Battling Heart and Stroke

Once again, I am bringing you a round up of heart-related news for this weekend. Happy reading.

CVD lifestyle watch

Poor teen sleep habits may raise blood pressure, lead to CVD

TV, Internet, technology - you name it, most young people nowadays have it. A recent article in the American Heart Association journal Circulation reports:

Poor sleep quality and shorter sleep periods in teens may increase the odds of elevated blood pressure.

Researchers found poor sleep quality in teens may be more likely than shorter sleep periods to lead to pre-hypertension.

Researchers say technology in bedrooms (i.e., music, phones, computers) may be part of the problem

CVD gender watch

Sex hormones link to heart risk

While female hormones seem to provide protection for cardiovascular health, male hormones seem to increase the risk for cardiovascular disorder (CVD). Men are more likely to die of heart disease than their female counterparts of the same age. And the male sex hormones estradiol, estrone, testosterone and androstenedione seem to be the culprit.

CVD nutrition watch

Grape antioxidant dietary fiber improves lipid profile and hypertension

Spanish researchers report that the natural plant product grape antioxidant dietary fiber (GADF) contains high conetrations of fiber and flavanoids. GADF nutritional supplements were shown to reduce in lipid levels (triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

CVD blood pressure watch

Babies’ rapid weight gain linked to higher blood pressure as adults

How does baby’s weight gain influence its risk for hypertension? This report in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association says that

Babies that are lighter at birth have higher systolic blood pressure as adults.

Babies that gain weight more rapidly in the first five months after birth and from about ages 2 to 5 years have higher systolic blood pressure in young adulthood.

Immediate weight gain after birth is associated with higher adult diastolic blood pressure

CVD chemical watch

Bisphenol A linked to metabolic syndrome in human tissue

The notorious bisphenol A (BPA), the carcinogen hiding in hard plastics is also linked to metabolic syndrome. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati report that BPA suppresses adinopectin, a hormone responsible for many key processes in the body, including insulin sensitivity regulation. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors such such low insulin response, hypertension, and high blood sugar and lipid levels.