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Friday, March 13, 2009

Improved lifestyle management required for patients with CHD



How the heart handles anger seems to predict who's at risk for a life-threatening irregular heartbeat.

Negative emotions like hostility and depression have long been considered risks for developing heart disease, and deaths from cardiac arrest rise after disasters such as earthquakes.

But research released Monday goes a step farther, uncovering a telltale pattern in the EKGs of certain heart patients when they merely recall a maddening event - an anger spike that foretold bad news.

In already vulnerable people, "anger causes electrical changes in the heart," said Dr. Rachel Lampert, a Yale University cardiologist who led the work. When that happens even in the doctor's office, "that means they're more likely to have arrhythmias when they go out in real life."

The third EUROASPIRE survey, led by Imperial College London, was carried out in 2006-2007 in 22 countries, to explore whether the prevention of heart disease had improved since earlier studies.

It involved 2392 patients, each of whom had either been treated for heart disease (for example, undergoing a bypass) or had been admitted to hospital following a heart attack. They were interviewed at least 6 months after this episode.

The "substantial increase" in the use of drugs since the first study was carried out in 1995/1996 is described by researchers as "futile" because of the failure to invest in prevention.

Overall, the proportion of patients who smoke has remained the same since the first study was carried out, when researchers identified a high rate of risk factors that could be tackled to prevent repeat illness.

Levels of obesity increased from 25% 38%. The proportion of patients with raised blood pressure remained similar at 60.9%. However the proportion with raised cholesterol fell from 94.5% to 46.2%. The frequency of self-reported diabetes mellitus increased from 17.4% to 28%.

The researchers said: "These time trends show a compelling need for more effective lifestyle management of patients with coronary heart disease".

In examining cardiovascular prevention guidelines in daily practice in eight European countries, investigators observed many adverse lifestyle trends, including increases in obesity, diabetes mellitus, and smoking in younger female subjects, as well as no improvements in blood-pressure management.

The findings, published in the March 14, 2009 issue of the Lancet, highlight a continuing gap between standards set in cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines and clinical practice, according to investigators.

"The European healthcare systems are dominated by acute care, medical technology, devices, and pharmacological treatments," write lead investigator Dr Kornelia Kotseva (Imperial College London, UK) and colleagues. "Lifestyles are judged as private issues. However, lifestyle programs could be an integral part of healthcare provision and health insurance plans. All patients with coronary heart disease would benefit from access to a comprehensive cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation program. To salvage the acutely ischemic myocardium without addressing the underlying lifestyle causes of the disease is futile; we need to invest in prevention."

In an editorial accompanying the published study [2], Drs Mette Brekke and Bjørn Gjelsvik (both from University of Oslo, Norway) called the results of the EUROASPIRE studies "discouraging." They note that recommendations for lifestyle changes are increasingly emphasized in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary risk prevention, including advice to stop smoking, make healthy food choices, and become physically active.

Designer Donna Karan says men should take fashion advice from their girlfriends.


Men require help to appear good.Designer Donna Karan says men should trust their girlfriend’s opinion when trying on clothes.
The 60-year-old founder of DKNY insists men need help to look good because male fashion is hard to get right.

She said: “One guy can throw on a pair of jeans and T-shirt and just wear that and be perfect, while another guy can wear a T-shirt and jeans and look horrible.

“A guy needs to keep his eyes open, try several things on, and trust other people’s opinions.”

Even though Donna has devoted her life to making clothes, she admits most men look awful in high-fashion outfits.

She said: “I can’t stand men wearing a trend because it’s a trend. There are quirky men who can carry off quirk but most men can’t.

“I don’t like oversized, really sloppy pants hanging off a man’s waist, but then again I don’t like really uptight looks either. The extreme of either of those styles doesn’t make me comfortable.

“When you’re trying too hard it doesn’t work.”

Throughout her 20-year career, Donna has found men narrow-minded and unwilling to experiment when it comes to fashion.

She told Details magazine: “Sometimes men can be a little limited when it comes to trying something new. When I first used stretch fabric, I couldn’t even use the word ‘stretch’ until men realised how comfortable it was.

“Now they say ‘Where’s the black stretch crepe suit?’ ”

But Donna says looking good is not complicated – if you have a few key wardrobe items.

She said: “Every man should have the seven easy pieces: great pair of black pants, great jacket, white shirt, tie, great cashmere sweater, great pair of jeans, and a piece in leather – things that are amorphous.

Have you better lifestyle? If not change it now & keep you best.


WE ARE CHANGINH LIVES.... FOR GOOD.
I would also like to comment on why I have chosen to title my blog "Lifestyle".
Because i know lifestyle only can give all human healthy & happy life..

We hear a lot about how diet and lifestyle affects risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The Lifestyle Matters series helps you understand and learn simple strategies that can help you:
.Lower stress and depression levels.

.Improve memory, learning, and mood.
.Lower dementia risk.
.Lose weight and keep it off without severe diets or gimmicks.
.Reduce your risk for lifestyle diseases.
.Overcome food cravings and food addictions .
.Overcome substance and behavioral addictions.



The Lifestyle Matters materials are designed to help you improve physical health, mental function, overcome addictions, and discover the keys to wholeness of body, mind, and spirit.


Lifestyle diseases have started taking the city in their grip. And
alarmingly, they are affecting people at a much younger age. Experts suggest proper meal and regular physical exercises to keep diseases like hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, etc., at bay.

Given the increasing sedentary lifestyle among the urban population, obesity is on the rise. And, health experts say that in the days to come, more people are likely to gain the flab. Since obesity leads to other ailments, doctors feel it should be checked right at the beginning.

According to estimates, heart diseases are continuously increasing at a rate of 15% annually with more and more people visiting hospitals. The only good sign, experts say, is that people are seeking medical advice on time which may save them from serious consequences. In most cases of heart ailments, patients are under the age of 45 years.

As far as arthritis is concerned, inert lifestyle is said to be the main cause. Also, more and more youngsters are beginning to show the symptoms of the disease at an early age. Lack of physical activity and bad eating habits are adding to the problem. Spondylosis (neck pain and backache), and osteoporosis (weak bone) are other diseases which are gradually becoming common.

"Apart from orthopaedic problems, stomach ailments too have seen a rise in recent times," says Dr VK Srivastava. High calorie, fried, fatty food, which are a hit with people these days, along with a hurry-worry modern day lifestyle, are causing an alarming increase in gastro-intestinal disorders, he added.

Similarly, the number of patients suffering from hypertension is also rapidly increased. According to medical experts, in the last one decade there has been a three fold increase in hypertension cases. About 10 per cent of victims belong to the age group of 30-40 year.

Maintain it.......

CALORIES:


* Avoid overeating. Eat only when hungry and just until full

* Eat everything but in small quantity

* Consume slowly and chew food properly as it checks overeating

* Cut on fat and sugar

* Consume your meal on time and in a relaxed mood. You should take at least 20 minutes for eating food.