Heart Healthy Blog » PVD

Vitamin D: Healthy for Your Heart

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:55:46 +0000

Several recent studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are tied to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. With statistics showing that three out of four Americans are not getting enough vitamin D in their diet, many people can benefit from taking this issue seriously.

One survey measured vitamin D levels from the same patients for up to 12 years. Compared to everyone in the study, the quarter with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 40% higher risk of dying from heart attacks, strokes, and other heart-related events.

The survey also delivered an additional variable that darker skinned people produce less vitamin D from sunlight than those with lighter skin tones; revealing that African-Americans are more likely than whites to die from heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

In another recent study, conducted in order to examine the racial disparity in cardiovascular death, researchers analyzed data from a national health and nutrition survey that included more than 15,000 people; and found that African-Americans were 38% more likely to die from these heart-related events than non-Hispanic whites due to their lower vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D can be naturally produced by the human body with 10 to 15 minutes of direct sunlight exposure a few times a week; or it can be found in the following foods: butter, cheese, fortified milk and cereal, and margarine. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that adults under 50 years old get 400 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day and that adults over the age of 50 get 800 to 1,000 IU. Darker skinned people may need even more.

For more information on heart healthy benefits of vitamin D, visit http://northshore.org

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Soy’s Heart Healthy Benefits

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:27:01 +0000

Many adults in America suffer from high cholesterol, which is strongly associated with heart disease, and can lead to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Some cholesterol is necessary because it is an important precursor to body’s production of Vitamin D. Fortunately, The American Heart Association says that consuming 25 to 50 grams of soy per day can help lower cholesterol.

Doctors say that consuming soy products such as tofu, soy butter, soy nuts, and soy milk could be beneficial in reducing low-density lipoproteins, or “bad cholesterol”. Here are some additional ways to sneak soy into your everyday diet. Green soybeans called edamame are found in the frozen food section can be heated in the microwave and enjoyed with a dash of salt. Plain or baked tofu can be found in a variety of flavors like spicy or sesame. Soymilk is usually available in plain, vanilla, and chocolate and can be consumed plain, or added it to cereal, oatmeal, shakes, and smoothies.

Enjoy soy carefully, however, if you completely eliminate regular milk products from your diet your body may develop lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest and absorb the sugar in milk, called lactose. Developmental lactose intolerance, the most common form of lactose intolerance, is caused by a decrease in the amount of lactose consumed in the body. Try adding soy into your diet while still consuming regular milk, yogurt, and cheese in order for your body to obtain soy’s benefits, while maintaining its ability to digest lactose.

For more information and some great heart healthy recipes, go to NorthShore.org.

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Fructose Can Affect Blood Pressure

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:47:20 +0000

Research is showing links between people who consume high fructose corn syrup and high blood pressure. According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, Dr. Diana Jalal, of the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center, and colleagues studied 4,528 adults without a history of high blood pressure. They examined their fructose intake and found that those who consumed more than 74 grams of fructose per day — that’s the equivalent of the amount in 2.5 sweetened soft drinks — boosted their risk of high blood pressure by 28 percent to 87 percent, depending on the level of hypertension.

WebMD writes that while previous researchers have linked drinking sugary soft drinks and high blood pressure, this is one of the first studies to look at fructose consumption from the total diet and associate it with higher blood pressure.

For the full report, visit NorthShore University HealthSystem’s news section.

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Peripheral Vascular Disease Questions

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:25:14 +0000

As previously researched, PVD is the most common disease of the arteries and affects millions of Americans. NorthShore University HealthySystem held a PVD online live chat and discussed some of the questions about PVD.

What are the primary symptoms of the disease?

It depends on where there is an arterial blockage. Commonly when it occurs in the legs it can cause symptoms of pain and cramping in the muscles when walking, in the calves thighs and buttocks. It can also cause hip pain which is commonly mistaken for arthritis. PAD can cause erectile dysfunction in men, blockages in the kidney arteries, difficult to control high blood pressure and poor kidney function. Also, blockages of the carotid artery can lead to stroke or ‘mini strokes.’

