study of more than 20,000 individuals in 600 villages in northwestern China found rates of stroke, major cardiovascular events and death were all lower in participants using salt substitutes when compared to participants using regular salt. In the current study, investigators performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of the previous study, measuring health outcomes in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Healthcare costs were identified from participant health insurance records and estimated using figures from previous studies. Over the nearly five-year follow-up period, replacing regular salt with salt substitute reduced the risk of stroke by 14 percent. The salt substitute group had on average 0.054 more QALYs per person. The average annual costs were lower in the salt-substitute group: 1,538 Chinese yuan (about $241) for the intervention group and 1,649 Chinese yuan (about $259) for the control group. This means the intervention was dominant — a term used in cost-effectiveness denoting better outcomes at lower cost — for prevention of stroke. Sensitivity analyses performed by the authors showed these conclusions held even when the price of salt substitutes was raised, only losing cost-effectiveness when the price was increased to the highest market prices identified in China. “This presents powerful ‘hard outcome’ evidence long demanded by sodium reduction skeptics who failed to see the value of interventions that would lower blood pressure itself, despite it being an immense health and public health problem,” Labarthe said. This intervention holds promise, especially in countries such as China where large segments of the population consume home-prepared rather than commercially with processed food, in contrast to Western countries such as the United States, according to Labarthe. “Governments and health systems would benefit and would serve their beneficiaries by implementing salt substitution as an important means to reduce blood pressure and risk of stroke,” Labarthe said. “This will be impactful to the degree that individual behavior determines how much salt is consumed; it will be less so where the processed or manufactured foods predominate, until the food industry adopts the use of salt substitute in its products.” To read the original article click here.

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Do You Have a Ticking Time Bomb in Your Chest That Could Cause a Stroke?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 07:00:22 +0000

Walla! via The Jerusalem Post – More than 30,000 Israelis suffer from atrial fibrillation without knowing it. This is an arrhythmia, a fluctuation in the normal heart rate that is called a “ticking time bomb,” and it significantly increases the risk of having a stroke. A new questionnaire from the Ne’eman Association checks if you’re at risk of having a stroke. Approximately 90,000 Israelis suffer from atrial fibrillation, but 30,000 people don’t know that they have this condition. This means that they walk around with a ticking time bomb in their body that isn’t noticeable and can cause a stroke without any early warning signs. Now a new pilot from the Ne’eman Association seeks to diagnose these people and save their lives with a simple digital questionnaire for people over age 65. “Every year about 20,000 people suffer a stroke that can lead to disability and even death,” said Prof. Natan Bornstein, director of the Neurological Institute at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and chairman of the Israeli Stroke Society and the Ne’eman Association. “Of these strokes, only about 20% are caused by atrial fibrillation and occur in patients with no early symptoms, so in other words many of these cases were diagnosable and preventable.” What Is Atrial Fibrillation? Bornstein explained that atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder characterized by rapid and irregular contraction of the heart. Irregular heartbeat can cause blood to congeal in the heart and clot. The danger is that these blood clots will leave the heart and reach blood vessels in the brain. As a result, blood and oxygen supply to the brain may be blocked and cause a stroke.This is why atrial fibrillation is one of the major risk factors for stroke. The professor added that studies show that people over age 65 who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a stroke as compared to the general healthy population. “Early detection of atrial fibrillation and appropriate drug treatment with anticoagulants can prevent a stroke and therefore it’s crucial to diagnose atrial fibrillation,” he said. The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, and if people have diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, progressive heart failure, vascular disease, obstructive pulmonary disease and overactive thyroid gland, these increase the risk for atrial fibrillation in this age group. As mentioned, the Ne’eman Association, which works to reduce stroke and provides rehabilitative services, is now leading a unique pilot that will identify people at risk for atrial fibrillation by using a digital questionnaire and advanced heart rate monitoring technology, in order to save their lives. The pilot calls on people aged 65 and over to answer a digital questionnaire, which examines their level of risk for latent atrial fibrillation. Participants diagnosed at high risk using the questionnaire will receive at home, for free, an advanced heart rate monitoring device (called a Holter), which is connected 24/7 to a monitoring center in order to find a fibrillation. As part of the pilot, those who are at risk will receive the world’s smallest miniature monitoring device called MonitorNano, which runs an automated algorithm for detecting arrhythmias, which is pre-programmed to detect arrhythmias. The patient has nothing to do but carry it on his body. It’s the smallest wearable monitoring device in the world, only 12 mm thick and weighs only 18 grams. The data received from the monitor is transmitted to the center through the management application installed on a cell phone and analyzed by medical staff. “There is no doubt that if it’s possible to prevent a stroke, of course this is the preferred option,” concluded Pnina Rosenzweig, CEO of the Ne’eman Association. “Early testing to detect those at risk can save lives and this is a way to do so with a simple and free answer. It’s possible to get a professional and quality diagnosis of a significant risk factor and prevent a stroke.” To read the original article click here.

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People Living at Higher Altitudes Have a Lower Risk of Stroke and Stroke-Related Death, Finds Study

AHA Publisher — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:00:41 +0000

Frontiers via News-Medical – The study is the first to examine the incidence of stroke-related hospitalization and death in people living at four different elevations in Ecuador, and includes data gathered over 17 years on more than 100,000 stroke patients. Strikingly, the study finds that people living at higher altitudes have a lower risk of stroke and stroke-related death, and that this protective effect is strongest at between 2,000 and 3,500 meters. Having the Right Altitude Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. A stroke typically occurs because of a blockage, such as a blood clot, in one of the arteries supplying blood to or within the brain. You may be familiar with some of the most common lifestyle and health factors that contribute to stroke risk, including smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and lack of physical activity. However, there is another overlooked factor that could also affect your stroke risk – altitude. Higher altitude means less oxygen availability, so people who have lived on higher ground have adapted to these conditions. However, how this environment affects someone’s chances of developing stroke is still unclear. Anecdotal evidence suggests that short-term exposure to low oxygen can contribute to increased blood clotting and stroke risk, but the risk among people who permanently live at high altitude is not clear. Researchers in Ecuador are in a unique position to explore these phenomena, as the presence of the Ecuadorian Andes means that people in the country live at a wide array of altitudes. The main motivation of our work was to raise awareness of a problem that is very little explored. That is, more than 160m people live above 2,500 meters and there is very little information regarding epidemiological differences in terms of stroke at altitude. We wanted to contribute to new knowledge in this population that is often considered to be the same as the population living at sea level, and from a physiological point of view we are very different.” Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Study Lead Author and Professor, Universidad de las Americas Solving the Mystery The researchers studied hospital records in Ecuador from between 2001 and 2017, and assessed levels of stroke hospitalization and death among people who live at four different elevation ranges: low altitude (under 1,500 meters), moderate altitude (1,500–2,500 meters), high altitude (2,500–3,500 meters) and very high altitude (3,500–5,500 meters). The results showed that people who lived at higher altitudes (above 2,500 meters) tended to experience stroke at a later age compared with those at lower altitudes. Intriguingly, people who lived at higher altitudes were also less likely to be hospitalized or die because of stroke. However, this protective effect was greater between 2,000 and 3,500 meters and tailed off a little above 3,500 meters. So, why might living at high altitudes protect against stroke? It may be that people who live at high altitude have adapted to the low oxygen conditions, and more readily grow new blood vessels to help overcome stroke-related damage. They may also have a more developed vascular network in their brains that helps them to make the most of the oxygen they intake, but this could also protect them from the worst effects of stroke. More research is needed to identify the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, but the results may be some comfort to those who live on top of the world. To read the original article click here.

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Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Increased Risk of Second Stroke, Death

AHA Publisher — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:11:25 +0000

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) via Newswise – People with larger waistlines, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome may be at higher risk for having a second stroke and even dying than people who do not have metabolic syndrome, according to a meta-analysis published in the July 28, 2021, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Metabolic syndrome was defined as having excess belly fat plus two or more of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, higher than normal triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood), high blood sugar and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or “good” cholesterol. “Studies have shown conflicting results on whether metabolic syndrome, which has been tied to an increased risk of a first stroke, also increases the risk of a second stroke and death, so we wanted to analyze all of the research available,” said study author Tian Li, MD, of Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China. “These findings will help people with metabolic syndrome and their health care providers know that they should be screened for risk of recurrent stroke and given preventative treatments.” For the risk of stroke recurrence, the meta-analysis combined results from six studies with 11,000 participants who were followed for up to five years. During that time, 1,250 people had a second stroke. The analysis found that people with metabolic syndrome were 46% more likely to have a second stroke than people who did not have the syndrome. Looking at each component of metabolic syndrome, researchers found that having a low level of good cholesterol and having two or more components of the syndrome were associated independently with an increased risk of a second stroke. Having excess belly fat, high blood sugar and high blood pressure were not associated with increased risk of second stroke on their own. For the risk of death from any cause, the meta-analysis combined eight studies with 51,613 people who were followed for up to five years. During that time, 4,210 people died. People with metabolic syndrome were 27% more likely to die during the study than people without the syndrome. None of the individual components of the syndrome were independently associated with an increased risk of death. “These results add to the evidence that people with metabolic syndrome should take steps to modify their risk of second stroke and even death where possible, through medication, diet, exercise and other recommended lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking,” Li said. Li noted that the studies were observational, so they do not prove that metabolic syndrome is a cause of recurrent stroke or death. They only show an association. The meta-analysis was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Siming Scholars of Shuguang Hospital, Third Batch of Suzhou High-tech District Health Talents Project and Suzhou Science and Technology Plan Project. Learn more about stroke at BrainandLife.org, home of the American Academy of Neurology’s free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life®on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When posting to social media channels about this research, we encourage you to use the hashtags #Neurology and #AANscience. The American Academy of Neurology is the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 36,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. To read the original article click here.

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How Bathing in a Tub for 10 Minutes Changes Your Mindset (& Much More!)

AHA Publisher — Fri, 28 May 2021 07:00:31 +0000

Leah Zerbe, MS, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES via Dr. Axe – There is something so therapeutic about slowing down and taking a warm bath, but the benefits of bathing in a tub go far beyond a few minutes of relaxation. Emerging research suggests creating a regular tub bathing routine could play a role in transforming your health. Here are some incredible benefits of taking a bath that may inspire you to schedule some extra soak time! Habitual Bathing = 28% Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Disease You may have heard about cold shower benefits, but if the thought of that makes you shiver, consider a warm bath instead. A landmark 2020 studyinvestigating the effects of habitual bathing in 30,000 people in Japan over a nearly 20-year period found that regular tub time reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 28 percent. In the study, the frequency of baths mattered, but the temperature did not. Those who enjoyed warm, lukewarm or hot baths “almost every day” received the most cardiovascular protection compared to those who only took sporadic baths throughout the week. Interestingly, the temperature of the water was not a factor, although most bathers in Japan soak in baths 104 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Daily Baths Are Linked to Lower Stroke Risk The same Heart study looking at Japanese bath habits also found a link between daily bathing and stroke risk, with those taking a bath every day having a 25% lower risk of stroke compared to people who bathed zero to two times a week. Still, researchers note that hot baths can cause dizziness and issues in people with low blood pressure and said caution is needed, along with more research on the potential benefits of taking a bath in cooler water. Evening Baths = Better Sleep One of the benefits of taking a bath in the evening includes better sleep. One study looked at the effects of evening bathing on two groups: People 65 to 83 years old People 17 to 22 years old Younger adults reported feeling warmer, while older study participants noted falling asleep more quickly and getting higher quality sleep. Interestingly, researchers noticed less body movement during the first three hours of sleep, suggesting that a bath before sleep enhances the quality of sleep, particularly in the elderly. A pre-bedtime bath can also help dilate the skin’s blood vessels, which can help the body release excess heat for more comfortable sleep. If you need more reasons to take a bath, consider these other health benefits of carving out more tub time: Better breathing Reduced inflammation and glucose control Increases in body heat can trigger the brain to release more depression-fighting serotonin Benefits of Baths vs. Showers Although tub bathing is popular in Japan, showering is still the most common form of bathing around the world. This is significant because when a team of researchers compared showering versus immersion bathing in warm water for 10 minutes, striking perks emerged for tub bathers. Immersing yourself in warm water induces vasodilation and increases blood flow, which carries more oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. As you can imagine, this leads to all sorts of improvements in: Fatigue Stress Pain Skin Mental health Interestingly, tub bathers also experienced less: Tension and anxiety Anger and hostility Depression and dejection There are bath benefits you won’t get when taking a shower. Researchers explain that immersion bathing — not shower bathing — exerts hyperthermic action that induces increased blood flow and helps flush out more metabolic waste, helping people feel better both physically and mentally. How to Take Your Bath to the Next Level Add a cup of epsom salt to your bath water for a magnesium-rich detox boost. Avoid using commercial bath bombs, bubble baths and soaps that contain “fragrance” or “fragrance oils” on the label. Synthetic scents are common in bath products, and ingredients have been linked to hormone imbalances, asthma and even certain cancers. Consider making your own homemade bubble bath with calming lavender and chamomile. Practice diaphragmatic breathing. Take this time to relax and reconnect with your breath. On each inhale, picture your diaphragm muscle drawing down as your lungs fill with air. Let your belly relax and rise with each inhale, and lower with each complete exhale. Final Thoughts Tub, or immersion, bathing is an ancient form of hydrotherapy with a host of health benefits. Bath benefits include better sleep, improved stress hormone profile, lower risk of heart attack and stroke, pain relief, and more. To add to your bath’s detoxifying effects, add a cup of epsom salt to your bathwater, but skip commercial scented bubble baths and “bath bombs” that contain concerning chemicals. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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