Heart Disease Prevention - Climb Stairs To Prevent Heart Disease

While most people may think of exercise as sport, the scientific evidence indicates that it is everyday activities like walking and stair climbing that are most closely associated with improved health. Click the following link to find out how climb stairs can prevent heart disease.

Heart Disease Prevention - Climb Stairs To Prevent Heart Disease

Knowing Symptoms Of Heart Attack And Stroke Might Help Life!

Heart attack and stroke are two different conditions but they do have something in common. First, they belong to a class of diseases known as cardiovascular disease that involve the heart or blood vessels. Then both heart attack and stroke are caused by blockage of blood vessels. The difference is a heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in an artery in the heart that leads to damaged heart muscle, whiles stroke is a blockage of an artery that leads to the brain.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. So, knowing their symptoms and getting medical help in time may save life.

Symptoms of heart attack include chest pain, discomfort in other parts of the body like neck, arms, jaw, back or stomach, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea and cold sweating. Women are more likely to have symptoms such as unusual fatigues, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or lightheadedness, discomfort in the neck, shoulder or upper back, and discomfort in gut.

People who suspect they have a heart attack should immediately call for emergency medical help. If they cannot do it themselves, they should ask someone nearby to do it for them. In the meantime, they should stop all activities and try to stay calm and wait for the ambulance to come. If you are with someone who might have a heart attack and becomes unconscious, you should start CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). You should call emergency dispatcher who can talk you through the steps until help arrives, if you do not know how to do it.

Being a lifesaving technique, CPR is useful in situations like heart attack or near drowning, in which someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. Keeping oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs is important. This is because when the heart stops, the lack of oxygenated blood can cause brain damage in only a few minutes, and a person may just die within 8 to 10 minutes.

Stroke symptoms, on the other hand, do not include any pain or discomfort. They are more likely associated with losing feeling or the ability to move. Stroke often affects only one side of the body. People who are suspected of having a stroke can have signs like sudden, severe headache with no known cause, confusion (trouble in speaking or understanding), numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg and usually on one side of the body, loss of vision in one or both eyes or having double vision, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination.

As stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability or even death, quickly calling emergency medical help is paramount. The sooner treatment starts, the better chance of having a full discovery.

Heart Disease Prevention - Can Walking Prevent Heart Disease?

Many health professionals believe that walking can improve cardiac risk factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress. It also helps protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction. But most studies that show regular exercise is good for health usually focused on various forms of exercise to investigate the influence of total amount of physical activity on health. It does not necessarily indicate that walking is beneficial.

Find out more to see if walking can prevent heart disease by clicking the following link:

Heart Disease Prevention - Can Walking Prevent Heart Disease?

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Manage Stress To Prevent Heart Disease?

It is believed that stress triggers inflammation, a known instigator of heart disease, though this has not been proven. Yet some people can act in a way that might increase their risk of heart disease because of stress. Find out how to manage stress at:

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Manage Stress To Prevent Heart Disease?

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Live With Atrial Fibrillation

Living with AFib can no doubt affect many aspects of one’s life, including stamina, relationships and emotional health. And there may be some restrictions on some activities associated with certain medications that one may take. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Live With Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Disease Prevention - Keeping Cholesterol In Check For Heart Disease Prevention

Excessive amount of cholesterol, especially the LDL, in the bloodstream can raise the risk of developing not only heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke but also Alzheimer's disease. High levels of LDL can form plaque in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the body. More details can be found at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Keeping Cholesterol In Check For Heart Disease Prevention

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Follow DASH Plan To Prevent Heart Disease?

Besides being physical active, eating a heart-healthy diet is equally important in managing blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and other diseases. The so-called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a healthier way of eating that help one to lose weight. When combined with a reduction in salt (sodium), the DASH diet can be more effective at lowering blood pressure than medication. Read more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Follow DASH Plan To Prevent Heart Disease?

What Foods Diabetics Should Avoid?

Diet plays an important role for diabetics in managing their conditions. Whether one likes it or not, consumption of certain foods should be minimized or even avoided.

White rice, for instance, has been an inseparable part of daily diet for most people of Asian origin. But for Type-2 diabetics, white rice consumption should be reduced. This is because researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people had higher risk of developing Type-2 diabetes if they ate 5 or more servings of white rice a week. On the other hand, people who substituted at least a third of their white-rice servings with brown rice had their risk cut by as much as 16 percent. Comparing with white rice, brown rice has more fiber that can help maintain blood sugar levels stable.

Likewise, white bread should be replaced by whole meal bread. White rice is made of refined flour that can be quickly digested by body. The quick digestion can cause the blood sugar to rise. Studies have shown that people who eat more whole grains and fewer refined grains including white bread have less of the type of body fat that can trigger heart disease and Type-2 diabetes.

Though cutting red meat from the diet entirely is unnecessary, eating lots of red and processed meats like bacon and cold cuts, all high in saturated fat, could most likely lead to development of Type-2 diabetes. A large study reported that people who ate processed meat (a hot dog or sausage or 2 slices of bacon) once a day had their risk of getting diabetes more than doubled. The risk can simply be lower by substituting one serving of red and processed meats with healthier sources of protein like nuts and low-fat dairy products.

Nevertheless, one should note that too much protein can raise the insulin, too. Protein can help lose weight and is essential to a healthy blood sugar level, as long as one does not over consume protein powders and eating animal proteins. Most people only need 0.5 grams to 1 gram of protein per body weight per day and those amounts should be split up into multiple servings, and not consumed at one time.

Saturated fats, the prime culprit for heart disease, can be found not only in red meat and butter but also whole-milk dairy products. In several studies, a diet high in saturated fats has been linked to insulin resistance. Switching to no-fat or 1-percent dairy products can get all the benefits of calcium without the drawbacks and reduce calories to help with weight loss.

Caffeine is another one that can increase insulin if excess amount is consumed. Drinking a cup or 2 of coffee a day might be good for the insulin, but more than that can cause the insulin to shoot up. When the insulin surges, one can feel moody, shaky, irritable and craving sweets. This will in turn cause one to reach for more caffeine or more sugar. 

