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A study has found that yoga and breath control techniques, combined with aerobic training, are significantly important exercises for individuals with asthma who want to improve lung function. The research demonstrates the importance of including suitable exercise training methods in strategies for managing asthma. The results also show just how effective certain sorts of exercise can be for enhancing lung function in individuals who have asthma. Breath training combined with yoga and aerobic training seems to be especially beneficial for providing additional options for effective treatment strategies. Larger, randomized controlled studies are now necessary to better assess the benefits of exercise for people with asthma. Asthma is a chronic lung disorder that impacts about 339 million individuals around the world. It can cause symptoms which include chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Exercise was previously considered a possible risk factor for people with asthma since it was thought to induce or aggravate acute asthma attacks. Other research has however shown that exercise can improve respiratory function as well as exercise capacity. Variations in some of the exercise treatments in existing studies have however made it difficult to compare the efficacy of various rehabilitation plans. To look into this problem, the researchers carried out a meta-analysis, which allowed them to simultaneously compare the results from several studies in one analysis to assess the impact of various kinds of exercises on lung function in asthmatic individuals. A total of 28 studies were included in the analysis that involved 2,155 asthmatic individuals, which looked at the impact of yoga training, relaxation training, aerobic training, breath training on lung function, as well as breath training in combination with aerobic training. All 5 kinds of exercise treatments had greater efficacy in improving measurements of lung function in comparison to the control group who received conventional rehabilitation. The study found: Yoga training, relaxation training, aerobic training, breath training, and breathing combined with aerobic training, resulted in improvements in Forced Expiratory Volume levels and Peak Expiratory Flow. Yoga training, breath training, aerobic training, and breathing combined with aerobic training, improved Forced Vital Capacity levels. Yoga training, aerobic training, and breath training improved the Forced Expiratory Volume/Forced Vital Capacity ratio. A statistical method was also applied to rank the impact of various exercise interventions against each other. The most significant impact on improving Forced Expiratory Volume levels was observed with relaxation training, breathing in combination with aerobic exercise had the most significant impact on improving levels of Forced Vital Capacity, and yoga training had the most significant impact on improving levels of Peak Expiratory Flow. Certain study limitations could have affected the results such as inherent variability between the studies included in the review and inconsistencies in details of exercise frequency and intensity. Also, most individuals in the study were younger than 60 years old, so exercise interventions might produce different responses in older people. Image by Irina L from Pixabay Source link

According to a large study, a healthy cardiorespiratory fitness level at a young age is linked to as much as a 40% reduced risk of 9 certain cancers at a later date, which includes cancers of the lung, bowel, head and neck, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, and esophagus. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) means an individual’s ability to undertake aerobic exercise, which includes swimming, cycling, running, or even climbing stairs for sustained periods. It’s considered to be linked to a reduction in the risk of specific cancers, but not many long-term studies of multiple types of cancer have been documented. The researchers used related data from the Swedish registry that covered medical diagnoses, background information, and deaths from participants up to the end of 2019. At the beginning of the study, when the participants were between the ages of 16 and 25, they underwent a standard array of measurements. These included CRF, muscular strength, blood pressure, BMI, and height. Participants with a low CRF level were more likely to have a substance and alcohol abuse history, and a little likely to be obese compared to participants with a higher level of CRF. In all, 365,874 participants, all male, had low CRF levels; 519,652 had moderate CRF levels; and 340,952 had high CRF levels. The final analysis involved over a million men, 7% of whom then developed cancer in a minimum of 1 site throughout 33 years of monitoring on average. In comparison to men having a low fitness level at the beginning of the study, higher CRF was linearly linked to a reduced risk of developing certain kinds of cancer. It was linked to a 5% reduction in rectal cancer risk; a 12% reduction in pancreatic cancer risk; an 18% reduction in bowel cancer risk; a 19% reduction in head and neck cancer risk; a 20% reduction in kidney cancer risk; a 21% reduction in stomach cancer risk; a 39% reduction in esophageal cancer risk; a 40% reduction in liver cancer risk; and a 42% reduction in lung cancer risk. However, higher CRF was also linked to a 7% increase in prostate cancer risk and a 31% increase in skin cancer risk. The researchers suggest that screening for prostate cancer and sunlight exposure might be the reason for these results. Because this was an observational study, no definite conclusions can be made regarding cause and effect, and complete data on other lifestyle risk factors that might have influenced the results was unavailable, which include smoking, alcohol intake, and diet. The researchers were also unable to monitor any CRF changes over time or collect any genetic data on participants. Source link

Salmon usually comes to mind when thinking of omega-3 fatty acids. A research review has however determined that alpha-linolenic acid, the primary plant-based nutrient version known as ALA, can be beneficial for heart health and help to reduce heart disease risk for people who don’t consume seafood. In an extensive literature review, which indicates there are several methods for meeting the omega-3 fatty acid recommendations, the researchers determined that consuming ALA that’s present in plant-based foods such as flaxseeds and walnuts was linked to a 10% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk and a 20% reduction in fatal coronary heart disease risk. There are various reasons why individuals might not want to consume seafood; however, omega-3 consumption is still crucial for reducing heart disease risk and promoting overall health. Plant-based ALA derived from flaxseeds or walnuts can also provide these benefits, particularly when included in a healthy diet abundant with whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Evidence was also found that individuals who are eating seafood could get additional benefits from consuming plant-based omega-3s. When individuals with low omega-3 levels in their diet consumed ALA, they experienced benefits in cardiovascular health. Individuals with high omega-3 levels from other sources also benefitted from consuming more ALA. This suggests that ALA could be working together with other omega-3s. Other studies have associated omega-3s with a reduction in heart disease risk. This conclusion has however been based largely on evidence from omega-3s derived from marine sources, with little evidence for ALA benefits. Data for this review were analyzed from other studies that assessed the impact of ALA on heart disease and risk factors for heart disease such as inflammation and blood pressure. The studies analyzed included observational studies as well as randomized controlled trials. While several of the observational studies depended on the individuals self-reporting how often specific foods were consumed to establish the amount of ALA consumed, other studies made use of a more accurate measure – biomarkers, a method of measuring ALA levels in the blood. With the introduction of personalized medicine and precision nutrition, there is more awareness now of the necessity of identifying and treating those who could get the most benefit from an increase in consumption of foods rich in ALA. After the studies were analyzed, it was discovered that ALA had a beneficial impact on the reduction of atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins such as triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol, in addition to inflammation and blood pressure. This could help explain ALA’s benefits to heart health. Evidence was found that supports the current dietary recommendations that ALA should be providing approximately 0.6to 1% of total daily energy, which is approximately 1.6 gm daily for men and 1.1 gm daily for women, and can be included in the diet with foods that include flaxseeds, walnuts, and cooking oils which include soybean and canola oils. These guidelines are equivalent to approximately 1/2 oz of walnuts or just less than 1 tsp of flaxseed oil. Photo by Vie Studio from Pexels Source link

Drinking beet juice every day promotes brain health in older individuals A study has found that blood flow to the brain increases after consuming beetroot juice. There are some studies demonstrating that consuming beet juice can reduce blood pressure, but the researchers wished to show that blood flow to the brain is also increased with beetroot juice consumption. Blood flow to the brain is known as perfusion. There are brain areas that become inadequately perfused as an individual gets older, and that’s considered to be linked to poor cognition and dementia. High nitrate concentrations are found in beetroot, and nitrate is turned into nitrite by the mouth’s good bacteria when high-nitrate foods are consumed. Studies have determined that nitrites can help in opening up the body’s blood vessels, which increases blood flow and oxygen, especially in areas that are oxygen deficient. For the study, researchers examined how dietary nitrates impacted 14 individuals 70 years and older over 4 days. On the 1st day, a health status report was completed in the laboratory following a 10-hour fast and either a low-nitrate or high-nitrate breakfast was consumed. The high-nitrate breakfast incorporated 16 oz. of beetroot juice. The participants then went home taking lunch, dinner, and snacks relevant to their allocated diets. The following day, after an additional 10-hour fast, the participants returned to the laboratory, where they consumed their allocated breakfasts. An MRI was taken an hour after breakfast recording the blood flow in the brain of each participant. Blood tests taken before and after breakfast validated the body’s nitrite levels. For the 3rd and 4th days, the diets were swapped and the procedure was repeated for each participant. The MRIs revealed increased blood flow to the frontal lobes’ white matter after consuming a high-nitrate diet. These are the parts of the brain typically linked to degeneration that result in dementia as well as other cognitive disorders. Beetroot juice promotes healthier blood vessels and brain function According to another study of individuals between the ages of 70 and 80, beetroot juice consumption produces a mouth-bacteria mix linked to healthier blood vessels as well as improved brain function. Beetroot is full of inorganic nitrate that’s turned into nitric oxide by oral bacteria. Nitric oxide helps in regulating blood vessels and neurotransmission. Older individuals tend to have a reduced production of nitric oxide, which is linked to poorer cognitive and vascular health. In the study, 26 healthy older individuals participated in two 10-day supplementation periods: 1 supplementing with beetroot juice and another supplementing with placebo juice free of nitrates, which was consumed twice daily. The results revealed higher bacteria levels linked to good cognitive and vascular health and lower bacteria levels associated with inflammation and disease. Systolic blood pressure decreased on average by 5 points (mmHg) after consuming the beetroot juice. The results indicate that adding foods that are rich in nitrate such as beetroot to the diet for just 10 days can change the oral microbiome significantly for the better. Maintaining a healthy oral microbiome could help in delaying the negative cognitive and vascular changes linked to aging. Tests were carried out to identify oral bacteria clusters that often thrive together in the same conditions. Nitrate supplementation reduced a cluster known as Prevotella-Veillonella that’s been linked to inflammation, as well as reduced Clostridium difficile, a cluster that can infect the bowel and result in diarrhea. Drinking beetroot juice before exercising improves performance According to another study, consuming a beetroot juice supplement before exercising helps the brains of older individuals perform more effectively, reflecting the functions of a younger brain. Other research has found that exercise has a positive impact on the brain. However, in this study of older individuals with high blood pressure, it was shown that in comparison to exercise on its own, including a beetroot juice supplement with exercise contributed to brain connectivity that is similar to what is seen in younger individuals. This study examined the combined effects of beetroot juice and exercise on the brain’s motor cortex function and the secondary connections between the insula and motor cortex, which support mobility. The study consisted of 26 individuals 55 years of age and older who didn’t exercise, had hypertension, and took a maximum of 2 medications for hypertension. They consumed a beetroot juice supplement 1 hour prior to a 50-minute moderately intense treadmill walk 3 times each week for 6 weeks. Half the individuals were given a supplement that contained 560 mg of nitrate, and the other participants were given a placebo supplement with hardly any nitrate. Beetroot contains a high dietary nitrate level, which is changed into nitrite and then into nitric oxide when consumed. Blood flow is increased with nitric oxide and other research has found it improves exercise performance in individuals of various ages. Nitric oxide is a potent molecule that travels to the parts of the body that need oxygen, and the brain needs a lot of oxygen. The somatomotor cortex of the brain, which processes muscle information, sorts the signals coming in from the body when exercising. The somatomotor cortex is strengthened with exercise. The exercise and beetroot juice combination provides a lot more oxygen to the brain which creates the perfect environment for the somatomotor cortex to be strengthened. An analysis after exercising established that, even though both groups had similar nitrite and nitrate levels in the blood prior to consuming the juice, the group consuming the beetroot juice had much higher nitrite and nitrate levels compared to the placebo group after exercising. Source link

The results of a large study suggest that poor quality sleep, such as excessive or not enough sleep, snoring, and daytime sleepiness, could be associated with a greater risk of irreversible sight loss known as glaucoma. The results emphasize the necessity for sleep therapy for individuals with a high risk of the condition in addition to eye checks for individuals with long-term sleep issues to monitor for early signs of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness which will probably impact approximately 112 million individuals globally by 2040. Characterized by the progressive loss of eye cells that are light sensitive and optic nerve damage, the causes and factors that contribute to glaucoma are still not well understood. However, if left untreated, the condition can progress to blindness which is irreversible. While screening at the population level might not be cost-effective, focused screening of groups with a high risk could be. And other studies suggest that sleep disorders could be a significant risk factor. To look into these issues more in-depth, the researchers conducted a study to determine glaucoma risk in individuals with various sleep behaviors: insomnia; excessive or not enough sleep; owl (night) or lark (morning) chronotypes; snoring; and daytime sleepiness. They made use of data from 409,053 individuals who participated in the UK Biobank, who were between the ages of 40 and 69 from 2006 to 2010 when they enrolled, and who had provided sleep behavior details. Sleep duration of 7 to less than 9 hours a day was identified as normal and outside this range as not enough or excessive. Chronotype was classified based on whether the individual identified as more of an owl or lark. The severity of insomnia, difficulty falling asleep at night, or waking up frequently, was categorized as sometimes/never or usually, while daytime sleepiness was categorized as never/rarely, occasionally, or frequently. Background information on factors that could potentially influence the results was collected from the questionnaires completed when enrolled: lifestyle, age (an average of 57), race/ethnicity, sex, BMI, educational attainment, and residential area deprivation level. Death registration data and medical records were made use of for tracking the survival and health of all the individuals until a 1st glaucoma diagnosis, emigration, death, or when the monitoring period ended, whichever came 1st. Throughout a monitoring period of just more than 10.5 years on average, 8690 glaucoma cases were diagnosed. Individuals with glaucoma were more likely to be a smoker, older and male, and to have diabetes or hypertension compared to individuals who weren’t identified as having the condition. The other 4 sleep patterns/behaviors were all linked to varying levels of increased glaucoma risk except for the chronotypes. Long or short sleep duration was linked to an 8% increase in risk; insomnia a 12% increase in risk; snoring a 4% increase in risk; and frequent daytime sleepiness a 20% increase in risk. Snorers and individuals with daytime sleepiness had a 10% higher chance of having glaucoma in comparison to individuals who had a healthy sleep pattern, while individuals with a long/short sleep pattern and insomniacs had a 13% higher chance of having it. Similar results were seen when categorized by various kinds of glaucoma. Because this was an observational study, the cause could not be established. The study depended on self-reporting instead of objective measurement and reflected only 1 point in time. Glaucoma might itself impact sleep patterns, instead of vice versa. There are however potentially credible explanations for the sleep disturbance and glaucoma association. The eye’s internal pressure, an important factor in glaucoma development, increases when sleep hormones are out of balance and when individual is lying down, as takes place in insomnia. Anxiety and depression, which frequently go together with insomnia, could also increase the eye’s internal pressure, possibly due to dysregulated cortisol production. It has also been suggested that prolonged or repetitive episodes of low cellular oxygen levels, due to sleep apnea, could result in the optic nerve being damaged. As sleep behaviors are modifiable, these results emphasize the need for sleep treatment for those with a high glaucoma risk and potential ophthalmologic screening in people with long-term sleep issues to help in preventing glaucoma. Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels Source link

