Must Know Information on Heart Disease

A landmark study in the medical journal "The Lancet" provides eye opening information on heart disease. Believe it or not . . . there are 9 factors that are responsible for 90% of heart attacks the world over.

BACKGROUND

Sobering. . . isn't it?

So why is this information on heart disease and this research so critical? And why are health professionals everywhere quoting it? Because most of the 9 risk factors are changeable - or "modifiable". It re-focuses people on the amount of control they do have over reducing their risk for a heart attack. This is information on heart disease that you can't afford to ignore.

WHY SHOULD YOU READ THIS INFORMATION ON HEART ATTACKS?

If I told you there were 9 proven ways to win a lottery, wouldn't you want to take a serious try at each of them?

How about this - There are 9 proven ways to live longer.

Now are you interested?

Well, here you go - there are 9 proven ways to reduce your risk for a heart attack. To live longer and better. No matter where you live. Examine them, be honest about them and seriously examine what you can do.

THIS STUDY: THE INTERHEART STUDY

This study was an international standardized trial (case-controlled) done in 52 countries and on every inhabited continent. It included a total of 29972 people. Amazing. It's one of the things that makes this research so impressive. Just under half of these people were recruited because they'd just had their first heart attack. The other half were matched for age and did not have a heart attack. Of course there were many other criteria which excluded people from the research.

WHAT THEY FOUND

This is the "must know" information on heart disease. Whether young or old, man or woman and no matter where these people lived, the following 9 risk factors were responsible for 90% of acute heart attacks WORLDWIDE:

These first 6 items increased the risk:

1. High cholesterol (Raised ApoB/Apo A1 ratio)
2. Smoking
3. High blood pressure
4. Diabetes
5. Abdominal obesity
6. Psychosocial factors (yes! Stress, depression, and they can also raise blood sugars.)

These 3 items decreased the risk:

1. Eating fruits and vegetables daily
2. Regular physical activity
3. Drinking alcohol in moderation

Let's be clear on how to read this information on heart disease. NOT doing these last three items puts you at greater risk for having a heart attack!

WHAT THEY CONCLUDED. . .AND YOU SHOULD TOO

Although family history does put people at risk for heart attacks, it does not appear by itself to play as important a role as the 9 risk factors listed above, except in the case of heart attacks at very young ages.

Worldwide, most heart attacks are caused from the above 9 factors. That means, most heart attacks might be prevented if people focused on those same 9 factors. This is the most hopeful information on heart disease to be collected in some time.

You want an example?

If someone ate fruits/veggies daily, had regular activity and avoided smoking it could reduce their risk of a heart attack by three quarters compared to a smoker with a poor lifestyle. Yes, I took this from the study. Eye opening, isn't it.

The more risk factors, the greater the risk of heart attack. But not like 2+2+2=6. More like that weird math of 2+2+2=32. The risks multiply if you have more than one.

THE BIG QUESTION. CAN YOU . . .

1. Get your cholesterol checked and lower it if high.
2. Don't smoke (get help to stop).
3. Check your blood pressure and lower it if high. (get it below 120/80 if you have diabetes).
4. Try to prevent diabetes or manage blood sugars as best you can.
5. Reduce your waist size.
6. Relax - or get help for stress and depression (relaxation can also help lower blood sugars.)
7. Eat colorful fruits and veggies daily
8. Be physically active daily
9. Discuss with your MD the option of drinking alcohol in moderation (vs. avoiding it).

Don't be overwhelmed. Even if you pick one or two items from this information on heart disease you can benefit.

Physical activity and healthy diet can also help manage stress - which can help blood pressure. Quitting smoking can help reduce blood pressure. Wait, eating fruit/veg can help lower your blood pressure (and your risk for cancer!). Oh, reducing your waist size might lower your blood pressure and blood sugars. Well. . .There you have it.

Pick something that multi-tasks. This information on heart disease also applies to diabetes. If you have diabetes, pick something that helps you manage your blood sugar too. Like activity, more veggies, reducing waist size or managing stress.

Just pick anything - and stick to it.

If you are already doing some of these things - CONGRATULATIONS! Remember to keep doing them.

Your life might depend on it.

	Web www.diabetes-blood-sugar-solutions.com

Reference: Effect of potentially modifiable risk facotrs asociated with myocrdial infection in 52 countires (the INTERHEART Study):case-control study. The Lancet 2004; 364:937-952

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