Heart Disease Prevention - How Is Social Relationship Linked To Heart Disease?

A healthy lifestyle is definitely paramount in preventing heart disease and other chronic diseases. People often, however, ignore or unaware of another important factor that is linked to development of heart disease: the quality of one’s relationship! Relationship is a connection between people, like marriage, kinship and friendship. Read more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - How Is Social Relationship Linked To Heart Disease?

Heart Disease Prevention - What Is Metabolism And How To Boost It To Lose Weight?

Undoubtedly, the best way to burn fat and speed up metabolism is to carry out more physical activity and exercises like regular aerobic exercise, strength training and lifestyle activities. But there are other ways of boosting the metabolism by just making simple changes to the daily routine. Click the following link to find out more!

Heart Disease Prevention - What Is Metabolism And How To Boost It To Lose Weight?

What Could Spike Blood Sugar?

Good management of a diabetic’s blood sugar (glucose) level is important because diabetes can eventually lead to chronic medical conditions including heart disease and high blood pressure. But for Type-2 diabetics who has abandoned most simple carbohydrates in their diet and has regularly exercised, their blood sugar can sometimes still spikes.

Actually, there are many things that seem harmless to diabetics can actually affect their blood sugar level.

Dehydration, for instance, can make the blood becomes more concentrated and cause the blood sugar readings to go up. To make the thing worse, when the blood sugar is higher, one tends to urinate more, making him or her more dehydrated. So drinking enough water is important for diabetics, especially after exercises or in the hot weather.

Hormones change can also affect a woman’s blood sugar. One study had revealed that decreased insulin sensitivity during menstruation were the most common issue.  This means that the insulin that patients were taking or the pancreas was producing were not sufficient to lower blood sugar, resulting in high blood sugar level.

Stress is another thing that can affect one’s blood sugar level. When a person is under stress, his or her body releases hormones that can make the blood sugar rise. This is more common for Type-2 diabetics. Hence, learning to relax with deep breathing and exercise, and trying to change the things that are stressful, if possible, is very important.

Certain medications can upset one’s blood sugar readings, too. Corticosteroids such as prednisone, which are used to treat rashes, arthritis, asthma, and many other conditions, can boost blood sugar levels. Diuretics (water pills) that are used to manage high blood pressure, and decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine can be responsible for blood sugar hike.

While birth control pills, patches, implants, injections, and rings are generally considered to be safe forms of contraception for diabetic women, the estrogen in birth control pills can raise blood glucose levels.

People like to skip meals thinking that this may help them lose weight. In reality, skipping meals can only cause the body to store fat and conserve, not metabolize and burn fat. The reason is that the liver normally produces glucose to be used by the body, such as when someone is asleep, and stops the production when it detects insulin in the blood, such as when someone has eaten. If it becomes resistant to insulin, it does not get the signal to stop producing glucose and keeps pumping it into the blood. This excess glucose in the bloodstream is stored in the body as fat.

To keep a healthy blood sugar level, people should have regular meals. If a heavy meal is consumed and one does not want to have a regular size meal later or the next morning, he or she should at least eat something light.

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Sex Benefit Older Folks?

Several other studies had already shown that having sex even a few times a week has an associative or causal relationship would tend to have some benefits. Other studies also indicated that frequent sex can achieve weight loss and overall fitness, and pain relief, reduce depression, and even have less cold and flu. But a recent study had reported quite different results… Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Sex Benefit Older Folks?

Heart Disease Prevention - Does Protein Help One To Lose Weight?

Though there are numerous ways to lose weight, most of them will make one feel hungry and unsatisfied. Unless the person has a very strong determination, he or she will certainly give up quickly. In reality, losing weight might not be that difficult! First, one must eat the right food! Click the following link for more information:

Heart Disease Prevention - Does Protein Help One To Lose Weight?

Can Blueberry Help Prevent Heart Disease?

Being one of the few fruits native to North America, blueberries rank only second to strawberries in popularity of berries in the United States. It also contains one of the highest amount of antioxidant among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings.

Various studies have looked into blueberries for treatment of certain medical conditions like diabetes, infections, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, though all with mixed results. There is only a few research on the effect of eating blueberries on cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and most of these have been done in animals, such as pigs and rats. Some findings have indicated that total cholesterol levels were lowered by at least 8 percent and LDL cholesterol was reduced by up to 15 percent after 8 weeks, after animals were fed a daily diet consisting of about 4 percent blueberries.

Cholesterol levels play an important role in one’s health. High level of total cholesterol levels, especially the LDL (low-density lipoprotein), can put a person at risk of developing chronic diseases including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. 

So far, not too many studies have been conducted to examine the effect of blueberry consumption on lipids in people. These studies mainly involved healthy individuals and people with metabolic disease, and the findings did not actually show significant changes by consuming blueberries. However, it was reported by one study that drinking a one-liter mixture of freeze-dried and fresh blueberries did cut oxidized LDL by 28 percent. Oxidized LDL is a type of LDL that can promote the formation of atherosclerosis.  

In Jan 2013, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School pointed out in their paper, which was published in ‘Harvard Health Publications’, that eating more blueberries and strawberries, 3 times a week, may be a tasty way to protect the heart.

By gathering data from 93,600 women aged between 25 and 42 in the Nurses' Health Study, the researchers found that over the course of 18 years, women who ate the fewest blueberries and strawberries were at higher risk of heart attack. Those who ate the most were 34 percent less likely to have suffered a heart attack than those who ate the least of these fruits. According to them, the findings should likely apply to everyone, including men, though the study focused on young and middle-age women.

To get the heart benefits, people should eat at least 3 servings of a half cup of blueberries or strawberries each week. Blueberries and strawberries are particularly rich in chemical compounds called anthocyanins. Research suggests that anthocyanins have several effects on the body. They lower blood pressure, and they make blood vessels more elastic.

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Is Coronary Artery Disease Treated Differently Now?