An analysis of existing studies has determined that adhering meticulously to a Mediterranean diet reduces cardiovascular disease risk as well as death by almost 25% in women. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for over one-third of all deaths worldwide in women. Although a healthy diet is an important part of prevention, relatively few women have been included in the majority of relevant studies or the results haven’t been reported by sex. And existing recommendations on the best ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease don’t distinguish by sex. The researchers searched databases for studies examining the potential effects of consuming a Mediterranean diet on the cardiovascular health of women and the risk of dying. The Mediterranean diet is abundant in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, and legumes; moderate in shellfish/fish consumption; low to moderate in wine consumption; and low in processed foods, animal fat, dairy products, and processed/red meats. From a preliminary selection of 190 relevant studies, 16 of them were included in the data analysis. They were generally conducted in Europe and the US, and involved over 700,000 women 18 years of age and older whose cardiovascular health was followed for 12.5 years on average. The analysis results established that adhering meticulously to a Mediterranean diet was linked to a 24% reduced cardiovascular disease risk and a 23% reduced risk of any cause of death in women. Coronary heart disease risk was 25% lower in individuals who most meticulously adhered to this diet in comparison to individuals who adhered the least, and although stroke risk was also lower, it wasn’t statistically significant. The exclusion of each one of the studies individually from the analysis didn’t impact the results materially, which further supports a significant inverse connection between incident cardiovascular disease and total mortality with meticulous adherence to the Mediterranean diet in women. Nonetheless, the researchers acknowledge several limitations to the results, which included that all the analyzed studies were observational and relied on self-reported questionnaires on food frequency. Potentially influential factor adjustments also varied over the included studies. The gut microbiome antioxidant and impact of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation are however some of the possible explanations for the associations observed. The different components of the diet, which include omega-3 fatty acids, nitrates, polyphenols, reduced glycemic load, and increased fiber intake, could all separately play a role in an improved cardiovascular risk profile. The mechanisms that explain the sex-specific impact of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular disease and dying however continue to be unclear. Female-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, premature menopause, and or risk factors predominantly female like systemic lupus, can all increase the risk of cardiovascular disease independently. It’s possible that preventative measures like a Mediterranean diet targeting inflammation and risk factors for cardiovascular disease impose different types of effects in women in comparison to men. Source link

According to a study, men as well as women who adhere to a vegetarian diet have a 50% higher hip fracture risk in comparison to regular meat consumers. It’s been established that vegetarian women have an increased hip fracture risk, but it’s not clear why, and research examining the effects that a vegetarian diet has on men is inconclusive and small scale. For this study, data were analyzed on 413,914 men and women and the results indicate that vegetarian men also have an increased hip fracture risk compared to men who regularly consume meat. Some of the factors that could be placing vegetarians at a higher risk of hip fractures were also identified. The participants were part of the UK Biobank study that had provided diet information and were grouped as regular meat eaters consuming meat 5 times or more each week, or occasional meat eaters eating meat less than 5 times a week, or a pescatarian consuming fish but not meat; or a vegetarian eating dairy produce but not meat or fish. The data on was linked to hospital records and hip fracture cases were documented in the monitoring period. The study found: There were 3503 hip fracture cases from 413,914 individuals, an average rate of less than 1%. Even though the overall risk of experiencing a hip fracture was not high, the relative risk seen between regular meat eaters and vegetarians was significant. Vegetarians had a 50% higher risk compared to regular meat-eaters, irrespective of sex. No difference was seen in risk between regular and occasional meat-eaters. A moderately higher risk of 8% was seen in pescatarians compared to regular meat-eaters, but this was not a significant difference. It was predicted that an average of 6.5 occasional meat eaters would suffer from a hip fracture, an average of 6.5 regular meat eaters would suffer from a hip fracture, an average of 7 pescatarians would suffer from a hip fracture, and an average of 9.5 cases in vegetarians would suffer from a hip fracture. Hip fractures are an increasing problem in an aging society, and can lead to incapacitating health conditions and a poor quality of life. This study reveals that while vegetarians have a 50% higher hip fracture risk compared to meat-eaters, this only translates to 3 more hip fractures/1000 individuals over 10 years. A vegetarian diet’s health benefits, such as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, might still compensate for any increases in the risk of hip fractures. The analysis indicates that low BMI might be a significant factor in the greater risk of hip fractures. Vegetarians were also about 17% more unlikely to satisfy the recommendations for protein intake in comparison to meat-eaters. The important takeaways from the study are that vegetarians must make sure they consume a balanced diet with an adequate intake of protein and keep a healthy BMI. Source link

Researchers have found that smoking can result in bipolar disorder and depression and that the hospitalization risk from a mental illness increases by 250%. The researchers used data from the UK Biobank, a large health information database, which includes genetic data on over 500,000 individuals. The genetic data was matched with lots of other health information provided by the study participants. Individuals generally start smoking before 20 years old but aren’t diagnosed with a mental disorder until they’re an average of between 30 and 60 years old. Individuals started smoking at 17 years old on average, while they were generally not hospitalized with a mental disorder till after 30 years old. Up to 90% of the individuals who were former smokers or still smoking started before 20 years old. The chances that an individual will start smoking at a later age are thus quite small. The genes help in determining if an individual will be a smoker or not. When looking at the numerous smokers in the database, several recurring genetic variants were found. By taking a look at studies in which twins had the same genes but were raised in separate households, it could be seen that their genes could account for 43% of the risk of being a smoker. In the households where the adopting parents were also smokers, there was an increased risk of the twin starting to smoke. If the parents weren’t smokers, the risk was however lower, but still higher when the ‘real’ parents smoked and passed on specific genes. Several genetic variants can be referred to as ‘smoking-related genes’. The individuals carrying the smoking-related genes who didn’t smoke had a lower risk of mental disorders in comparison to individuals carrying the genes who smoked. This was a bit vague before because the genetic variants appear to be associated with mental illness risk as well, but this study demonstrated that it’s likely that the risk of beginning to smoke leads to an increase in the risk of mental disorders as a result of ‘smoking-related genes’. Statistically, smoking appears to lead to mental disorders which include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. The researchers however cannot explain why, they just have some theories. The biological mechanism of the smoking and mental disorder association still needs to be explored. One theory is that absorption of the brain’s neurotransmitter serotonin is inhibited by nicotine, and it’s known that insufficient serotonin is produced by individuals with depression. The brain’s serotonin production is activated by nicotine when an individual smokes a single cigarette, which gives a relaxed feeling after smoking. However, nicotine will have the opposite effect if a person continues smoking. It will instead inhibit the serotonin, which can make a person unstable, upset, and anxious. Another theory is that smoking leads to inflammation in the brain, which can eventually damage areas of the brain and result in different mental disorders. Photo by Aman Upadhyay on Unsplash Source link

A study has indicated that increased consumption of various emulsifiers that are part of the ‘E numbers’ class of food additives, commonly made use of in processed foods to enhance texture and prolong shelf-life, is linked to greater cardiovascular disease risk. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076058 These results have significant implications for public health considering that these food additives are made use of everywhere in thousands of commonly eaten processed food products. Emulsifiers are added to packaged and processed foods which include ready meals, margarine, bread, chocolate, desserts, ice cream, cakes, and pastries to improve their shelf life, texture, taste, and appearance. They include pectins, gums, phosphates, red seaweed-derived carrageenans used for thickening foods, lecithins, modified starches, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, and celluloses. Just like with all food additives, emulsifier safety is frequently evaluated according to the available evidence, but several recent studies suggest that gut bacteria is disrupted by emulsifiers and inflammation is increased, resulting in potentially higher susceptibility to cardiovascular issues. The researchers evaluated the connections between emulsifier exposure and cardiovascular disease risks, such as cerebrovascular disease and coronary heart disease, conditions that affect blood vessels and blood flow in the brain and heart. Their results are based on 95,442 individuals aged 43 years on average,79% were women, without any heart disease history who were participating in the NutriNet-Santé study. The individuals completed a minimum of 3 (and as many as 21) 24-hour dietary records online throughout the first 2 years of monitoring. The consumption of each beverage and food item was then matched against 3 databases at the brand level to determine if any food additive was present and how much. Lab tests were also carried out to provide quantitative data. Individuals were also requested to document any significant cardiovascular disease event, which included stroke or heart attack, which was confirmed by an expert panel after medical records were reviewed. Deaths associated with cardiovascular disease were also documented making use of the national death register, and various well-known heart disease risk factors such as sex, age, BMI, physical activity levels, smoking status, family history, educational level, and quality of diet (e.g. alcohol intake, salt, sugar, energy) were factored in. After a monitoring period of 7 years on average, increased consumption of carboxymethylcellulose (E466), cellulose (E460), and total celluloses (E460 to E468) were positively linked to increased cardiovascular disease risks, especially coronary heart disease. Increased consumption of diglycerides and monoglycerides of fatty acids (E472 and E471) were linked to increased risks of all outcomes examined. Lactic ester of diglycerides and monoglycerides of fatty acids (E472b) was linked to increased cerebrovascular diseases and cardiovascular disease risks, and citric acid ester of diglycerides and monoglycerides of fatty acids (E472c) was linked to increased coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease risks. Increased consumption of trisodium phosphate (E339) was linked to a higher coronary heart disease risk as well. There wasn’t any evidence of a link between the other emulsifiers examined and any cardiovascular conditions. This is just one observational study, so cause can’t be established, and some study limitations were acknowledged by the researchers such as higher educational background, the high ratio of women, and generally more health-conscious behaviors among the individuals participating in the study in comparison to the general population, that might limit the reliability of the results. Nonetheless, it was a huge study sample and a large variety of potentially influential factors were adjusted for, while detailed brand-specific food additive data was made use of. Also, the results remained unchanged after additional testing. Source link

According to a study, approximately 1 in 4 women could have atrial fibrillation following menopause, with bad sleep stressful and life events the most significant contributing risk factors. Atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythms, could result in heart failure, stroke, blood clots, or other cardiovascular issues. It affects mainly older individuals, and according to the AHA, by 2030 over 12 million individuals are predicted to have atrial fibrillation. Data were reviewed from over 83,000 questionnaires completed by women between the ages of 50 and 79 from the Women’s Health Initiative, a big U.S. study. Individuals answered a series of questions in the following important categories: insomnia, social support, sense of optimism, and stressful life events. Questions regarding stressful life events dealt with topics that included domestic, sexual, verbal, or physical abuse; financial pressure; divorce; illness; and loss of a loved one. Questions regarding sleeping habits dealt with overall sleep quality, waking up numerous times throughout the night, and difficulty falling asleep. Questions regarding social supports and outlook on life dealt with having daily chores help; a sense of optimism which included the belief that good things will happen; having friends to talk to about and during stressful or difficult situations. The study found throughout about 10 years of follow-up that: Approximately 23,954 women had atrial fibrillation.A 2-cluster system (the strain cluster and the stress cluster).There’s a 4% greater chance of having atrial fibrillation for each extra insomnia scale point. Likewise, there’s a 2% greater chance of having atrial fibrillation for each extra stressful life event scale point. The brain and heart association has long been identified in many disorders. Atrial fibrillation is an electrical conduction system disorder and is susceptible to hormonal changes originating from bad sleep and stress. These common pathways probably support the connection between insomnia and stress with atrial fibrillation. Stressful life events, bad sleep and feelings, which include feeling overwhelmed by circumstances, anxiety, or depression, are often interconnected. It’s hard to know if these factors accumulate little by little over time to increase atrial fibrillation risk as women get older. Chronic stress hasn’t been consistently linked to atrial fibrillation, and a limitation of the study was that it relied on self-reported questionnaires used at the beginning of the study. Although stressful life events can be traumatic and significant, they might however not be long-lasting. Additional studies are required to confirm these connections and assess if customized stress-relieving treatments could modify the risk of atrial fibrillation. Source link