Healthy Heart Program Updates
In this Issue
There has been a lot in the research news recently on managing high blood pressure. This remains a major health issue and as weight increases so does blood pressure. Overweight could be the cause of high blood pressure in half of all adults who have the condition, researchers reported in early October at the American Heart Association's 61st Annual Fall Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.
A recent research article, Managing Blood Pressure, Weight in Middle Age May Protect Heart Later in Life, found that adults who maintain normal blood pressure and a healthy weight at age 50 have a lower chance of suffering heart failure in old age, according to a study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers studied 3,362 participants in the Framingham Heart Study who had routine examinations between 1969 and 1994. Participants who experienced an increase of just one standard deviation (about 20 mm Hg) in systolic blood pressure at age 50 had a 36 percent higher risk of heart failure over a period extending up to 20 years later. Those whose pulse pressure rose by one standard deviation (about 15 mm Hg) had a 31 percent higher heart failure risk. A body mass index (BMI) increase of 1 kg/m2 was associated with a 5 to 7 percent risk increase.
"This study highlights the importance of maintaining an ideal BMI and blood pressure over the life course of individuals," said Ramachandran S. Vasan, M.D., senior investigator of the Framingham Heart Study and a professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. The prevention of heart failure should begin early in life, and should include screening for elevated blood pressure and BMI," Vasan said.
The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) approach has been addressed in previous issues of this newsletter, and a new CSU Extension fact sheet will be published soon as an additional resource to help people control their high blood pressure. When there are no symptoms, it is often ignored and referred to as the silent killer. Regular blood pressure checks are the only means to assess one's blood pressure. In addition, our fact sheet #9.318, Diet and Hypertension, is another good resource to use. Through our education, we can help everyone lead a healthy life and control those serious risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
This issue also includes information on Vitamin D; several shorter summaries on healthful food choices that do not negate the poor choices we make when eating fast food; more information on being active in the older years, and a wealth of good resources for your use in your education.
As the year winds toward an end, I hope 2007 has been a good one for your health, and great programs are in the planning stages for 2008. Best wishes for a healthy joyous holiday season.
Jennifer Anderson, Ph.D., R.D.
Food and Nutrition Extension Specialist
Shirley Perryman, M.S., R.D.
Extension Specialist
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Updated Thursday, November 01, 2007.
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