Sibling's Death May Boost Your Risk of Heart Attack

When a brother or sister dies -- especially from a heart attack -- the risk of a surviving sibling also dying from a heart attack increases sharply in the following years, a large new study from Sweden suggests.

Chronic stress or lifestyle choices like drinking, smoking, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise may follow the loss of a sibling, increasing the risk of a heart attack over time, the researchers said.

"Health care providers should follow bereaved siblings to help recognize signs of acute or chronic psychosocial stress mechanisms that could lead to heart attack," said lead researcher Mikael Rostila, an associate professor at Stockholm University and the Karolinska Institute.

"We might be able to prevent heart attacks and other heart-related conditions by treating these siblings early on and recommending stress management," he added.

Reasons for the association between a sibling's death and the death of a brother or sister years later aren't clear, Rostila noted. And although the study showed an association between a sibling's heart attack death and heightened death risk, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

"More detailed information from medical records, shared childhood social environment and family characteristics, and data on personal and relational characteristics is needed to uncover the mechanisms causing the association between sibling death and heart attack," Rostila said.

The report was published in the Feb. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.

To see the effect of a sibling's death on their other siblings, Rostila's team collected data on more than 1.6 million people in Sweden, aged 40 to 69.

They found the risk of dying from a heart attack increased 25 percent among surviving sisters and 15 percent among surviving brothers compared to people who had not lost a sibling. If their brother or sister died of a heart attack, risk of also dying from a heart attack in the following years increased by 62 percent among women and 98 percent among men, Rostila's team found.

Death from a heart attack was not likely to happen immediately after siblings died, the researchers said. Rather, the risk rose in the four to six years after a sibling's death among women and in the two to six years afterward among men, they found.

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The Best Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner to Lose Weight

Breakfast

Make breakfast a priority. Eating breakfast when you're trying to lose weight not only helps prevent you from overeating at your next meal, it also improves mood, concentration and memory, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Eggs make a good breakfast choice, and may help your weight-loss efforts by keeping you full longer, according to a 2008 study published in the International Journal of Obesity. For 480 calories, you can have a two-egg omelet stuffed with 1 ounce of low-fat cheese and 1/2 cup of spinach, and served with two slices of dry, whole-wheat toast and a 6-ounce container of nonfat yogurt. If you don't have enough time for a sit-down breakfast, consider having a toasted English muffin with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and a large banana, for a total of 470 calories that you can easily pack into a lunch box to take with you.

Lunch

When it comes to losing weight, lunch doesn't get as much attention as breakfast, but having a good lunch might help you get through the afternoon without hitting the vending machine. A good weight-loss lunch might include a 6-inch corn tortilla rolled with 3 ounces of turkey breast, lettuce, sliced tomato and mustard, served with 2 cups of vegetable soup, a small apple and a 6-ounce container of nonfat yogurt, all for 485 calories. Or, try a pasta and bean salad made with 1 cup of cooked, whole-wheat penne pasta tossed with 1/2 cup of kidney beans, 1 cup of cooked mixed veggies, such as carrots, broccoli and cauliflower and 2 tablespoons of low-fat vinaigrette, served with a small orange, for 470 calories.

Dinner

To make it easier for you to stick with your weight-loss diet at dinnertime, be sure to keep your kitchen stocked with healthy foods you can assemble in a pinch. A chicken stir-fry made with 3 ounces of chicken breast sautéed with 2 cups of mixed veggies, such as red peppers, mung bean sprouts and Chinese cabbage, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and low-sodium soy sauce and served with 1 cup of cooked brown rice, makes a quick, low-cal dinner of 490 calories. Or, top off a large baked potato with 1/2 cup of vegetarian chili and 1 ounce of low-fat cheddar cheese and serve with 2 cups of mixed greens topped with 1 tablespoon of low-fat salad dressing and six chopped almonds.

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Saunas protect middle-aged men against heart attacks

The Finns describe them as the ‘poor man’s pharmacy’ and now researchers have proved that saunas are indeed beneficial to health.

Scientists have found that the dry heat of a sauna does more than work up a sweat, it can actually prolong life, cutting the risk of a heart attack for middle-aged men by up to 63 per cent.

However study authors from University of Eastern Finland said were unsure what was driving the heart health boost.

“Further studies are warranted to establish the potential mechanism that links sauna bathing and cardiovascular health,” said lead author Dr Jari Laukkanen, who published the research in the journal Jama Internal Medicine.

Sauna ‘bathing’ has taken place in Finland for thousands of years. The first settlers dug holes in the ground and filled them with hot stones which they sprinkled with water to give off a steam known as a ‘loyly.’ It was said each sauna had a distinctive ‘loyly’ with an individual character.

A Finnish proverb states that "If a sick person is not cured by tar, spirits or sauna, then they will die” and until recently women gave birth in saunas, because they were viewed as the cleanest room in the house.

A normal sauna is kept at around 158-176 degrees Fahrenheit and intriguingly, ‘Sauna’ is the only Finnish word to be included in everyday English.

The study was conducted among 2,315 men aged 42 to 60 from eastern Finland, who were monitored over 21 years.

During the follow-up period they recorded 190 sudden cardiac deaths, 281 fatal cases of coronary heart disease, 407 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 929 deaths from "all causes”.

However those who had used saunas regularly seem to have been protected from heart problems.

The risk of sudden cardiac death was found to be 22 per cent lower for men who had two to three sauna sessions per week and 63 per cent lower for those visiting a sauna four to seven times a week.

