Less Tobacco Smoke Means Fewer Heart Attacks

Tobacco deaths rarely make headlines, but the World Health Organization says tobacco smoke kills one person every six seconds. Studies have shown that tobacco smoke is not just deadly for tobacco users. Those who breathe in smoke from other people's cigarettes also have an increased risk for heart attacks. A new study shows that smoking bans have significant health benefits for everyone.

Virginia is the latest U.S. state to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. As communities across the country ban smoking in public places, fewer people are dying from heart attacks.

A study earlier this year in Pueblo, Colorado by the Centers for Disease Control showed heart attacks dropped by 40 percent after a law was enacted to ban smoking at work or in public spaces. New research now supports this and similar studies.

Dr. Neil Benowitz is one of the researchers on this latest report. "If you expose someone to second hand smoke, within minutes you see blood platelets and blood clotting increasing," he explains. "We see that the function of the blood vessels is impaired."

And that is when heart attacks can occur. Dr. Lynn Goldman is the report's principal author. "We did conclude a cause and effect relationship between heart disease generally and second hand smoke exposure," she says.

"Even a small amount of exposure of second hand smoke can increase blood clotting, can constrict blood vessels and can cause a heart attack," adds Dr. Benowitz.

The researchers examined data from 11 studies in various countries. They found that smoking bans reduced heart attacks by anywhere from six percent to nearly 50 percent.

"One of the things to understand and appreciate about these smoking bans is that they are all slightly different. Some are enforced consistently, others are not enforced consistently," Dr. Goldman explains. "But despite that, they all show a consistent reduction in acute myocardial infractions and heart attacks after the bans."

Critics say the study is skewed because people who already had heart disease were not screened out. But the researchers say that would have been impossible.

"Most people who are diagnosed with heart disease have their diagnosis when they have their first heart attack," Dr. Benowitz says.

The study was released by the Institute of Medicine, an advisory group for the U.S. government.

As for the Pueblo, Colorado study, 400 people suffered heart attacks before the ban went into effect. In the 18 months after the ban, fewer than 240 people had heart attacks.

Neighboring areas without smoking laws had no change in their heart attack rates.


P.S. reduce heart attack chances by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Fish Oil Supplements Don't Help Depressed Heart Patients

In a surprise and not very welcome finding, researchers report that fish oil supplements do not ease depression in individuals who suffer from both depression and coronary heart disease.

Participants in the study, which is published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, were also taking the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft). Some studies have suggested that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish might enhance the effects of Zoloft.

"Unfortunately, it's not where we wanted to be. We were kind of disappointed, to say the least," said study author Robert M. Carney, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The findings leave physicians still facing the problem of how to boost depression recovery rates so as to also lower cardiovascular risk. The question is a pressing one, given that depression can double or even triple the risk of dying in heart patients, Carney said.

"We're not just treating depression, we're treating a risk factor," he said.

Fish oil, or omega-3 fatty acid, supplements have been touted as a potential panacea for a variety of ailments, notably heart disease, but they have been losing their luster as of late.

A study published earlier this year found that patients receiving optimal drug therapy after experiencing a heart attack do not gain any additional benefit from taking supplemental omega-3 fatty acids. There was no difference in rates of heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac death or death from any cause, regardless of whether they were taking the supplements or not.

That finding contradicted previous studies, which suggested that taking omega-3 fatty acids improved long-term survival.

Studies involving omega-3 fatty acids and depression have shown similarly uneven results.

For this study, 122 patients with major depression and coronary heart disease took 50 milligrams of Zoloft a day, then were randomized to receive either 2 grams a day of omega-3 acid ethyl esters or a corn-oil placebo capsule.

There was no difference in depression scores before and after 10 weeks of treatment, the researchers found.

The study authors noted that tweaking any of the variables in the study -- amount of Zoloft, dose of fish oil, form of fish oil or duration of treatment -- might yield more positive results.

In general, the effects of antidepressants in people with both depression and heart problems are the same as in a normal "healthy" population, Carney said.

"The problem, from our point of view, is that that's just not good enough," he added. "It's definitely better than placebo, better than doing nothing. We're trying to find a treatment or combination of treatments that's going to significantly improve the depression outcome."

Had this study turned out more positively, the next step would have been to see if improvements in depression translate into improvements in heart outcomes.

As it is, scientists are back to the drawing board.

"We're still exploring other possibilities," Carney said.

