Shortness boosts Heart Disease Risk

Short people have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease.

Over the years, there has been conflicting evidence on whether shortness is associated with heart disease. Height is used to calculate body mass index (a measurement of body fat), which is widely used to quantify risk of coronary heart disease.

To see the association between height and risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, researchers analysed data from 52 studies that included more than 3 million people. Short people were considered those under 5’3” and tall people were just over 5’8”. Separated by gender, short men were under 5’5”, and short women were under 5’. Tall men were over 5’9”, and tall women were over 5’5”.

Compared with the tallest people, the shortest people were almost 1.5 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease or to live with heart disease or suffer a heart attack. Considering men and women separately, short men were 37 percent more likely to die from any cause compared with tall men, and short women were 55 percent more likely to die from any cause compared with taller women.

The researchers speculated that shorter people have smaller coronary arteries that may get blocked earlier in life due to other risk factors such as poverty, poor nutrition and infections that result in poor early life growth.


P.S. protect your heart by taking Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods.



source

Read more at: http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/4529/type/news/Shortness_boosts_heart_disease_risk.html?cp

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack or Stroke in Walking

Over the years, I've lost walking friends due to heart attacks, some of them even while they were walking. While walking and other moderate intensity exercise can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke, it is only a reduction, not an elimination of risk.

It is critically important for walkers of every age to know the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke and get immediate medical attention.

The biggest challenge is to overcome your embarrassment. Nobody wants to be labeled a hypochondriac. Men seem especially loathe to get check-ups and work-ups for heart disease.

At the very least, if you know the symptoms and how to perform CPR and use an AED, you may be able to get a friend or loved one to seek medical care before it is too late.

Stop walking and seek immediate care if you have any of these:

* Tightness in your chest and possibly extending into your left arm or neck.
* Palpitations
* Chest pain or pain in your arms or jaw, often on the left side
* Wheezing, coughing, or other difficulty in breathing.
* Severe shortness of breath
* Dizziness, faintness or feeling sick to your stomach
* Excessive perspiration
* Cramps, severe pain or muscle aches
* Severe, prolonged fatigue or exhaustion after exercise.
* Nausea.

Seconds count when you are having a heart attack.

* Immediately call 911 or the other emegency number for your area to bring an ambulance with a defibrillator. Swiftly getting a unit to you is the single most important factor in surviving the heart attack. Seconds count.

* AED (automatic external defibrillator): These are simple portable defibrillators with simple instructions on the unit which anyone may use. Programs are underway to stock them in all public places. Many malls and fast food restaurants, as well as police and fire units will have them. Current Red Cross CPR classes will cover how to use them. If your distress happens in or near a mall, have someone ask for the AED.

* Does it happen? Yes, in 1999 I was at two walking events where friends had heart attacks. These shocking events are a reminder to all of us to be trained in CPR and to know where the nearest phone is to call 911.

* Summon help from those around you. Better to risk embarrassment than to die.


Normal signs of exertion

* Increased heart rate, you may feel or hear your heart beat.
* Increased breathing rate, but should be able to carry on a conversation.
* Mild to moderate sweating.
* Muscle aches and tenderness that might last a day or two as you get started.


P.S. protect your heart. Eat Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods.



source