Traditionally, CAD happens when there is buildup of plaque (known as atherosclerosis) in the inner walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. As atherosclerosis grows, the blood flow to the heart will be restricted and the heart will become starved of oxygen. Over time, CAD can weaken… Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Is Coronary Artery Disease Treated Differently Now?

Could Cinnamon Really Benefit Diabetics?

Being a spice obtained from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree, cinnamon has long been used as a spice and as a medicine. While cinnamon can be a valuable condiment that can be added to foods to create a fragrant and sweet taste, there are reports that it can also help diabetics.

Unfortunately, findings regarding cinnamon’s health effects have been mixed. For instance, researchers reported in one study that cinnamon reduced cholesterol by about 18 percent and blood sugar levels by 24 percent in participants who ate 1 to 6 grams of cinnamon for 40 days. Yet in other studies, cinnamon was reported to be of no effect in lowering blood sugar or cholesterol levels.

High cholesterol levels, especially the bad one (LDL or low-density lipoprotein), and high blood glucose levels, are 2 of the risk factors that could lead to development of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other chronic diseases. 

In China, cinnamon has been used as a traditional treatment for thousands of years. To find out whether cinnamon supplements could aid in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes in Chinese subjects, Chinese researchers enrolled a total of 66 patients with Type-2 diabetes, and randomly divided them into 3 groups: placebo, low-dose and high-dose supplementation with cinnamon extract at 120 and 360 mg/d, respectively.

During the course of 3 months, the researchers found that both hemoglobin A1c and fasting blood glucose levels were significantly reduced in patients in the low- and high-dose groups, but no change in the placebo group. The blood triglyceride levels were also found to be significantly reduced in the low-dose group. On the other hand, the blood levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and liver transaminase remained unchanged in the 3 groups.

Their findings, which were published online June 14, 2012 in ‘Nutrition Research’, seemed to indicate that cinnamon supplementation can significantly improve blood glucose control in Chinese patients with Type-2 diabetes. As the study may be too small to assess the true effects of cinnamon dose on blood glucose levels, it appears that more research is still required to confirm these findings.

Nevertheless, it should be fine to enjoy cinnamon in food unless one has liver damage. This is because large amounts of cinnamon may worsen the condition of these people.

As a word of caution, people who want to take cinnamon supplements should consult their doctors first, especially those who also take other supplements or medications that also lower blood sugar levels. It is feared that cinnamon may interact with these supplements and medications.

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Eating Nuts Prevent Heart Disease?

Traditional Mediterranean diet has been tied to reducing the risk of heart disease. One of the components of the diet is mixed nuts. Several studies conducted over the years have strongly suggested that eating an ounce of nuts 4 or 5 times a week can significantly cut the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by as much as 40 percent. Would eating nuts really prevent heart disease? Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Eating Nuts Prevent Heart Disease?

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Quit Smoking And How?

For smokers, lighting up a cigarette is a pleasure but non-smokers find smoking irritating. Smoking can put both smokers and people around them (via second-hand smoke) at a higher risk of developing chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, lung cancer, and stroke.

How to quit? Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Quit Smoking And How?

Why People Should Have Enough Sleep?

Sleep plays a paramount role in preserving one’s good health. It is as important as exercising regularly and eating healthy diet. Getting sufficient amount of quality sleep can help protect one’s mental and physical health, quality of life as well as ensure safety. During sleep, the body is working to support healthy brain function and keep the physical health for adults, and to support growth and development for children and teens.

A very small number of people can be fine on little sleep, but most people require 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Teen and children may need even more. Unfortunately, many are having too little sleep. For instance, at least 40 percent of United States population are not getting enough sleep, as reported by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 

In addition to eye health, it is estimated that 30 percent of chronic diseases are related to sleep disorder. Clinical studies have indicated that sleep deprivation could affect a person’s brain function. His or her thinking ability and emotional states are compromised and he or she could not concentrate well, yawn frequently and could be more irritable than usual. This would limit the ability to learn and affect the memory.

Lack of sleep can make one short-tempered and have mood swings. Insufficient sleep can trigger mania episodes in people who have manic depression. People who do not have enough sleep can also have impulsive behavior, depression, paranoia and suicidal thoughts.

People can have microsleep because of sleeping problem, too. Microsleep happens when a person nods off for up to 30 seconds without realizing it. This frequently occurs when a person is fatigued but trying to stay awake to perform a monotonous task such as driving a car or watching television. This can be dangerous during driving, and microsleep can also make a person more prone to injuries from trips and falls.

The body’s immune system can be weakened by lack of sleep. People can fall sick more easily and recover more slowly than others from illnesses. Sleep deprivation can worsen the condition of people who already have chronic lung disease.

Having not enough of sleep over a long period of time can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. People can also gain weight because of lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation raises the production of the stress hormone cortisol, and lowers the levels of a hormone called leptin that tells a person's brain that he or she has had enough to eat. Weight gain can lead to higher risks of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, too.

For people who sleep fewer than 4 hours a night, their risk of death from all causes goes up by 15 percent, according to studies.

Heart Disease Prevention - Will Eye Reveal Signs Of Heart Disease?

William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the window to your soul!” In reality, the eyes can actually reveal early warning signs about one’s health. By looking into the eye, doctors may actually determine whether a person is at risk of many health risks including heart disease and stroke. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Will Eye Reveal Signs Of Heart Disease?

How To Make Healthy Foods Delicious?

Who does not like delicious foods, yet delicious foods are usually unhealthy because they usually contain high amount of salt, sugar and fats. For instance, fried foods are loved by many but they are probably high in trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. Eating too much fried foods could not only make people overweight or even obese but also put them at high risk of developing many diseases including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

Healthy foods should be one that contain less fat with minimum amounts of salt and sugar, as well as with plenty of fibers. So how to make healthier foods delicious? There are a few ways to accomplish this.