That includes an increased dose of omega-3, lengthening the study and identifying a subset of patients for whom this protocol might be more effective than antidepressants alone.

But it's not time to stop taking fish oil capsules yet, one expert said.

"The American Heart Association still does have recommendations based on the data we do have," said Dr. John Erwin III, professor of internal medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and senior staff cardiologist with Scott & White Hospital in Temple.

"We also use fish oil to reduce triglyceride levels and it's very effective in that use. I wouldn't encourage people who are taking fish oil caplets to stop it now because of this study. It just means we have a little bit more work to do on the depression side of things," he said.

Some of the study authors, including Carney, declared financial ties with different pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer Inc., which makes Zoloft. The study was funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. GlaxoSmithKline Inc. provided both omega-3 and placebo capsules, while Pfizer supplied the Zoloft.



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Blood Protein May Predict Heart Attack But Not Stroke

More study needed into how CRP levels influence risk

High blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) may increase a person's risk for heart attack and death, but not for stroke, a new study has found.

The study included 2,240 people in New York City who were 40 or older and stroke-free. At the start of the study, the participants' blood was checked for levels of CRP (a marker for inflammation) and their heart attack and stroke risk factors were evaluated by researchers.

During an average follow-up of eight years, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths. People with CRP levels greater than 3 milligrams per liter of blood were 70 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die than those with CRP levels of 1 milligram per liter or less, the researchers reported in the Oct. 20 print issue of Neurology.

After they took other risk factors into account, the study authors concluded that CRP levels didn't influence stroke risk.

"The role of this protein in predicting risk of stroke has been controversial, although prior studies have found it to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease," study author Dr. Mitchell Elkind, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, said in a news release from the American Academy of Neurology. "However, in our large, multiethnic population, CRP levels did not play a role in predicting stroke, though they may still help determine whether someone is at risk of heart attack or early death."

CRP levels are influenced by factors such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and diabetes.

"It appears that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death," Elkind said.

"It may be that the failure of CRP to predict stroke in our study, unlike in some other populations, reflects the fact that our population is older and has more of these risk factors. While CRP may be predictive in generally young healthy people, it may be less useful among older, sicker people. More research needs to be done on why the protein wasn't able to predict stroke in the same manner as heart disease," he said.



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Farmers' Pesticides May Not Raise Heart Risks

Good news for men who farm U.S. fields. Regular exposure to pesticides used commonly on the farm does not appear to increase the risk of heart attack.

As part of the Agricultural Health Study, between 1993 and 1997, researchers asked more than 54,000 male farmers what pesticides they used regularly, how much time they spent using tractors and other farm equipment, and whether they raised poultry or other livestock.

Dr. Jane A. Hoppin, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and colleagues surveyed roughly 32,000 of these men 5 years later and discovered 839 non-fatal heart attacks.

They also followed the entire study population for nearly 12 years on average and found that a total of 476 farmers died from heart attack.

In analyses adjusted for factors that might increase heart attack risk, such as older age, smoking and being overweight, the researchers found some suggestion of an increased risk of heart attack with exposure to six specific pesticides, although the link was not statistically significant.

These pesticides were the organochlorines aldrin and DDT, the herbicide 2,4,5-T, the fumigant ethylene dibromide, and the fungicides maneb and ziram.

By contrast, five other pesticides - carbaryl, terbufos, imazethapyr, pendimethalin, and petroleum oil - seemed to be associated with a somewhat reduced risk of death from heart attack.

However, none of the 49 pesticides were statistically associated with heart attack, nor did the investigators note similar risk due to other farm-related "exposures."

In a report in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Hoppin and colleagues point out that farmers commonly have heart attack rates lower than those of the general population.

Hoppin and colleagues say further investigations are needed to confirm their findings and to assess short- and long-term heart-related risks from exposure to pesticides.


P.S. take care of your heart by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Ingredients for the Faint of Heart ( Part 2 )

Bradley West, Nordic Naturals research advisor said Nordic Natural combines fish oil with red yeast rice in its Omega LDL. “Numerous scientific studies have shown that red yeast rice, a natural red-pigmented yeast grown on rice, helps support healthy cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range,” West said. Red yeast rice is a fermented product of rice on which red yeast (Monascus purpureus) is grown. A Mayo Clinic study found lifestyle changes combined with ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil reduced LDL in proportions similar to standard therapy with the statin therapy drug Simvastatin.18

A heart-healthy ingredient also grown, but this one from the soil, is hawthorn berries. “Hawthorn has been used for decades as a cardiovascular tonic, as it has been shown to improve the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart by increasing blood flow in the coronary arteries,” said Eileen Sheets, managing director, Bioforce USA. “And, improvement in the heart’s ability to pump blood more effectively has a positive impact on blood pressure.”

