London: Nearly half of all women suffering from cardiac arrest are given insufficient treatment, since heart failure in them — unlike in men — is not caused by a heart attack, but by untreated high blood pressure, a new study reveals. According to the study, published in Nature Medicine, only 50 per cent of the heart failure cases among women are caused by having a heart attack, which can be treated with modern methods.

However, the researchers, including those from the University of Bergen in Norway, said the cause for heart failure in the other 50 per cent of women is generally related to having untreated high blood pressure levels over time, leading to progressive stiffening of the heart.

There is no effective treatment for this kind of heart failure yet, the study noted.

“Men and women have different biologies and this results in different types of the same heart diseases. It is about time to recognise these differences,” said study co-author Eva Gerdts from the University of Bergen.

As part of the study, the researchers compared common risk factors for heart disease, and how these affect men and women differently.

They focused on the sex differences in the effect of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

One of the factors assessed by the researchers was the differential influence of obesity on heart failure between men and women.

They said according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 11 per cent of women and 15 per cent men are obese globally.

“If we see this from a life span perspective, we can see that obesity increases with age, and that this trend is greater for women than men. Obesity increases the risk of having high blood pressure by a factor of three. This, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease,” Gerdts explained.

She said obesity also increases the risk of diabetes, with women facing a much higher relative risk of heart complications and death from the condition than men.

“We know that women with diabetes 2 are usually obese and some of this fat is stored in the heart, which makes it more vulnerable for disease,” Gerdts said.

When it comes to heart disease, many of the differences between women and men are connected to the sex hormone, oestrogen, she explained.

According to the study, the hormone prevents the formation of connective tissue in the heart, which makes it harder for the organ to pump blood.

However, in men the effects are the opposite, the researchers noted.

“We see that obese men store oestrogen in their fat cells in the abdomen, which has a bad effect on the heart,” Gerdts said.

After menopause, she added, women lose the oestrogen advantage.

During this phase, she said, women’s arteries becomes stiffer and more vulnerable for disease.

“We think that this is part of the explanation for why high blood pressure seems to indicate higher risk of heart disease amongst women,” the University of Bergen scientist said.

Additionally, Gerdts said, smoking is also a risk factor for women.

“Many women start smoking to reduce their appetite and to control their weight. However, this is not a good choice from a health perspective,” she added.

“Heart disease remains among the most common cause of death and reduced quality of life in women. Medically speaking, we still do not know what the best treatment for heart- attack or -failure is in many women. It is an unacceptable situation,” Gerdts said.

The post Half of all women are given insufficient heart failure treatment: Study appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

An investigation of 4,500 individuals more than 13 years and distributed in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reaches some astounding resolutions.

You are what you dont eat.

An eating regimen that assists individuals with decreasing hypertension or hypertension may likewise lessen the danger of cardiovascular breakdown in individuals younger than 75, as indicated by inquire about distributed in the June 2019 version of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and drove by specialists at Wake Forest School of Medicine, which is a piece of Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Just a couple earlier examinations have inspected the impacts of the Dash diet on the frequency of cardiovascular breakdown, and they have yielded clashing outcomes.

Claudia Campos, Wake Forest School of Medicine

An observational investigation of in excess of 4,500 individuals more than 13 years indicated that those people under 75 who most intently clung to the Dash diet had an altogether lower danger of creating cardiovascular breakdown than the individuals who were to the least extent liable to keep to the precepts of the eating regimen. (Run is an abbreviation for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.)

Just a couple earlier examinations have inspected the impacts of the Dash diet on the frequency of cardiovascular breakdown, and they have yielded clashing outcomes, said Claudia Campos, partner educator of general interior drug at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Following the Dash diet can lessen the danger of creating cardiovascular breakdown by practically half.

The investigation suggests removing five things of your eating regimen: This Dash diet prescribes organic products, vegetables, nuts, entire grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy items, while diminishing these three fundamental parts: salt, red meat, desserts and sugar-improved refreshments. It is fundamentally the same as the Mediterranean eating regimen, however the Dash diet prescribes removing two additional things: full cream (for low-fat dairy items) and mixed refreshments.

There are different approaches to eat more beneficial as well. Individuals who eat gradually are more averse to get stout or create metabolic disorder, a group of coronary illness, diabetes and stroke chance components, as indicated by explore introduced at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2017. They might be increasingly aware of what they are eating and drinking, and are less inclined to gorging.

