Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lifestyle changes, medications and surgery are all current treatments to treat heart disease; however there is no cure. The best treatment is to to prevent heart disease from occurring by knowing which risk factors can cause heart disease. Researchers are working to identify new risk factors for heart disease so that doctors can identify those people.
Calcium Supplements
According to a July 30, 2010 ABC News report, a study conducted by Dr. Ian Reid from the University of Auckland in New Zealand reported that patients who had or were at risk for osteoporosis who were taking 500mg of calcium supplements a day, without vitamin D, were 30 percent more likely to experience a heart attack. The ABCNews.com story reports that calcium supplements increase blood serum calcium levels, which increases a person's chance for having a heart attack. While the study raised interesting issues, cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum of New York City reported that it is important to remember that treatment and preventative care should be based on an individual's health profile.
Sleep
A study reported in the scientific journal "SLEEP," published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, reported that seven hours of sleep is the optimal amount of sleep for healthy cardiac health. The study, conducted by the West Virginia University School of Medicine, analyzed data from 30,000 adults who participated in the 2005 National Health Interview Survey. The researchers found that adults who slept five hours, including naps, were twice as likely to experience a heart attack, stroke and heart disease as the adults who slept for seven hours. The study also found that people who slept more than nine hours were 1 1/2 times more liable to experience a cardiac event. Researchers were unable to determine the causal relationship between sleep and heart disease; however, researchers point out that sleep affects the endocrine and metabolic systems which can lead to elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance and reduced insulin sensitivity, which can lead to heart disease.
Biomarkers
Fred Hutchinson and his team of researchers from the Cancer Research Centre analyzed blood protein data from 800 postmenopausal women who developed heart disease. Researchers found that beta-2 microglobulin were significantly higher in postmenopausal women with heart disease. Researchers also found another biomarker, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4, was associated with stroke. These findings will help doctors to provide the best course of preventive care and treatment for these patients.
References
- ABC News: Calcium Supplements May Carry Heart Attack Risk
- Science Daily: Short and Long Sleep Durations Are Independent Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease, Study Suggests
- Science Daily: Biomarkers Found For Postmenopausal Cardiovascular Disease
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Heart Disease
