Increasing evidence shows short and long-term exposure to air pollution directly elevates the risk of heart disease, stroke, or any other cardiovascular disease. So much so that the American Heart Association (AHA) now categorizes fine particle matter as a heart disease risk factor.

Fine particle matter is created by being suspended in the air as the result of various human activities like burning fossil fuels. These particles have been shown to have adverse effects on people.

An AHA expert panel reviewed epidemiological, molecular, and toxicological studies published during the past six years. The study found several links between air pollution and cardiovascular disease, such as:

• A few hours of week of exposure to fine particle matter can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attack or stroke. Vulnerable populations (people who already have high cardiovascular disease risk like the elderly) are particularly at risk.
• Long-term exposure to air pollution can further increase the risk and shorten lifespan by several months to a few years.
• There is a strong risk between air pollution exposure to ischemic heart disease
• There is a ‘modest’ link between air pollution and ischemic heart failure and ischemic stroke
• There is a ‘modest’ connection between air pollution and peripheral vascular disease, irregular heartbeats, and cardiac arrest.

Many organizations are taking steps to educate the world about the dangers of air pollution. The American Heart Association and the Environmental Protection Agency are working together to bring this issue to Capitol Hill. This is a fine demonstration on how dangerous air pollution really is.

Stroke is third leading cause of death in America. About 795,000 Americans suffer from a stroke every year and about 77% of them are first attacks. However, six out of every ten Americans do not even know which hospitals have specialized stroke care.

A survey reveals public awareness is not only low, but also varies vastly depending on location.

• 41 percent in the Northeast are more likely to know if hospitals in their areas specialize in stroke care.
• 36 percent in the Midwest are more likely to know if hospitals in their areas specialize in stroke care.
• 30 percent in the South are more likely to know if hospitals in their areas specialize in stroke care.
• 26 percent in the West are more likely to know if hospitals in their areas specialize in stroke care.

Regardless of these statistics, the number of stroke-certified hospitals almost doubled since 2006.The Joint Commission has been pushing more hospitals to become certified in stroke treatment. Currently, there are more than 640 stroke centers in 49 states including the District of Columbia, not to mention other different stroke treatment certification through other agencies.

Then the American Heart Association has been offering their Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program, a hospital-basted quality improvement program. Yet, all of this effort will be in vain if no one even knows these services are available.

Often times, people choose to ignore symptoms. The odd swelling in the leg or a rash that just won’t go away, people forget about them. However, there are some serious medical symptoms you should not ignore.

• Paralysis of the arms or legs, tingling, numbness, confusion, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, trouble finding words, or weakness, especially on one side of the face or body.
  • This could be signs of a stroke.
  • Arteries that bring oxygen to the brain become blocked or even ruptured which leads to the death of brain tissue.
  • Symptoms vary depending on which vessel is blocked or ruptured. If a large vessel is compromised, then an entire side of the body may suffer symptoms. Though if a small vessel is blocked then a smaller region of the body may be affected, like an arm or a leg.

• Chest pain or discomfort; pain in the arm, jaw, or neck; breaking out in a cold sweat; extreme weakness; nausea; vomiting; feeling faint; or being short of breath.
  • A heart attack may be imminent.
  • Chewing a full-strength aspirin during an attack may prevent heart damage

Plenty of other symptoms may lead to some serious complications. So never delay medical help. As soon as symptoms appear, get immediate medical help.

Sleep apnea has been connected to an increased risk of having a stroke. According to a new research study, men with obstructive sleep apnea are twice as likely to have a stroke and women also have an increased risk. Researchers say the risk of a stroke rose with severity of sleep apnea. Men with moderate to severe sleep apnea are three times more likely to have a stroke than men with mild or no sleep apnea. Women only had an increased risk of stroke just in severe cases of sleep apnea.

A major study was conducted with 5,422 people 40 years old and over with no history of smoking. Participants were diagnosed with sleep apnea via standard at-home sleep test. The participants were followed for 9 years. During that time, 85 out of 2,642 men and 108 out of 2960 women suffered from strokes.

The increase of stroke even exists without other factors like weight, high blood pressure, race, diabetes, and smoking. Men naturally have a greater risk because they develop sleep apnea at younger ages and so go untreated for a longer amount of time.

Sleep apnea is also linked to other health problems like heart disease and diabetes. Many experts say sleep apnea is under-recognized by physicians and that is why so many troubles arise. Hopefully, this new research will lead to larger awareness of the dangers of sleep apnea.

Click here for more information about sleep apnea.

The prescription drug Plavix, the second best-selling drug in the world, helps prevent previous blood clot related heart attack and stroke victims of another deadly incident. Plavix helps keep platelets in the blood stream from sticking together and forming clots, which is a direct cause of heart attack and stroke.

Recent news has shown that normal doses of Plavix have a potentially deadly lack of effect in 2% to 14% of patients. These patients are known as “poor metabolizers” who carry a variant CYP2C19 gene affecting the enzyme that converts Plavix into its active form.

The first warning about the effect on poor metabolizers appeared on Plavix labels in May 2009. But with recent findings from a drug maker-funded study and other research, the FDA has now strengthened the warning.

A person can identify if they are a poor metabolizer with a genetic test. These tests cost about $500, but the cost isn’t the only issue. The time to get the test results varies. It may be a few hours to a day or two, or other labs can take up to a few weeks; and for many patients at risk of a second heart attack or stroke, time is of the essence.

Click here for more heart attack information.

Saturated fats found mainly in meat and dairy products have garnered a bad reputation in the health industry for quite some time. A new analysis of published studies finds no clear connection between people’s intake of saturated fat and their risk of developing heart disease.

Research has previously shown that saturated fat can raise blood levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, and this is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Because of this relationship, experts have generally advised people to limit their intake of fatty meat, butter, and full-fat dairy.

In the new analysis, which combined the results of 21 previous studies, researchers found no clear evidence that higher saturated fat intakes led to higher risks of hear disease or stroke. These findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may sound like good news for steak and dairy lovers, but a past American Heart Association president cautioned against “over interpreting” the results. These new analyses are not going to change recommendations to keep saturated fat intake in check.

Perhaps the best take-away from the new interpretations is heart health is moving away from focusing on single nutrients and more toward “dietary patterns.” For example, a “Mediterranean” diet described as one rich in whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fats from vegetable oil, may help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Opposed to a so-called “Western” diet high in red and processed meats, saturated fats, and sweets would not be good in promoting heart health.

Click here for more Fat Facts.

Having abnormal cholesterol levels can significantly increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Abnormal levels of cholesterol are high levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins), and/or low levels of “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins). Taking control of your cholesterol can be done through exercising regularly and adhering to a low cholesterol diet.

One of the easiest ways to stick to a low cholesterol diet is to keep unhealthy foods out of your house. Simply grab a garbage bag, open the refrigerator and the pantry, and start tossing! Many of these unhealthy foods contain trans fats or saturated fats, and as of January 2006 the FDA ruled that all nutritional labels must include both saturated and trans fat content. The American Heart Association recommends that people get only 7% of their calories from saturated fat, and 1% from trans fat

Now start stocking up on heart-healthy oils and fats. Look for foods with polyunsaturated fats, found in nuts and seeds (also sunflower, peanut, and walnut oil) and monounsaturated fats, like olive, and canola oils, which are known to reduce the “bad” LDLs and increase “good” HDLs.

To chat with a doctor about cholesterol, sign up for the live chat at NorthShore HealthSystem on March 4, 2010 at 1PM.

If you are concerned about your cholesterol, check out this health check test at WebMD.com

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