Fats, especially saturated and trans fats, should be reduced. Fat from meat can be trimmed and the skin removed from poultry before cooking. Or one can choose less fatty meat. Lean pork, for example, is a good source of protein and has all the essential amino acids needed for the body. 100 grams of lean pork loin contain 29 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat, of which 2 grams is saturated fat. They also contain iron and Vitamin B like niacin, thiamin, B6 and B12.

Method of cooking plays a part, too. If frying is preferred, then a good non-stick pan should be used and the meat should be dry fried. Leaving out the oil could reduce 45 calories per teaspoon in the meal. If the food is drying out, a little water instead of more oil can be added. If oils are needed in the recipe, one can use those that are high in poly- and mono-unsaturated fats, say olive oil, and try using less than the recipe suggests.

Salt should be cut down by using alternative seasonings like pepper, herbs, spices, lemon juice, vinegar or mustard. Salt is responsible for causing high blood pressure that in turn would lead to heart disease and stroke. Sugar, which increases calories and causes people fat, should also be reduced. Most cakes will still taste good even if the quantity of sugar is halved. Items like fruit cakes, fruit scones and tea breads can be made without adding sugar as the dried fruit will provide the necessary sweetness.

Besides eating more fruits and vegetables, one can also increase the fiber content of recipes by using brown alternatives of rice, pasta and bread. In doing so, one can feel fuller for longer. Mix wholemeal and plain flour to bake instead of using all plain white flour in recipes, or when making apple crumble, add porridge oats to make the top crunchy and add more fibers.

Heart Disease Prevention - How Blood Vessels Can Predict One’s Health?

Scientists believe blood vessels play an important role in many health conditions. For instance, stroke and vascular dementia patients whose blood vessels are actually damaged before brain cell deficits happen. Studies have already shown it could be something that precedes neuron damage. Find out more at:

http://www.howtopreventheartdisease.com/how-blood-vessels-can-predict-one's-health.html

Heart Disease Prevention - Excessive Salt Is Harmful Even Without Causing Hypertension

High intake of salt can, however, cause high blood pressure, which in turn would lead to other medical conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Recent study warned that even if one does not develop high blood pressure from consuming too much salt, his or her blood vessels, heart, kidney and brain might still be damaged. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Excessive Salt Is Harmful Even Without Causing Hypertension

How Is White Rice Linked To Diabetes?

Obesity and sugary drinks have long been accused as the major culprits of diabetes in the West. But several studies indicated that Asians are more predisposed to diabetes than Caucasians, and people do not have to be obese to be at risk. White rice, a staple of most Asian diets, has been identified as the cause.

White rice has high glycemic index (GI), meaning it can cause spikes in sugar levels, and heighten the risk of diabetes. In fact, a bowl of rice has more than twice the carbohydrate content compared to a can of soda drink.

GI is a measure of the extent to which a carbohydrate-containing food raises glucose levels in blood. The higher the GI, the more is the blood sugar produced leading to a sudden spike in glucose levels in the blood. This causes the pancreas to produce more insulin and such frequent spikes can lead to diabetes. Foods with lower GI, on the other hand, break down slower and they usually take longer to digest. A GI of 55 is considered low and better while a GI of 70 or more is considered high.

A meta-analysis of 4 major studies involving 352,384 people who were tracked for 4 to 22 years by Harvard School of Public Health reported that each plate of white rice eaten in a day, on a regular basis, raises the risk of diabetes by 11 percent in the overall population. Asians like Chinese had 4 servings a day of cooked rice as compared to Australians and Americans who just ate 5 times a week. The findings were published in March 2012 in the ‘British Medical Journal’.

Diabetes, if left uncontrolled, can lead to various medical conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, and gum disease. Diabetes can harm the nerve, too. As many as 70 percent of diabetics will get this kind of damage.

Nevertheless, there is no need for Asians to fully replace what they eat. Instead, they should turn to healthier varieties of rice like long grain white rice that is better than short grain white rice due to their lower glycemic index levels. Meanwhile, experts also suggest that 20 percent of brown rice could be mixed to white rice, which is sufficient to cut the risk of diabetes by 16 percent.

Since white rice is part of most Asian’s daily diet, majority of them are still unaware of the possible harmful effects of white rice and its potential in increasing the risk of diabetes. Increased awareness is definitely a necessity. Letting them know there is a need to choose healthier options, like eating foods with lower GI and controlling the portion size, may help them reduce the risk of diabetes.

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Mediterranean Diet Is Healthy?

Mediterranean diet is the traditionally living habits of people from countries around the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy, France, Greece and Spain. Though Mediterranean cuisine may vary from region to region and has many definitions, it is basically based on vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, cereal grains, olive oil and fish. Some may even include red wine. But why is it healthy? Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Mediterranean Diet Is Healthy?

Heart Disease Prevention - Is Bubble Tea Linked To Diabetes?

Bubble tea, also called pearl tea or Boba, is a drink that is originated from Taiwan. It is made by mixing black tea with non-dairy creamer or milk and adding round pearl tapioca. It is not only high in calories but also high in sugar with about 30 to 40 grams per cup, or about 6 to 9 grams of sugar per 100 ml. So it is certainly a sugary drink. But is it linked to diabetes? Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Is Bubble Tea Linked To Diabetes?

Would Rise Of Childhood Obesity Cause Higher Diabetes Rate?

On April 2, 2016, ‘The Lancet’ journal published an article indicating that the number of people globally with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 has risen from 105 million in 1975 to 641 million in 2014. People who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing many health disorders as adults. These include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, joint problems, endometrial, and cancer.

Despite the fact that the percentage of obese individuals in Singapore is lower than that in other nations, its obesity rate is also on the rise. The last National Health Survey in 2010 found that 11 percent of Singaporean adults aged between 18 and 69 were obese, up from 7 percent in 2004.

Main reason for the obesity rate to rise at a faster rate in people below the age of 40 is that there is a big drop in physical activity when people start working. Most of them continue to eat the same amount of food, or even more as they have higher disposable income.

In January 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) also published a report stating that the number of fat children to increase from 42 million in 2013 to 70 million by 2025. WHO warns that obese infants and children are likely to continue being obese during adulthood. Obesity in schoolchildren in Singapore has risen from 11 percent in 2013 to 12 percent in 2014, while it was 10 percent in 2000.