The Dash diet is fundamentally the same as the Mediterranean eating regimen be that as it may, in contrast to that diet, it prescribes low-fat dairy items and barring mixed drinks.

Dietitians additionally exhort against nibbling and takeouts. Individuals have less command over what goes into their dinners when they request in. Americans get the vast majority of their day by day sodium over 75% from prepared nourishment and eatery nourishment, as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Individuals eat a normal of 200 calories more for every feast when they eat nourishment from eateries..

Abundance sodium can build your circulatory strain and your hazard for a coronary illness and stroke, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Together, coronary illness and stroke execute a greater number of Americans every year than some other reason. Americans get 71% of their every day sodium from prepared and café nourishment. Cooking for yourself is the most secure and most advantageous alternative.

Falsely improved drinks might be connected to an expanded danger of stroke and dementia, as indicated by the American Heart Associations peer-inspected diary Stroke. Another 2015 examination found that more seasoned ladies who devour at least two eating regimen soft drinks every day are 30% bound to endure a cardiovascular occasion. Add that to more research recommending standard soft drink is connected to weight.

The post 5 Right now, slash your diet to reduce high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart failure appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

High blood pressure occurs when the pressure in the arteries of an individual becomes stronger than what it should be. In the UK, one in every four adults suffers from high blood pressure. The problem is that many of them do not even know they have it because there are hardly any symptoms.

The only way for them to find out they already have high blood pressure is by using a sphygmomanometer or blood pressure gauge by the doctor or local pharmacist. If high blood pressure is left unchecked, there is an increased risk of suffering from serious complications like heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and heart disease. This is why it is very important to take precautions and manage the condition.

Lifestyle Changes Are Absolute

Making some changes in lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet, may help prevent or reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Experts are one in their recommendations of cutting down on salty foods or the amount of salt in the food you consume each day. You need to be prepared to say goodbye to perhaps some of your favorite foods.

Baked beans, for instance, while it is high in protein and fiber and low in saturated fat, it tends to be salty. Consuming a regular helping of beans may not be good for blood pressure. Its salty nature can put extra strain on the kidneys as well as the heart, arteries, and brain.

The body removes excess and unwanted water by filtering the blood through the kidneys. The extra fluid is sucked out and pushed on to the bladder to be expelled as urine. Too much salt in the kidneys would make the body retain more water. The extra fluid can raise blood pressure.

Can of Bake Beans

A tin of baked beans contains approximately 1.5 grams of salt. Experts advise that adults should consume no more than 6 grams of salt per day. This equals to about one teaspoon.

Keeping your daily salt consumption in check, particularly if you love to eat baked beans, is very important. There are some brands, though, which feature low-sodium bean varieties, so it is recommended that you check the label on how much sodium it contains.

The post Help Lower Blood Pressure Readings By Removing This Food From The Breakfast Menu appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

While obesity significantly increases your chances of developing heart failure, for those with established heart failure it may confer a survival benefit compared with normal weight or underweight individuals, a new paper by researchers from the University of Adelaide reports.

Importantly, using data from 375,056 patients from nine studies, researchers found that the lowest mortality risk for those with established heart failure (HF) was in overweight individuals rather than severely obese.

There is limited information on the impact of weight loss on obese patients with HF. However, the study confirmed that intentional weight loss in non-HF patients with obesity was associated with improved heart health.

Lead author Dr. Michael Stokes, a heart failure physician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Adelaide, said the protective benefit of obesity in established HF was an example of the “obesity paradox.”

“The obesity paradox is the observation, generally from large clinical registries or trials, that the presence of obesity confers a survival benefit over normal or underweight individuals,”‘ he said.

“There are a number of possible explanations for obesity paradox in HF including whether obese patients are diagnosed earlier in their disease course due to greater functional impairment, and also whether obese patients tolerate disease-modifying and prognostic medications compared with non-obese patients.

“In this meta-analysis, the data found a “U-shaped’ survival curve with the lowest mortality in overweight patients and a reduced mortality in the obese when compared with normal or underweight HF patients.

“HF burden is significantly increasing in Australia—there are about 14 new admissions in South Australia every day—and internationally and is associated with huge healthcare costs, significant hospital stays and significant functional impairment for patients. The readmission rates for HF patients are commonly 25-30% at one month following hospital admission; additionally, the survival for HF is worse than many common cancers.