Keri Marshall, M.D., medical director at Gaia Herbs, added, “Hawthorn is profoundly important for increasing blood flow and the integrity of the vessels. Hawthorn berries are known to help connective tissue integrity, and blood vessels are all connective tissues, as well as help increase the integrity of blood flow within the body.”

A New York Heart Association study concluded patients who ingested standardized hawthorn berry extract, “may expect an improvement in their heart failure condition under long-term therapy.”19 And, a review of 14 randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies suggested hawthorn extract has significant benefits in the treatment for chronic heart failure.20

Folic acid, aka vitamin B9, is becoming more known as an ingredient that reduces the risk of heart disease. In the IFIC survey, 70 percent of responders said they were aware of folic acid’s heart-health abilities, compared to 55 percent in 2007. A recent study showed supplementation of folic acid may improve cardiovascular health and reduce the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).21 And in an earlier study, the same group of researchers found 5 mg/d of folic acid over a three-week period reduced pulse pressure compared with a placebo.22

Niacin, also part of the B vitamins, has also been shown to improve heart health via raising HDL cholesterol.23 When used in combination with cholesterol-lowering drugs, it enhanced the cholesterol-managing effect.24 According to Lonza’s Web site, its niacin ingredient lowers LDL cholesterol, elevates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood.

Sometimes, a lack of an ingredient can pose problems. In a George Washington University study, magnesium deficiency caused inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative events, which promoted cardiomyopathy, cardiac dysfunction and myocardial intolerance to secondary stresses.24 In addition, the level of magnesium in the body has a direct effect upon the relaxation capability of vascular smooth muscle cells, blood pressure and hypertension.25 However, adding magnesium to the diet can improve blood pressure. A study examined the effect of magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber on incidence of high blood pressure in more than 30,000 men.26 After four years, researchers noted dietary fiber, potassium and magnesium were each significantly associated with lower risk of hypertension.

Some consumers want more than one or two ingredients in their heart-health supplements. Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. offers Sytrinol, with polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), a group of compounds derived from the peels of citrus fruits including the bioflavonoids tangeretin and nobiletin; and palm tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family extracted from the fruit of the palm tree.

Vitalah’s Oxylent contains magnesium, selenium, arginine, CoQ10, SOD, catalase , vitamin D and B vitamins; and Get Well Natural’s heart health supplement Cardio Well Classic includes the herbs Morinda citrifolia (noni fruit), prunella, salvia, notoginseng, eucomia and lycium fruit.

to be continued............

P.S. Pamper your heart with Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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Ingredients for the Faint of Heart ( Part 1 )

With 71 million Americans suffering with one or more types of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the American Heart Association (AHA), more shoppers are looking for science-backed natural ingredients.

One supplement that fortunately has a lot of science behind it is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is produced by the body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. It has been shown to reduce blood pressure, possibly by decreasing oxidative stress, and insulin response in patients with known hypertension receiving conventional antihypertensive drugs,1 and improve blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.2 In addition to lowering blood pressure, CoQ10 significantly reduced hospitalization for worsening of heart failure in patients with congestive heart failure;3 and in another study, it reduced the incidence of palpitations and arrhythmia.4 CoQ10 taken before heart surgery helped preserve the cardiac muscle.5 In addition, CoQ10 supplementation helps replenish healthy blood levels of CoQ10, which may be depleted by statin drugs, used to lower cholesterol.6

Another heart-healthy ingredient with a lot of science-based evidence is plant sterols. The substantiation during the past 50 years that has shown plant sterols can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol convinced FDA to authorize a health claim about plant sterols and heart health. In 2000, the agency OK’d the claim, “Foods containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

With an estimated 101 million American adults with borderline-high or higher cholesterol levels, according to AHA, and recognition from FDA, plant sterol knowledge is up. Awareness that plant sterols reduce the risk of heart disease increased to 45 percent in 2009, from 30 percent in 2007, according to the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) Functional Foods/Foods for Health consumer survey, released in August 2009.

