News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinenature-healthhealth — Viewing Item


Nine heart risk factors { August 30 2004 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/30/health/webmd/main639484.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/30/health/webmd/main639484.shtml

Nine Heart Risk Factors
MUNICH, August 30, 2004


Heart researchers say nine risk factors -- ones that you can do something about -- account for 90% of all heart attacks.

Previously, researchers thought that only about half of heart attacks were explained by risk factors such as smoking or cholesterol. But now they say that the cause of almost all heart attacks can be pinpointed to one or more of the following:

* Smoking
* Abnormal cholesterol
* Diabetes
* High blood pressure
* Stress
* Abdominal obesity
* Sedentary lifestyle
* Eating too few fruits and vegetables
* Abstaining from alcohol

These risk factors are equal-opportunity killers -- black or white, Asian or American, young or old, man or woman -- all can fall victim by these same risks. Diet, exercise, and moderate consumption of alcohol can decrease risk of heart disease, but cannot reverse the potential danger posed by risks such as high cholesterol or smoking, says Salim Yusuf, MD, who led the study.

Studies have shown that men who drink up to two alcohol drinks a day and women who drink up to one a day have a lower risk of heart disease. One drink is generally considered to be four to five ounces of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or 1 ounce of liquor.

The study included nearly 30,000 people -- half were first heart attack survivors and half were healthy volunteers of similar age, race, and gender to the heart attack patients. Since the study was conducted in 52 countries located on every populated continent, Yusuf tells WebMD that it is now possible to say that “the same risk factor that causes a heart attack in a white European will cause a heart attack in an Asian.”

Bigger Waist, Bigger Risk

Rather than relying on body mass index (BMI), the researchers took waist measurements. A waist circumference of more than 80 centimeters (32 inches) in women and more than 85 centimeters (34 inches) in men increased risk. Yusuf says measuring the waist is a better predictor of heart attack risk because “it is a measure of abdominal fat, which is the type of fat that is most closely associated with heart attacks.”

Bigger Cholesterol Is Better

Yusuf presented the study results at the European Society of Cardiology meeting. He says that cholesterol size also plays a role in determining risks. Smaller, denser cholesterol molecules increase the risk of heart disease; these can more easily invade the artery wall causing inflammation and atherosclerosis plaque. The higher the amounts of smaller and denser particles, the higher the risks relative to larger cholesterol particles.

He says that this factor alone may increase the risk of heart attacks by as much as 54%. Yet when a smoker has a bad lipid ratio (smaller to larger particles) “that combination accounts for two-thirds of heart disease.”

In the study researchers measured particles which carry cholesterol in the blood called apoproteins. The ratio of apoliprotein B (which carries “bad” LDL cholesterol) and apoliprotein A-1 (which carries “good” HDL cholesterol) is a much simpler test, Yusuf says. “I call it the ratio of nasty versus good molecules.”

People at the highest risk for the ApoB/Apo A-1 ratio increased their risk of heart attack by 54%, he said.

Heart Attack Risk Rises With One Cigarette

Second on the nine-item list is smoking which was associated with a 36% increased risk of heart attack. And Yusuf warns that risk increases with the first cigarette: smoking one to five cigarettes a day increases heart attack risk by 40% compared with nonsmokers. Smoking 20 cigarettes a day (one pack) is associated with a fourfold increased risk of heart attack and smoking two or more packs a day “is associated with a ninefold increased risk,” he says.

Moreover, while a daily low-dose aspirin can protect the heart, “smoking three cigarettes can wipe out the protective effect of aspirin and wipe out two-thirds of the protective effect of [cholesterol-lowering drugs],” he says.

Stress Effect Stronger Than Thought

Calling the study the “most important work of my life,” Yusuf says that the power of some risk factors was surprising. For example, he says that stress, which he previously considered a “soft” risk factor, actually doubled the risk of heart attack. The study indicates that stress is most dangerous when it is described as “permanent” and when stress is constant whether at home or at work. Moreover, people who say they have little control on the job or in the home are more likely to suffer stress-related heart disease.

Rounding out the list of risk factors were diabetes, high blood pressure, sedentary life style, and a diet that doesn’t include generous servings of fruits and vegetables. On the positive side, a good diet, regular exercise, and moderate alcohol intake did reduce the risk of heart disease -- again the reduction was the same regardless of race or ethnicity.

Richard Horton, MD, editor of The Lancet, says that the study demonstrates the potential for real health benefits that can be achieved without pills or surgery. Horton says the results indicate the need for “political action. I think it is really time to consider political moves to control the food industry.” Among the possible options would be special taxes on foods known to contribute to obesity or limits on where such foods can be sold. Horton was not involved in the study.

Yusuf agrees that a concerted, international effort could greatly reduce what he calls a pandemic of heart disease. “We need to build healthier environments,” he says. “Shopping, work, and residence should be concentrated in the same area so that people can walk to a store or walk to work or school.”