“Obesity is a significant contributor to the HF burden and nearly 30% of Australians are obese and it is estimated that by 2031-2032, 41% of the Australian population will be obese. Our study supports previous work which has demonstrated that obesity significantly increases the risk of HF development.

“This meta-analysis adds to the body of evidence supporting the clear link between obesity and HF, the effect of weight on prognosis of HF and the impact of weight loss on cardiac remodeling. We are now conducting a randomized controlled study assessing the impact of intentional weight loss (achieved through dietary intervention and prescribed exercise), in a HF population of obese patients. This will hopefully address the important clinical question of whether intentional weight loss is beneficial in this growing group of patients.”

“Complex interaction of obesity, intentional weight loss and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis” is published in Heart.

The post Heart failure and the obesity paradox appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Heart failure can be frightening, and for many, it may seem like a hopeless diagnosis. However the term covers a broad range of heart conditions with many types, origins, and severities. By focusing on key health behaviors and taking the right drugs, patients can successfully manage the condition and enjoy an active and fulfilling life.

Heart failure does not always mean that the heart will eventually stop working completely. When a patient we’ll call Ms. M first heard the term “heart failure,” she was shocked and thought that it meant her heart would soon stop working. She was 64 and knew she had high blood pressure, but had been unaware of her heart condition.

Ms. M was diagnosed with systolic heart failure, a condition where a chamber in her heart known as the left ventricle is unable to contract normally. Her heart can only pump out about half of the blood it contains each time it squeezes. The other half of the blood remains in the left ventricle. In a healthy individual, only about 30%-45% of the blood is left behind.

Fortunately, Ms. M does not have any severe symptoms. With a careful diet and regular exercise routine, she is able to live a relatively normal life with few physical limitations.

Common misconceptions about heart failure can interfere with treatment.

• The most common misunderstanding about heart failure is that the heart will soon stop beating. This is not true. The word “failure” is used to indicate the heart is weak and can no longer pump the needed amount of blood to the body. 
  
  “Heart failure is not a death sentence. It can be managed as a chronic disease with appropriate use of medications and lifestyle changes,” says Fatima Rodriguez, MD.

• Another frequent misconception is that heart failure is the same as a heart attack, or myocardial infraction. A heart attack happens when a blood vessel supplying the heart with oxygen and nutrients is blocked, usually by a plaque. 
  
  Often causing severe chest pain, a heart attack can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle that deprived of blood during the attack. Scar tissue can then replace the damaged muscle. This can sometimes result in heart failure. Along with long-standing high blood pressure, heart attacks are one of the leading causes of heart failure.

• Furthermore, some people may think that they cannot be physically active. On the contrary, a healthy routine is a critical part of living with heart failure. Physical activity or movement is an important treatment strategy. Those with heart failure should consult their physicians about how to carefully and gradually ease into a consistent physical activity routine. Your doctor can also refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation programs and facilities for patients with congestive heart failure, which can help you start an exercise routine in a monitored environment. 
  
  Ms. M, who has mild heart failure, tries to get at 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five days a week.

• Finally, there is the perception that heart failure is an irreversible form of heart damage and that nothing can be done. However, heart failure can be successfully managed, reversed, or have its progression halted through both medications and healthy lifestyle behaviors. 
  
  Randall Stafford, MD, PhD, an internal medicine physician, has identified some health behaviors that can both prevent and treat heart failure:

1. Eat healthy foods, such as a Mediterranean or mostly plant-based diet
2. Reduce sodium intake
3. Consistently engage in physical activity
4. Avoid high blood pressure
5. Get adequate sleep
6. Don’t smoke
7. Reduce stress levels
8. Maintain a healthy weight
9. Watch your cholesterol level
10. Limit alcohol intake

Many of the misconceptions about heart failure are unnecessarily frightening to patients. Growing knowledge and science about heart failure make it a much more manageable and less alarming diagnosis compared to a few decades ago.

This is the second in a series of blog posts, Demystifying Heart Failure, to help patients and family members better understand and help mitigate heart failure. The next blog will focus on explaining left-sided heart failure.

Min Joo Kim is a master’s degree student in Community Health and Prevention Research at Stanford studying the patient experience for those with chronic conditions and identifying barriers to treatment.Fatima Rodriguez, MD, focuses on strategies to prevent heart disease, while researching disparities in health practices and outcomes by gender, race, and ethnicity.

The post Demystifying Heart Failure: Clearing up misconceptions appeared first on MyMedicPlus.