Plant sterols, also called phytosterols, are found in all plants, with vegetables, seeds and nuts providing rich sources. They are fat-like plant compounds with chemical structures similar to cholesterol. Plant sterols compete with cholesterol in the body, so when a person digests more plant sterols, he absorbs less cholesterol. Studies have shown orange juice fortified with plant sterols reduce LDL cholesterol,7 they are safe to use over a long period of time,8 supplementation with them lowers LDL cholesterol in people with an increased risk for coronary heart disease,9 and margarine containing plant sterols was shown to be effective in reducing serum cholesterol.10 One study showed the cholesterol-lowering effects of plant sterols may differ according to the type of food matrix.11 Plant sterols in low-fat milk was almost three times more effective than in bread and cereals. And, in addition to their cholesterol-lowering properties, plant sterols possess anti-cancer, anti-atherogenicity and antioxidant activities.12

Erin Silva, MS, RD, technical marketing manager, Vitamer Labs, noted its Cholesterol Complex, which contains Corowise, sold well during the past year. “Plant sterols are becoming more recognized by the consumer since Corowise and other plant sterol ingredients are making their way into functional foods as well as dietary supplements,” she said.

While the IFIC survey showed most Americans know omega-3s benefit the brain, Silva said American consumers could improve their heart health by adding omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) to their diets. “Generally speaking, most people would benefit from taking fish oil given the typical American diet that is low in ‘good’ fats like omega-3s, regardless if they have been diagnosed with heart disease or not,” she said. Indeed, the AHA recommends intakes of a combination eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 g/d (either as fatty fish or supplements) to reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown eating fish two times per week can reduce coronary heart disease,13 and a meta-analysis of 11 trials, published between 1966 and 1999, suggested intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced overall mortality, mortality due to myocardial infarction and sudden death in patients with coronary heart disease.14 Fish oil lowered serum triglyceride concentrations by 19 percent in one study from Norway,15 and lowered triglycerides while raising LDL cholesterol in an American study.16

Fish oil isn’t the only way to get EFAs. Core Naturals offers Salba, a seed that comes from a variety of a mint plant called Salvia hispanica L. Brian Keyes, Director of Marketing at Core Naturals, said, “Salba seed oil is the most potent vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids. A single tablespoon serving has 8,373 mg of omega-3s, with about 30 percent higher alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) content than flaxseed.” Salba may also offer heart health benefits. Twelve weeks of dietary supplementation with Salba reduced systolic blood pressure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (associated CVD and other processes involving inflammation) and von Willebrand factor (a blood glycoprotein involved in hemostasis), while maintaining good glycemic and lipid control in people with type 2 diabetes.17 Keyes added Core Naturals has started preliminary research to determine Salba’s effects on cholesterol levels.

Part of Americans’ heart issues may stem from a lack of omega-3s in their diets said Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, consultant to Jarrow Formulas and dean of academics at Huntington College of Health Sciences. “Human beings evolved on a diet with approximately a 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 EFAs, whereas in Western diets the ratio is 15:1 to 16.7:1,” he said. “Western diets are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids compared with the diet on which human beings evolved and their genetic patterns were established.”

To be Continued...



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U.S. study shows protein may predict heart attack, early death

People with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, may be at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke, according to a study that will be published Tuesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 2,240 people from the Northern Manhattan Study who were 40 years old or older and stroke-free. Of the group,63 percent were Hispanic, 20 percent non-Hispanic black and 15 percent non-Hispanic white residents.

All participants had their blood tested for CRP levels and were evaluated for stroke and heart attack risk factors. They were followed for an average of eight years. In that time, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths.

The researchers found that people with CRP levels greater than three milligrams per liter were 70 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die early compared to people who had levels of one milligram per liter or less of the protein in their blood. The protein was not associated with an increased risk of stroke once other risk factors were taken into account.

"The role of this protein in predicting risk of stroke has been controversial although prior studies have found it to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease," said study author Mitchell Elkind, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and a Fellow with the American Academy of Neurology. "However, in our large, multiethnic population, CRP levels did not play a role in predicting stroke, though they may still help determine whether someone is at risk of heart attack or early death."

CRP protein levels are associated with such medical and lifestyle risk factors as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. "It appears that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death," said Elkind.

P.S. protect your heart by eating Vitamin C & Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Is High Cholesterol Good for Some Heart Patients?