The study received funding from 39 institutions including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario as well as a number of pharmaceutical companies.

SOURCES: European Society of Cardiology meeting, Munich, Germany, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2004 Hotline I: Prevention and Medical Treatment. Session 104 presented Aug. 29, 2004 “INTER-HEART: a study of risk factors for first myocardial infarction in 52 countries and over 27,000 subjects.” Salim Yusuf, MD, professor of medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Richard Horton, MD, The Lancet, London.



antibiotics
babies
cancer
cellphones
colawars
diet
drugs
obesity
smoking
toxins
1 in 3 americans have high blood pressure
1 in 3 kids 00 develop diabetes { June 15 2003 }
12 dangerous dietary supplements
Acupuncture helps arthritic knees
Alzheimers cases top 13m by 2050 { August 19 2003 }
Americans searching for pain relief { May 9 2005 }
Americans sicker than brits with more on health care { May 3 2006 }
Americans want universal health care
Antidepressants linked suicides { October 27 2003 }
Antioxidant rich foods preserve vision
Avoid drugs for migraine relief { May 4 2006 }
Beef business creates anti vegan study { February 21 2005 }
Black health worst condition { October 12 2003 }
Bran diet lowers risk of heart disease
Breastfeeding fights arthritis
Breastfeeding fights diabetes in mother
Britain leads the world in anti depressants
Britiain US worst western nations for children
Burger king down
Carpal tunnel from mouse not keyboard { June 17 2003 }
Chlorine in pools damages lungs
Cholesterol drugs not having effect
Cholesterol inhibitors in garlic identified
Chopsticks can be harmful
Dangerous dietary supplements { April 7 2004 }
Dark chocolate aids blood flow { August 29 2004 }
Dark chocolate health benefits { June 1 2004 }
Depression pills { May 7 2002 }
Doctors calls for national health insurance { August 12 2003 }
Doctors rally around universal health care
Drinking can shrink the brain { December 8 2003 }
Excercise generates new stem cells and vessels { September 5 2007 }
Exercise helps elderly mental sharpness
Exercise helps the brain work better
Facts on soy { April 13 2004 }
Faster aging with obesity and smoking { June 15 2005 }
Fats not increase stroke risk { October 3 2003 }
Federal warning on tuna mercury danger { December 11 2003 }
Fiber benefit found { May 2 2003 }
Floride linked low iq { August 25 2003 }
Garlic study may give herb a boost
German doctor cures aids with garlic and olive oil { November 29 2005 }
Girls meat milk dioxin warning
Green tea may prevent hiv { November 10 2003 }
Headphones use causes hearing loss
Heavy lifting protects heart
Heavy social drinkers show brain damage
High blood pressure up { July 9 2003 }
High lead found in boston water { April 28 2004 }
Hormone treated beef is dangerous to human health { October 16 2003 }
Hospital tries to remove mcdonalds from premises
Indians heart attack
Irradiated meat
Lead scare prompts EPA review of rules { July 23 2004 }
Loud music can damage lungs
Mcdonalds closes 175 { November 8 2002 }
Mcdonalds fries contain potential allergens
Mcdonalds lawsuit dismissed { January 22 2003 }
Mcdonalds lied again about its french fries
Mcdonalds meat fries { May 24 2001 }
Mcdonalds trans acids
Medical injuries kill 32000 annually
Milk and redmeat inflamation { September 29 2003 }
More evidence vegetarian diet may stop cancer
Ms vd
Neurologist helps people understand migraine triggers { April 27 2006 }
New study says slouching is better sitting
Nine heart risk factors { August 30 2004 }
Pills no proven to provide benefits from vegetables
Prozac may stunt growing bones
Salmon dye must be labeled { May 2 2003 }
Salmonella [pdf]
Sanitation is greatest medical milestone { January 18 2007 }
Seeds of dementia sown in midlife health diet lifestyle
Soy best for lowering cholesterol
Soy thyroid function
Stress can cause common cold or cancer
Study links drinking brain tissue loss
Supplements work
Survey finds millions new drug abusers
Sushi tuna found to have dangerous mercury levels { January 23 2008 }
Toddlers tv watching linked to attention deficit { April 5 2004 }
Tomato juice may stave off heart troubles { August 22 2004 }
Toxic mercury in environment causing autism { March 17 2005 }
Trans fats worse saturated fats { July 9 2003 }
Uncooked foods healthier { July 17 2000 }
Us health care spending surges again { January 9 2004 }
Vegan sues mcdonalds over french fries again { February 17 2006 }
Vitamins and calcium help pms symptons { June 17 2005 }
Watching TV causes hormone imbalance { June 28 2004 }
Wifi may endanger childrens health { April 22 2007 }

Files Listed: 91



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple