Sleep Apnea May Be Associated with Diabetes

Sleep apnea is a very common health problem where people have sleep interrupted with periods of snoring and erratic breathing. We have known for quite some time that sleep apnea is associated with high blood pressure. Now, a new study from Dublin, Ireland, has made the association between sleep apnea and diabetes. The study looked at 8,000 people and found an association. One of the most important points is if you’re someone who has sleep apnea, or suspects that you might, it is worth getting a complete physical and clearly be evaluated for diabetes.

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Worrying Too Much

Many people spend far too much of their time worrying.  We worry about our families, our money, our futures.  We even worry about how much we worry.  The health effects of all this worry can be devastating.  The stress of worry can increase our blood pressure, the risk of heart disease, even cancer.  According to the Trust for America's Health, we could be hurting our health by worrying about our health.  Now here are their statistics, statistics that are being looked at looked at very seriously by the American Medical Association.  Thirty-seven percent of people worry about cancer as their top health concern, 14% heart disease, 13% obesity, and 11% chemical terrorism.  Worry is appropriate in small doses.  It can help us anticipate problems down the line.  But let's face it, you don't want to overdo it. 

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Too Little Salt in the Diet?

It is one of those studies that raises all sorts of dietary issues.  A recent report suggests that people who have too little salt in their diet may be worse off than those who have too much salt.  As you are probably aware of, a high salt diet has been linked to increases in blood pressure.  So the question has been asked, "Who is correct?"  The best advice is to stay within recommended daily allowances.  What this does is it assures that it is being monitored by people who have looked at things in large numbers of people over long periods of time.  

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Music Can Affect Breathing and Blood Flow Rates

A small study in the journal Circulation, of 24 young and healthy adults, 24- to 26-years-old, found that listening to music can change breathing and blood flow rates.  It suggests that music therapy might benefit heart patients.  The participants in the study listened to selections of classical music and opera while doctors monitored their blood pressure, heart rates, and breathing rates.  Results show that music rising in volume narrowed blood vessels, increased blood pressure, heart rate, and the length of each breath.  During silent periods, the heart rate dropped indicating relaxation.  

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Another Excellent Reason To Lose Weight

There is no doubt that your weight can affect your blood pressure. Study after study has shown that if you’re overweight, your blood pressure can go up. And with that rise in blood pressure comes all sorts of problems. You need to try to control your weight, but to do it gradually. You’re not going to lose all your weight at once. You want to slowly reduce the weight, and as you do, you will slowly make alterations in your diet. And with these alterations, you can have a much more effective lifestyle. You won’t believe how good you feel without that extra weight.

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Long-Distance Walking Results in Successful Weight Loss in Cardiac Rehab Patients

Daily long-distance walking results in twice as much weight loss as standard cardiac rehabilitation exercises that involve walking short distances at a brisk pace.  That's what a new report from the journal Circulation and the University of Vermont College of Medicine finds.  They studied 71 overweight patients in cardiac rehab who were randomly assigned to standard rehab exercises that burned 700 to 800 calories per week or intensive rehab exercises involving long walks that burned 3,000 to 3,500 calories a week.  After five months, the group walking 45 to 60 minutes a day most days a week had greater improvements in 10 risk factors including blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and cardio-respiratory fitness.  They all also lost 18 pounds compared to 8 pounds in the control group.  It really shows the importance of getting out there and walking.

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The ACE Cough

It happens so often, it has a name. It’s called the ACE cough. The ACE cough is actually a problem where people take anti-hypertensives, or blood pressure medications, called the ACE antagonists. These Angiotensin Converting Enzyme antagonists actually have one big side effect. They can cause people to get a staccato cough, in a way where they repeat it over and over again. If you’re on a blood pressure medication and have that cough, you should check it out with your doctor. You may have the ACE cough.

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Chocolate May Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Risk

Chocolate may reduce blood pressure and heart disease risk.  Research has been done on 19,000 people.  They looked at them for 10 years and found that those who reported eating an average of one small square of chocolate a day, that's a quarter of an ounce, had lower blood pressure and a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke.  The researchers concluded that chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, may help prevent heart disease, but only if it replaces other snacks so that one's weight does not increase.  Because this wasn't an interventional study, it's impossible to say for certain if it was chocolate and not something else that they had in common that reduced the risk.  We think the big point here, though, is chocolate doesn't necessarily have to be the curse that some people make it to be.  Chocolate could have protective effects, in some cases.  

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