Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
A study published electronically ahead of print in the Journal of Nutrition, on March 12, 2014 shows that men who use vitamin E more efficiently because of a gene variant have a much lower risk of developing prostate cancer. The rare genetic variant indicates a …
Your thyroid is one of the smallest glands in your body, yet it is actually one of the most important. This gland is instrumental in the healthy regulation of functions like proper metabolism, energy levels, burning calories, the creation of body proteins and the reaction …
Vitamin D, commonly referred to as the “sunshine vitamin”, is naturally produced in the body through sun exposure but also can be consumed through some foods like fish and eggs and through supplementation. A vitamin D deficiency can occur for a number of reasons, which include limited consumption of the vitamin and limited exposure to sunlight. For those with a vitamin D deficiency, an increased risk of heart problems, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and even asthma can arise if left to its own devices without a change in diet or proper supplementation.
Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, have discovered yet another risk of a vitamin D deficiency. The study concluded that vitamin D deficiency is linked to more serious health risks such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes if vitamin D levels are above 15 nanograms per milliliter.
Co-director of cardiovascular research at the Institute and lead researcher of the study, J. Brent Muhlestein, MD, stated, “Although vitamin D levels above 30 were traditionally considered to be normal, more recently, some researchers have proposed that anything above 15 was a safe level. But the numbers hadn’t been backed up with research until now. Even if any level above 15 is safe, one out of 10 people still have vitamin D levels lower than that. This equates to a very large percentage of our population. The best way to determine one’s vitamin D level is by getting a blood test.”
In this study, due to the Intermountain Healthcare’s vast clinical database, more than 230,000 patients were able to be evaluated. Split into four groups (less than 15ng/ml, 15-29ng/ml, 30-44ng/ml, less than or equal to 45ng/ml) and followed for three years, researchers compiled data on major cardiac events, including death, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, stroke and heart or kidney failure. The risk of cardiovascular events increased by 35% in the greater than 15ng/ml group compared to the other three.
Dr. Muhlestein explains that this study shreds “new light and direction on patients taking vitamin D supplements” as they may benefit from achieving higher blood levels of vitamin D in patients whose levels are below 15ng/ml.
*Before starting a vitamin D regimen, speak to your primary physician or a nutritionist on how it may help with heart problems.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151109160556.html
You’ve heard it all before – exercise regularly, follow a healthy diet, stop smoking and drinking. Doctors and scientists have always followed the same guidelines for overall health and wellness. But a new study from the journal Neurology shows a rather new advancement – following …
Your eyes are similar to a camera. Like a camera, if any part of your eye becomes damaged, you do not get a clear picture. Some of the common risks that affect your vision are your lifetime exposure to sunlight, your age, and smoking. All …
According to CNN, about a third of adults in the U.S. suffer from hypertension, a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems.
Recent government data provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have indicated that between 1999 and 2014, the number of people who have their hypertension under control increased from 31% to 53%. Most doctors have long advised systolic blood pressure (BP), BP levels in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts, to be considered normal below 120 and would only treat patients with a pressure level of 140 or above (CNN). However, recent findings from a study performed by the National Institute of Health says patients in the “pre-hypertension” area, between 120 and 140, should be treated too.
For Americans over 50 years old that are suffering from hypertension, the study suggests there is a significant reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke (if your pressure is kept below 120). Over nine thousand participants included in the study were split into two groups – one group received two forms of BP medication to adjust their blood pressure to a number below 140 and the other group took three forms of blood pressure medication to adjust their blood pressure to a number below 120.
Doctor Gary H. Gibbons, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a major sponsor of the trial, says this study “provides potentially lifesaving information that will be useful to healthcare providers as they consider the best treatment options for some of their patients, particularly over the age of 50.” These findings are in its preliminary stages and needs further review, as patients who take more medication to lower their blood pressure may face challenging side effects, like dehydration, headache and weakness.
Additional methods to regulating blood pressure to 120 or below include losing weight and exercising. Dr. Karen Margolis, director of clinical research at HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research suggests that losing about 9 pounds could reduce systolic blood pressure by 4.5 points. Studies performed by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, found moderate exercise like walking or cycling for one hour, three times a week reduced systolic blood pressure in sedentary older adults by 5 points in 10 weeks. Your diet also plays a major role in the balancing of blood pressure. Doctors have long advised patients with high blood pressure to cut back on their salt intake and increase fruits and vegetables in their diet.
Taurine is an amino acid that offers great antioxidant protection for the entire body, especially cardiovascular health. It may be very useful for those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, as it acts as a neurotransmitter and a regulator for the heart and circulatory system. Magnesium is another important mineral that aids in the function of over 300 metabolic reactions. Inadequate levels of magnesium can lead to an array of cardiovascular health problems, such as cardiac arrhythmias, blocked arteries, chest pain and high blood pressure. Before starting a supplement regimen, speak to your primary physician or a nutritionist.
For more information, visit the American College of Cardiology’s website at http://www.acc.org/.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/18/health/how-to-lower-blood-pressure-tips/index.html and http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/18/health/new-guidelines-high-blood-pressure/index.html