Rising obesity in children and young adults will certainly push up the rate of diabetes in Singapore, who is already among the highest in the developed world. Based on projection, 34 percent of people aged between 24 and 35 this year will be expected to become diabetics by the time they are 65. In fact, diabetes rates have risen, from 8.6 percent of the adult population in 1992 to 11.3 percent in 2010, and this would have gone up to 12.9 percent in 2015.

According to The International Diabetes Federation’s estimate, there are 387 million diabetics globally, and just over 500,000 diabetic adults in Singapore in 2014. Its prevalence has grown from only 4.7 percent about 30 years ago to almost 13 percent of adults. The number will grow exponentially if no intervention has been done.

Fortunately, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in Singapore has taken measures to curb the rise of childhood obesity. For instance, HPB has encouraged the stallholders in school canteens to use healthier ingredients, and sell drinks that meet the HPB’s reduced-sugar requirement.

Schoolchildren are now also eating more fruit and vegetables. In 2012, only 1 in 5 consumed at least 2 servings each of fruit and vegetables a day but almost half did so last year (2015). Almost half of the more than 6,000 overweight primary and secondary school children who took part in the programs were able to bring their weight down to a healthy level.

Heart Disease Prevention - Should Outdoor Smoking Bans Be Supported?

While most of the smoking bans are meant for indoor public places, lately there is intention for legislators to extend smoking bans to outdoor. A recent review of public surveys pointed out that a growing number of people in the United States and Canada support smoke-free laws for outdoor places, especially where children congregate or at building entrances. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Should Outdoor Smoking Bans Be Supported?

Is There A Link Between Sleep Apnea And Diabetes?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder in which one has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. The breathing pauses may occur 30 times or more an hour.

It can cause daytime fatigue, morning headaches, memory or learning problems, dry mouth or sore throat when one wakes up. People who have OSA cannot concentrate and may feel irritate, depressed or have mood swings or personality changes. In children, OSA can cause hyperactivity, poor school performance, and angry or hostile behavior. Children who have OSA also may breathe through their mouths instead of noise during the day.

Studies have shown that OSA is linked to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, and weight gain. A recent paper published July 1, 2015 in the ‘European Respiratory Journal’ found a link between OSA and increased blood sugar levels.

5,294 people without diabetes, who were part of the European Sleep Apnoea Cohort, were involved in the study. Severity of their sleep apnea was examined and their blood levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbA1c were measured.

HbA1c is an indicator for the average blood sugar level over time. Diabetics are known to have higher levels of HbA1c than non-diabetics. Higher levels are also an indicator of poor blood sugar control and a higher risk for heart disease. The target levels for HbA1c are between 4.0 and 5.9 percent for non-diabetics and up to 6.5 percent for diabetics.

Their findings indicated that levels of glucose concentration were significantly linked to the severity of sleep apnea. The participants were divided into groups based on their level of sleep apnea severity and HbA1c levels rose from 5.24 percent in the group with lowest severity to 5.50 percent in the group with the highest severity. The results held true even after taking into account factors like obesity, sex and daytime sleepiness.

Results of the study highlighted the importance for doctors to be aware of the risk of diabetes when treating sleep apnea. At the ATS 2012 International Conference, a study also showed that moderate and severe OSA predicted Type-2 diabetes, and that sleep apnea was linked to HbA1c levels.

Nevertheless, researchers stressed that further studies are still required to understand the mechanisms behind these 2 conditions. They also emphasized the importance of weight management as a way to lower the risks associated with the condition.

Doctors can diagnose sleep apnea based on medical and family histories, a physical examination, and sleep study results. The family doctor may evaluate the symptoms first, and then decide whether one should see a sleep specialist. Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and surgery, depending on individual’s condition. Medicines are not used for treatment.

Heart Disease Prevention - Will Supplements Help Keep Healthy Level Of Cholesterol?

A high level of LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, is called good cholesterol as it carries cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver, which removes the cholesterol from the body. Read more on whether supplements can help keep healthy level of cholesterol by clicking the following link:

Heart Disease Prevention - Will Supplements Help Keep Healthy Level Of Cholesterol?

Are Menopausal Women More Likely To Have Heart Disease?

There is a common belief that women are less likely than men to have heart disease because women are protected by estrogen, which is the primary female sex hormone. Estrogen is believed to have a positive effect on the inner layer of artery wall to help keep blood vessels flexible. That means they can relax and expand to accommodate blood flow. In reality, women are at risk too, even if they are pre-menopausal.

Menopause does not cause cardiovascular diseases. Although a decline in the natural hormone estrogen may be a factor in heart disease increase among post-menopausal women, it is certainly not the only reason. The body of a menopausal woman goes through other changes. Blood pressure may start to go up. Bad cholesterol (LDL) may also go up with a decline in the good cholesterol (HDL). Meanwhile, triglycerides may rise during and after menopause. A high-fat diet, smoking or other unhealthy habits begun earlier in life can also contribute to the rise in heart disease risk.

Women who have menopause may experience a variety of symptoms, including anxiety, palpitations and panic attacks. These symptoms may be benign and part of the hormonal changes during menopause. But symptoms that show a real heart condition include a sudden increase in heart rate or dizziness, light-headedness and blackouts when palpitations occur should not be ignored. Missed or skipped heart beats is relatively common and usually not serious, unless accompanied by other symptoms mentioned earlier or if there is a history of heart disease.

It has been known that women may have different symptoms of heart disease compared with men and can sometimes be missed. For instance, chest tightness or discomfort on exertion may be felt in men with coronary artery disease, while women with similar disease may have symptoms like tightness at neck, shoulder or back pain, nausea or shortness of breath. Very often, heart disease may be silent in women until they experienced a heart attack or heart failure. Hence, it is insufficient to rely on symptoms alone.

As a matter of fact, if a woman has any unusual symptoms indicating heart disease, even if they are not classic, and risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol level, smoking and a family history of heart disease, then she should have further cardiac assessment.

Several ways can help women to stay healthy during and after menopause. According to The American Heart Association, women experiencing menopause should eat healthy, whole foods (4.5 cups of fruits and vegetables and 6 to 8 servings in whole grains per day) and exercise at least 150 minutes per week to stay heart healthy.

Heart Disease Prevention - Will Weight Loss Surgery Benefit Mildly Obese Diabetics?

Bariatric surgeries have been found to be effective for treating Type-2 diabetes, though most studies were done in people who are morbidly obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or above. Recently, a group of researchers from Taiwan's Min-Sheng General Hospital reported that weight loss surgery can help mildly obese people with Type-2 diabetes as well and the benefits can last for at least 5 years. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Will Weight Loss Surgery Benefit Mildly Obese Diabetics?

Why Is Heart Rate Important?

The number of times the heart beats per minute is called heart rate or pulse. It is an important gauge for heart health. Normal heart rate varies from person to person. It can change frequently throughout the day and vary based on each person’s fitness level and underlying medical conditions.

Normal resting heart rate for adults can range from 60 to 100 beats a minute. But recent guideline suggests about 50 to 70 beats per minute is ideal. This is because, as indicated by recent studies, a resting heart rate higher than 76 beats per minute may be linked to a higher risk of heart attack.

A heart rate lower than 60 does not, however, necessarily signal a medical problem. A lower heart rate just implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. A well-trained athlete, for instance, might have a normal resting heart rate closer to 40 beats a minute. 

Many factors like physical activity, age and gender Heart rate can affect heart rate. Heart rate can be higher during physical activity. After a meal, the heart rate can also increase to help digestion. Having larger quantities of food can increase the heart rate for a longer period of time. Caffeine can raise the heart rate considerably, too.

If one has a resting heart rate consistently above 100 beats per minute, palpitations and an exaggerated heart rate response out of proportion to his physiological needs, he or she may have an unusual condition called inappropriate sinus tachycardia. This condition is usually considered only when other causes of fast heart rate have been excluded.

Symptoms from medical conditions, including fever, pain, dizziness, shortness of breath and chest discomfort, can lead to a fast heart rate. Interestingly, rapid heart rate may itself result in symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath, especially in those with heart diseases.

Generally, people should consult their doctors if their resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats a minute or if they are not trained athlete but their resting heart rate is below 60 beats a minute, especially if they have other signs or symptoms like fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Heart rate can be measured by checking the pulse. The best places to find the pulse are the wrists, inside of the elbow, side of the neck or top of the foot. For example, if one wishes to measure the pulse at the neck, then he or she should place the index and third fingers on the neck to the side of the windpipe. To check the pulse at the wrist, he or she should place 2 fingers between the bone and the tendon over the radial artery that is located on the thumb side of the wrist. Once the pulse is felt, count the number of beats in 60 seconds.

Heart Disease Prevention - How To Reduce Smoking Rates?

Cigarette smoking can harm almost every organ of the body and reduce the health of smokers in general. Smokers can eventually develop many diseases, including lung cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). So nearly every nation in the world have been trying very hard to reduce the smoking rates.

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Heart Disease Prevention - How To Reduce Smoking Rates?

Why Next Generation In Europe May Lead Shorter Lives?

Life expectancy for Europeans has increased from an average of 73.2 years in 1990 to 76.8 years in 2011, and the region’s levels of premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are reducing by 1.5 percent a year until 2020. However, the rates of obesity, tobacco use and alcohol consumption remain high.

A study published in The European Health Report 2015 showed Europe has the world's highest rates of drinking and smoking, and more than half its people are too fat, putting them at high risk of heart disease, cancer and other deadly diseases. The report is published by the WHO (World Health Organization) and the study was the first of its kind for 3 years covering 39 countries in Europe, including EU member states as well as former Soviet republics.

Differences in health status between European countries, according to the report, are unacceptably high. For instance, there was an 11-year gap between the highest and lowest life expectancy. Average life expectancy for men and women was reported to range from 71 in Belarus, Moldova and Russia to 82 for countries like France, Italy and Spain, according to the latest figures from 2011. The report highlighted that Europeans still smoke and drink more despite the fact that lower rates of smoking and alcohol consumption are seen in many parts of the world.

The total alcohol consumption in Europe was lowered by 10 percent between 2005 and 2010, yet Europe still had the highest rate in the world. Alcohol consumption levels vary greatly ranging from 0.32 to 14.37 liters per person annually. Many EU states have alcohol consumption averages of between 9 and 12 liters per person. Rates are lower in Turkey and former Soviet states, possibly because of a higher number of Muslims living there. On average, 11 liters of pure alcohol are drunk per person each year.

High percentage of male smokers (more than 50 percent of adults) can be found in Russia, Georgia, and Greece, and female smokers can mostly be found in Croatia, Bulgaria, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Greece (over 30 percent).

Meanwhile obesity is rising, with 59 percent of Europe's population either overweight or obese. Turkey, Britain, Poland, the Czech Republic and Israel were among the nations with the highest rates of overweight and obese adults.

If rates of smoking and alcohol consumption and obesity do not decline, WHO fears that the next generation in Europe may lead shorter lives.

Heart Disease Prevention - What Is Heart Valve Leakage?

Healthy people can have one or more slightly leaky valves, frequently, with no symptoms. But if the heart valve is severe, it might significantly interfere with normal blood flow through the heart. This can cause symptoms of congestive heart failure that include shortness of breath, leg swelling or liquid retention elsewhere in the body. Click the following link for more details:

Heart Disease Prevention - What Is Heart Valve Leakage?

Heart Disease Prevention - New Way To Help Quit Smoking Successfully

The relapse rates for smokers trying to quit can be extremely high, ranging from 60 to 90 percent, within the first year. To refrain from resuming smoking, smokers should perhaps discuss the risks of cigarette smoking with their children. This is because they were at least 50 percent less likely to go back to smoking. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - New Way To Help Quit Smoking Successfully

Would Arthroplasty Raise Heart Attack Risk?

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis in the United States. It affects around 13.9 percent of adults aged 25 and older, and 33.6 percent of those over 65. The disease often occurs in the joints of the hand, spine, hips, knees and great toes, and affects the entire joint.

Currently, there is no cure for OA. Noninvasive methods like weight control, physical therapy and medication can mitigate symptoms of most of the OA patients, but patients with severe cases might still need a joint replacement (arthroplasty). Past studies have found around 1.8 million arthroplasty procedures being conducted worldwide every year, the majority of which are total knee and hip replacements.

A paper published online September 23, 2015 in journal ‘Arthritis & Rheumatology’ pointed out that operations to replace a knee or a hip appear to raise heart attack risk in the short term and the risk of blood clots in the long term. Over time, the heart attack risk falls again though blood clot risk is still elevated years later.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine studied about 40,000 patients age 50 or older, all with osteoarthritis. 13,849 patients who underwent total knee replacement were compared to 13,849 closely matched people who did not have surgery. Meanwhile, 6,063 patients who had hip replacement surgery were also compared to 6,000 who did not.

Within a month after the operations, there were 35 heart attacks among knee replacement patients, compared to 4 in the control group, and there were 13 heart attacks in the hip replacement group compared to 2 in the control group. Heart attack risk was highest in the first month following surgery and declined over time. The heart attack rates had evened out for both the surgery and control groups 3 years after the operation.

Meanwhile, there were 190 patients with knee replacement and 78 patients with hip surgery developed a type of blood clot called venous thromboembolism, compared to only 3 and 1 in the control group. 5 years later, the likelihood of having a venous thromboembolism were still significantly higher in the surgery groups.

Though exact reasons for higher risk of heart attack are still unclear, the researchers suspected that some biological drivers might play a role, like the effects of anesthesia on the cardiovascular system. Changes in medication for OA patients during the surgical period may also contribute to higher heart attack risk. 

Obviously, the risk of heart attack following arthroplasty might have previously been underestimated. As such, further measures to prevent such serious event might need to be considered.

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Long Hours Of TV Viewing Cause Heart Disease?

Research has linked sedentary behavior to incident cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular death. But different sedentary behaviors might have different effects. Several studies had found that the association between health and TV viewing time was stronger than other kinds of sedentary behaviours. Click for more details:

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Long Hours Of TV Viewing Cause Heart Disease?

Would People Perceive Themselves Overweight Help Them Lose Weight?

Mounting evidence has linked obesity and overweight to development of chronic diseases including hypertension, high blood cholesterol, heart disease, stroke and Type-2 diabetes. Obviously, overweight or obese people should lose weight to stay healthy.

In the past, it was assumed that if people could correctly identify themselves as being overweight, they would have a greater motivation to change their diet or level of exercise so that successful weight management could be achieved.

However, a study conducted by researchers from University of Liverpool in England revealed that people who perceived themselves to be overweight were at a greater risk of weight gain, irrespective of whether their perceptions were correct. Meanwhile, these people were also more likely to overeat in response to stress. Their findings were published online August 7, 2015 in the ‘International Journal of Obesity’.

By analyzing data from United States National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the United Kingdom’s National Child Development Study, and the Midlife in the United States Study, the researchers found that perceiving oneself as being overweight is associated with a higher risk of future weight gain among United States and United Kingdom adults.

The findings were important since one public health strategy is to ensure people who are overweight are aware of it. But unfortunately, people who believe they are overweight may actually delay their weight loss efforts, according to some clinical psychologists. Many of these people might decide they should begin a diet tomorrow and meanwhile finish the cookies first.

While common belief indicates that people should have strong motivation to lose weight if they really want to do so, many of them feel quite stressful and have difficulty in making healthy choices in their lifestyle. They may just fall into the trap of negative stigmas like inactivity, overeating and depression. Instead of taking the stress, they simply ignore it and just use eating to make them feel better. But once they have finished eating, the stressful feeling is back, and the weight problem has not solved yet.

Some health experts argued that the more a person focuses on weight, rather than health, the more difficult for this person to manage and lose weight and control eating. If people who want to lose weight can let go of the obsessiveness with their weight and instead, relax and focus on health, they can not only lose weight, but also manage their weight relatively mindlessly.

Heart Disease Prevention - Can Counting Calories Help Prevent Heart Disease?

Modern lifestyles such as sedentary and unhealthy diet have been accused to be the culprit to cause such epidemic. Losing as little as 3-5 percent of the body weight can reduce the heart disease risk, according to the American Heart Association. Obviously, losing weight is the only option for people who wish to prevent from getting these diseases. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Can Counting Calories Help Prevent Heart Disease?

About Half Of American Adults Had Undiagnosed Diabetes!

Globally, according to WHO (World Health Organization), about 1 in 9 adults has diagnosed diabetes, which will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030. Most of these people have Type-2 diabetes, a condition in which the body cannot properly use or create sufficient amount of hormone insulin to convert blood sugar into energy. Diabetes can raise the risk of heart disease and stroke and if left untreated, it can cause complications like nerve damage, amputations, kidney failure and blindness.

Diabetes is a major cause of death in the United States. A study conducted by researchers from Social & Scientific Systems Inc, Silver Spring and other institutions revealed that about half of American adults have either diabetes (more than 12 percent) or prediabetes (38 percent), and more than a third of the people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. The study was published in the September 8’s issue of the ‘Journal of the American Medical Association’.

After analyzing information from 216,415 American adults who took part in surveys between 1988 and 2012, the researchers reported that the percentage of people with diabetes increased from less than 10 percent in the 1988-1994 period, to more than 12 percent in 2011-2012. The rise was in line with the rise of obesity.

It was also found that diabetes was the most common among older adults: about 1 in 3 adults age 65 and above had the condition in 2011-2012, compared to 17 percent of adults age between 45 and 64, and 5 percent of adults younger than 45. About one-third of whites with diabetes (32 percent) were not aware of the condition, compared to 37 percent of blacks, 49 percent of Hispanics and 51 percent of Asian Americans.

One reason for the high percentage of undiagnosed diabetes among Asian Americans may be that they often develop Type-2 diabetes at a lower BMI (body mass index) than people of other ethnic groups. As such, the doctors may not screen Asian Americans for diabetes when they could be at risk for the disease.

Such findings would certainly lead to a greater need for testing Type-2 diabetes and a need for more education on when to test for the condition.  The researchers hope that future studies could provide more information about which subgroups of people are at highest risk for underdiagnoses.

The average blood sugar levels over the course of several months can be estimated by measuring changes to the hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells. The hemoglobin A1c test measures the percentage of hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) that is coated with sugar. A reading of 6.5 percent or above would signal diabetes. People with A1c levels between 5.7 percent and 6.4 percent is said to have pre-diabetes, a risk factor for going on to develop full-blown diabetes.

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Total Cholesterol Reading May Be Misleading?

Total blood cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in the blood that includes both LDL and HDL cholesterol. Even if the total cholesterol is in the desirable category, it is possible that one may have unhealthy levels of HDL (too low) and LDL (too high). So it is also important to look at the individual HDL and LDL numbers, as well as the ratio. Find out more at:

Heart Disease Prevention - Why Total Cholesterol Reading May Be Misleading?

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Diabetes?

Sleep apnea is a common breathing disorder that occurs when an obstruction prevents air from entering the lungs. It happens during sleep when the airway closes and people stop breathing completely. Often breathing resumes abruptly with a loud snort or choking sound. This can simply happen many times a night, sometimes it could occur up to 30 times per hour.

The disorder has been linked to daytime sleepiness and increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, diabetes and even death. According to a recent study, seniors with such disorder often have high blood sugar and might be almost twice as likely as sound sleepers to develop Type-2 diabetes. The findings were published online September 17, 2015 in the journal ‘Diabetes Care’.

Researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and other institutions analyzed data from 5,888 American adults aged 65 and above from across the United States between 1989 and 1993. Participants’ level of insulin was measured early in the study, and their fasting blood sugar levels were measured again in 1992–1993, 1994–1995, 1996–1997, and 1998–1999. Researchers also took note of who developed Type-2 diabetes during the course of the study.

Every 6 months through 1999, the participants were asked whether anyone had observed them having episodes of sleep apnea, whether a spouse or roommate had complained about their loud snoring and if they were usually sleepy in the daytime. The researchers also asked about insomnia symptoms like difficulty in falling asleep, frequent awakening at night or waking up too early and being unable to go back to sleep.

Older adults who reported snoring, sleep apnea or daytime sleepiness tended to have higher fasting blood sugar levels than normal sleepers. They also had insulin resistance, which means higher than normal amounts of insulin are produced but the bodies were less able to use it to control the blood sugar levels.

People with sleep apnea were nearly twice as likely as normal sleepers to develop diabetes, and snorers were 27 percent more likely. Those with daytime sleepiness were also about 50 percent more likely than those without that symptom to develop diabetes. The more disturbed-breathing symptoms people had during sleep, the greater their diabetes risk. But insomnia symptoms were not consistently linked to the risk of diabetes.

However, improving sleep quality may reduce the risk of developing diabetes in older adults or the severity of diabetes in those who are already affected. Getting good sleep is as important as nutrition and exercise to remain healthy during aging process. Monitoring blood sugar levels in older adults with sleep disorders may help identify those who are potentially at risk to allow earlier treatment.

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Cut Smoking And Encourage Quitting?

Most people are aware of the health hazards that the smoking can cause and yet many smokers find it hard to quit. This is because tobacco contains nicotine, which is an addictive substance. Some scientists have been pushing for lower levels of nicotine in tobacco as early as in 1990s hoping to help smokers quit and prevent new users from becoming lifelong smokers. And for years, researchers have been testing... Click the following link for more details:

Heart Disease Prevention - Would Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Cut Smoking And Encourage Quitting?

What Is Heart Age?

Have you ever heard a term called “heart age”? According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), heart age gives a simple risk calculation for having or dying of heart attack or stroke. The higher the heart age, the higher the risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. It is the calculated age of a person’s cardiovascular system based on his or her risk factor profile, including high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes status, and body mass index (BMI) as an indicator for obesity.

Using risk factor data collected from every state and information from the Framingham Heart Study, the CDC researchers found that nearly 69 million American adults aged between 30 and 74 have a heart age older than their actual age.

The report that was released on September 1, 2015 is the the first to provide population-level estimates of heart age in the United States. It showed that heart age varies by race/ethnicity, gender, region, and other sociodemographic characteristics.

Overall, the average heart age for adult men is 8 years older than their chronological age, compared to 5 years older for women. Among both American men and women, excess heart age increases with age and decreases with greater education and household income. Heart age was also found to be highest among African-American men and women (average of 11 years older for both). Meanwhile, there are geographic differences in average heart age across states. 

About 3 in 4 heart attacks and strokes are due to risk factors that raise heart age. But many people do not understand their cardiovascular disease risk, and they could simply miss the early opportunities to prevent future heart attack or stroke. By knowing own heart age, people can learn how to improve it.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women. It is important to continue focusing on efforts to prevent heart disease and increase access to early and affordable detection and treatment resources.

In general, people can quit smoking or reduce blood pressure through eating a healthier diet, taking appropriate medication, or exercising more. The governments can also play a role by helping to promote healthier living spaces like tobacco-free areas, more access to healthy food options, and safe walking paths. More importantly, physicians can make use of cardiovascular risk assessment calculators to decide for their patients the type of treatments they need and work with them on healthy habits.

Heart Disease Prevention - What Is Pulmonary Hypertension?

Hypertension or high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, is not unfamiliar to most people. However, few are aware of a form of hypertension that occurs in the lung. This is called pulmonary hypertension that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. It occurs when… Click the following link for more details:

Heart Disease Prevention - What Is Pulmonary Hypertension?