A similar pattern was seen for coronary heart disease, with two to three sessions reducing the risk of death by 23 per cent and four to seven sessions by 48 per cent.

Cardiovascular disease death rates were cut by 27 per cent when men made two to three visits and by 50 per cent when they made four to seven.

Dr Rita Redberg, from the University of California and editor of Jama Internal medicine said: “Although we do not know why the men who took saunas more frequently had greater longevity (whether it is the time spent in the hot room, the relaxation time, the leisure of a life that allows for more relaxation time, or the camaraderie of the sauna), clearly time spent in the sauna is time well spent.”

Participants also benefited if they spent longer in the sauna. Compared with men staying hot for less than 11 minutes, those whose sessions lasted 11 to 19 minutes were 7 per cent less likely to suffer a sudden cardiac death while more than 19 minutes was associated with a 52 per cent reduced risk.

Previous studies have shown that saunas can lower your blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, assist diabetes and lung conditions, and even fight off the common cold and help combat anorexia.

Some athletes use saunas to increase their endurance by expanding their oxygen capacity, red blood cell count and plasma volumes. And plunging into a cold pool after a sauna can build up the body’s antioxidant powers and boost the immune system.

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13 ways to control your blood pressure without medication

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is not just a health condition, it’s a disease.

Blood pressure is the body’s reflection of the tension in the blood vessels— the more tense they are, the higher your blood pressure is and harder the heart has to work, said Dr. Vincent Bufalino, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

High blood pressure increases your risk for heart attack and stroke, and if it’s not well-controlled, kidney failure can result as well. It’s in the same group of other serious risk factors including high cholesterol, obesity, type 2 diabetes, smoking and family history.

“The more of those you have the more likely you are to develop heart disease,” Bufalino said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate about one in three Americans have hypertension. Blood pressure increases with age, too. By age 60, about 50 percent of people have it. And for most, it’s genetic.

Although there are several medications available to treat high blood pressure, experts say, with simple lifestyle changes, you can control with without medication— even if you have a genetic predisposition. Plus, small improvements in your numbers can make a huge difference in your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Here are 13 ways to prevent and control high blood pressure.  

1. Know your numbers.
Blood pressure of 120 over 80 is the ideal for healthy people. Yet for those who have high blood pressure, new guidelines published in 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association say blood pressure targets of 140 over 90 or below are ok.

If you have high blood pressure, your physician may recommend you check your levels every day. For most healthy people however, at the yearly physical and a few times throughout the year is enough.

2. Get your own blood pressure cuff.
In addition to getting your blood pressure checked at your doctor’s office, it’s a good idea to check it at home, too. Experts agree the “white coat phenomenon,” or angst in the doctor’s office, can cause your numbers to rise.

“The ideal way to do it is at home in bed when you wake up,” said Dr. Jonny Bowden, a board-certified nutritionist and author of “The Great Cholesterol Myth.” Purchase a cuff at any drugstore or get one that syncs with an app.

3. Nix the processed foods.
Surprisingly, consuming too much sodium may not raise your blood pressure.

“Sodium is overrated. Most people are not salt sensitive,” Bowden said.

Nevertheless, experts agree it’s a good idea to reduce your intake to 2,000 milligrams or less a day. Processed foods are the most significant and sneaky sources of sodium, which is why it’s a good idea to cut them out of your diet altogether.  

4. Eat more vegetables.
Studies show that the more potassium in the diet, the lower blood pressure is. The best sources of potassium are in vegetables, so aim to get upwards of nine servings a day.

5. Lose weight.
Your risk for hypertension is higher if you’re overweight or obese. Get on a weight=loss plan like the DASH diet, which has been shown to control high blood pressure. Plus, aim to get 2 and 1/2 hours of exercise a week, including at least two days of strength training.

6. Get enough sleep.
Insomnia may be linked to high blood pressure, a recent study in the journal Hypertension found. Try to identify your triggers— an evening coffee, stress, or late night iPad use— and make modifications to get more shut-eye.

7. De-stress.
Whether it’s short-term or chronic, stress can throw your numbers off.

“Any disruption in your life will lead to elevations in your blood pressure,” Bufalino said.

Carve out time in your schedule for a daily practice of deep breathing, meditation, exercise and fun.

8. Cut caffeine.
Caffeine is a driver for blood pressure. You don’t have to stop your habit cold- turkey but try to limit your intake from coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks and chocolate.   

9. Deal with snoring.
Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes frequent pauses in breathing, puts stress on your body and raises your blood pressure. Sleep apnea can also lead to atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. If your partner has told you that you snore or if you wake up exhausted and tired throughout the day, talk to your doctor.

10. Eat bilberries.
According to a recent study in the journal PLOS One, wild blueberries, known as bilberries, can improve blood pressure in a high-fat diet. Although eating these little gems won’t negate a poor diet, they can help you reduce some of the negative effects as you start to overhaul your diet.  

11. Eat cocoa.
Studies show that flavanols found in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure. But don’t go overboard— a one-inch square of dark chocolate a day is just enough.  

12. Get enough magnesium.
“Magnesium relaxes the blood vessel walls and the mind,” Bowden said.

Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds and avocado are all great sources. Add at least two servings of fatty fish a week which have omega-3 fatty acids that can help to lower blood pressure as well.

13. Quit smoking.
Smoking is bad for your health in so many ways, but it also makes your blood pressure rise right after you finish a cigarette. Sign up for a smoking cessation plan today and kick the habit for good.

Read more at http://womega.vn/tin-tuc/13-cach-kiem-soat-huyet-ap-khong-can-thuoc.html