Is PVD a genetic disease? If so, are there any tests to see if I’m at risk?

That’s a great question, there is definitely a genetic predisposition to arterial disease and the risk factors that cause it. There have been certain genetic abnormalities that have been identified. However, at present, there are no widely available tests to look for genetic risk factors. This is an area of very active research and I expect there will be tests available within the next five years.

What kind of tests are there to diagnose PVD, are they invasive?

There are multiple ways to diagnose PVD. PVD can be easily diagnosed often on the basis of a physical examintion. Also, PAD or PVD can be diagnosed by a non-invasive ultrasound. More recently imaging with CT scans and magnetic resonance angiograms have begun to provide fantastic non-invasive imaging of arteries and veins. Invasive diagnosis is usually the last imaging test to be performed.

For the full transcript of the chat, visit NorthShore’s online chat pages

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Peripheral Vascular Disease Statistics

admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:16:20 +0000

Below is more information on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Also, be sure to sign up for NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Live chat on PVD.

According to the American Heart Association:

-Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)refers to any disease or disorder of the circulatory system outside of the brain and heart.

-PVD is the most common disease of the arteries.

-PVD affects about 8 million Americans and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

-Approximately 8 million men and women age 40 and older have PVD.

-PVD affects 12–20 percent of Americans age 65 and older.25 Despite its prevalence and cardiovascular risk implications, only 25 percent of PVD patients are undergoing treatment

-In the general population, only about 10 percent of persons with PVD have the classic symptoms of intermittent claudication (IC). About 40 percent do not complain of leg pain, while the remaining 50 percent have a variety of leg symptoms different from classic claudication.

-Intermittent claudication is present in less than 1 percent of individuals under age 50 and approximately 5 percent or more in those over age 80.

-The risk factors for PVD are similar to those for coronary heart disease, although diabetes and cigarette smoking are particularly strong risk factors for PVD. Most studies suggest that the prevalence of PVD is similar between men and women.

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Peripheral Vascular Disease

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:21:19 +0000

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD), includes all diseases caused by the obstruction of large arteries in the arms and legs. While PVD is a very serious disease, it is a disease that is not regularly discussed, thus leaving people uninformed about its dangerous nature. Fortunately, NorthShore University HealthSystem has published a page addressing the major issues and the common questions associated with PVD. Their major topics of discussion include: pinpointing symptoms, offering possible treatments and identifying who is at risk.

The Facts:

• PVD affects 10 million people in the United States; 5% of the over 50 population
• Only a quarter of PVD sufferers are receiving treatment
• Only 50% of cases of PVD demonstrate symptoms

Unfortunately, half the cases of PVD go undiagnosed because there are no visible side effects. More than half the people with PVD experience leg pain, numbness or other symptoms; but many people dismiss them as a normal part of aging.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom of PVD is claudication; painful cramping in the hip or leg area; specifically, while walking. Claudication occurs when there is not enough blood flowing to the legs during exercise. The pain is often over looked because it goes away when the muscles get a chance to rest. Other common symptoms include: numbness and tingling or overall weakness in the leg. If these basic symptoms go unnoticed, you may experience a burning pain in your foot or toes while at rest, or develop a sore on your leg or foot that does not heal. As PVD worsens, you my experience color change or hair loss on your legs. In certain extreme cases, untreated PVD can lead to gangrene which can lead to amputation.

Who is at Risk?

• Men over the age of 50
• Smokers
• Diabetics
• People who are overweight
• People with high blood pressure and high cholesterol

PVD is a very serious condition. It often goes unnoticed, but it is imperative that people become aware of PVD and its symptoms in order to avoid potentially fatal circumstance. Stay posted to the NorthShore University HealthSystem page on PVD as they seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to PVD awareness.

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