The way you choose to live, impacts your risk for disease. A new study published in the September issue of Circulation: Heart Failure has found that not smoking, losing weight, being active, and eating a diet high in vegetables may decrease your risk for heart failure.

Heart failure is the condition where the heart becomes weakened and does not pump blood and oxygen throughout your system effectively.

Researchers followed over 18,000 men and close to 20,000 women in Finland. Participants ranged in age from 25 to 74 years-old and were followed for about 14 years. During this 14 year time period, 445 women and 638 men developed heart failure.

Smoking and Excess Weight Increase Heart Failure Risk

Researchers concluded that men who smoked were at an 86 percent increased risk of heart failure compared to non-smokers. For women the risk increased 109 percent for smokers.

Continue reading ‘Prevent Heart Failure with Lifestyle Changes’ »

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found individuals with a healthy weight and metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of heart failure when compared to overweight individuals that are metabolically healthy.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is the name given to a group of risk factors that increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Here are the five conditions considered risk factors for metabolic syndrome:
Continue reading ‘Metabolic Syndrome Bigger Problem for Heart Disease Than Obesity’ »

The type of heart failure you have may determine the effectiveness of a statin medication.

Types of Heart Failure

Systolic heart failure is when the heart does not contract forcefully enough to pump blood out of the aorta and into circulation.

Diastolic heart failure is when the heart does not relax properly to allow an adequate volume of blood to fill the left ventricle.

Statin Drug Treatment and Potential Complications

Continue reading ‘Heart Failure and Statin Drugs’ »

It’s important to know that heart failure may be linked to nutritional deficiencies. The right supplements can drastically improve your condition.

If you are diagnosed with heart failure here are four supplements to discuss with your doctor:

1. Coenyzme Q10

CoQ10 is a fat-soluble vitamin and powerful antioxidant. CoQ10 is directly involved in the production of energy and removes many free radicals from circulation. Free radicals lead to the oxidation of LDL and the subsequent chain of events that result in arterial plaque formation and narrowed arteries.

Continue reading ‘Heart Failure and Nutritient Deficiency’ »

Your risk of heart failure is increased by a variety of factors, such as coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and hypertension. What you eat has a major impact on these risk factors.

A new study was recently released in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association that supports eating whole grains to reduce heart disease risk.

The 13 year study evaluated the association between seven different food categories (fruits/vegetables, whole grains, eggs, high-fat dairy, nuts, fish, and red meat) and heart failure risk in over 14,000 adults. During the study, 1,140 adults were hospitalized for heart failure. The study found that heart failure risk was significantly reduced in individuals with a high whole grain intake. Heart failure risk was significantly higher in individuals with increased intake of eggs and high-fat dairy.

A much smaller scale survey of 800 American adults shows promising changes. The first diet and exercise survey conducted by the American Dietetic Association was in 1991 and the most recent in 2002. The goal of the survey is to measure current attitudes and behaviors toward diet and health and identify behavior changes over time.

Findings of the 2008 survey show that consumption of whole grains, vegetables, and fruit has increased, while trans fat, beef, pork, and dairy consumption has decreased.

Increased in the past 5 years:

Whole grains – 56%
Vegetables – 50%
Fruits – 48%
Low-fat foods – 48%
Omega 3 fatty acids – 38%

Decreased in the past 5 years:

Trans fat – reduced 56%
Beef – reduced 41%
Port – reduced 33%
Dairy – reduced 23%
Low-sugar foods – reduced 20%

The survey divided participants into three groups based on diet and exercise habits. Here are the divisions:

I’m already doing it – 43% (5% increase from 2002)
I know I should – 38% (8% increase from 2002)
Don’t bother me – 19% (13% decrease from 2002)

So, overall it looks like American’s are wising up. However, what’s important is you. Where do you fall? Are you increasing your whole grain intake, eating more fruits/veggies, and cutting back on trans fats? Are you doing what you need to, in order to reduce heart failure risk?

If you would like one-on-one help, please sign up for The Heart of Health ezine to stay up-to-date on the latest programs from dietitian Lisa Nelson. You’ll also receive the free report “Stop Wasting Money – Take Control of Your Health”.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD

The Physician’s Heart Study followed over 21,000 between the ages of 40 and 84 for over 20 years. They found a significant link between weight, activity, and heart failure I want to share with you.

Both weight and physical activity were independently linked to risk of heart failure.

Weight

Having a high BMI increased heart failure risk in both active and sedentary men. For every additional 7 pounds on a man 5 foot 10 inches tall, risk for heart failure increased 11%.

Physical Activity

Vigorous physical activity reduced heart failure risk in lean, overweight, and obese men. Men that exercised vigorously only 1-3 times a month reduced their heart failure risk 18%. The more frequent and vigorous the exercise the greater the benefit. Very active men, exercising vigorously 5-7 days per week reduced heart failure risk 36%.

The combined risk of obesity and physical activity is substantial. When compared to lean men who were vigorously active 1-3 each month risk of heart failure increased 19% for men that were lean (BMI less than 25), but inactive, 49% in overweight active men, 78% in overweight inactive men, 168% in obese active men, and 293% in obese inactive men.

Key point I want you to take from this post:

This study shows a little activity has substantial benefits. By being vigorously active just 1-3 days each month you can cut your risk 18%.

Get moving!

February is American Heart Month. In recognition of American Heart Month you can access Heart Health Made Easy at a 25% savings. Learn more about this take action guide to lower cholesterol and blood pressure at http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Be Heart Healthy and Lose Weight