Here's an apparent paradox: High levels of artery-clogging cholesterol are a risk factor for heart disease. But such high levels have been linked to improved outcomes after a heart attack and other acute heart "events."

Now, new research suggests that this paradoxical finding may simply stem from not taking other factors into account.

People with heart problems and very high cholesterol levels may fare better because they are more likely to be treated with a cholesterol-lowering "statin" drug, researchers report in the journal Clinical Cardiology. Such drugs lower levels of so-called "bad" cholesterol, otherwise known as LDL cholesterol.

Perhaps, more importantly, a diagnosis of very high cholesterol -- what doctors call hypercholesterolemia -- may simply identify patients who have seen their doctors. The thinking is that such patients are more closely watched by their doctors, so they end up doing better than those with low cholesterol who may still be at some risk.

The results are based on a study of 84,429 patients enrolled in a study designed to encourage doctors to use well-established guidelines when treating patients with heart problems caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

Patients with a history of high cholesterol were 42 percent less likely to die while hospitalized than were those without this history, Dr. Tracy Y. Wang, from Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues found.

The association remained strong after the researchers accounted for other factors, including use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

In looking at 22,711 patients with no history of high cholesterol, Wang's team identified 12,809 who were diagnosed with high cholesterol during a hospitalization for heart problems.

Although the initial analysis suggested a reduced risk of death with high cholesterol, that reduction disappeared when researchers took other factors into account.

This study, the researchers conclude, confirms the well documented association of high cholesterol with better outcomes among heart patients and further demonstrates that patients with newly diagnosed high cholesterol don't necessarily enjoy this potential protection.


P.S. protect your heart by knowing its Vitamin D benefits.



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Six Foods That Lower Cholesterol

If you’re one of the estimated 16% of adult Americans with high cholesterol, you should probably avoid foods full of saturated fat such as red meat, butter, and cheese. You should also steer clear of margarine, fried food, and processed products that contain trans fat. But did you know that some foods can lower your cholesterol? And unlike some medications, their only side effect is a satisfied stomach. So If you have a problem with high cholesterol, incorporating these foods into your diet may help.

1 Oranges
Oranges are rich in pectin, the stuff that makes jams and jellies gel. Like other forms of soluble fiber, pectin forms a gooey mass in your gut, trapping cholesterol and ferrying it out of your body before it can clog your arteries and compromise your health. One medium orange provides 2 to 3 grams of soluble fiber, as well as other beneficial nutrients such as vitamin C, folate, and potassium. You have to eat whole oranges to benefit from their fiber, so put your juicer aside.

2 Oats
Oatmeal is a proven winner when it comes to lowering cholesterol. Oat flour offers many of the same benefits. If you can’t find oat flour where you typically shop, you can make your own by pulverizing rolled oats in a food processor. Oat flour can be substituted for up to half the all-purpose flour in most pancake and muffin recipes. I even use it in low-fat oatmeal cookies.

3 Beans and Lentils
Both legumes are sky-high in heart-healthy soluble fiber. They’re also great replacements for animal protein, which is often full of saturated fat. For breakfast, make a burrito with scrambled egg whites, black beans, and salsa. At lunch, a bowl of lentil soup hits the spot. For dinner, skip the potatoes or rice and try seasoned beans.

My favorite bean snack is roasted chickpeas. Drain a 15-ounce can, spread the chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet, and mist with nonstick oil spray. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of salt, and roast for 25 minutes in a 400°F oven.

4 Sardines
Sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can significantly reduce blood levels of artery-clogging triglycerides. I’m convinced that most people who turn up their noses at the mere mention of sardines haven’t actually tried them. If that’s you, consider my uncle’s favorite sandwich: two pieces of chewy whole-grain bread spread with low-fat mayo and topped with a couple of canned sardines, a slice of tomato, and fresh basil leaves. Yum!

5 Pistachio Nuts
These little powerhouses are a great source of phytosterols, natural plant compounds that block absorption of dietary cholesterol. They’re also rich in monounsaturated fat, fiber, and antioxidants–all of which are good for heart health. I prefer eating pistachios in the shell (natural color, no red dyes) because it forces me to go slowly and prevents me from overdoing these healthy but caloric treats.

6 Chocolate
Dark chocolate can confer a number of benefits, including lowered cholesterol and blood pressure and reduced risk of blood clots. Choose brands that contain 70% or more cocoa solids, and avoid those that contain partially hydrogenated oil, palm-kernel oil, and other unhealthy additives.



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