Woman in Red

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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <hsiresearch

HSI e-Alert - Woman in Red

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 07:00:00 -0500

 

 

 

 

HSI e-Alert - Woman in Red

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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February 01, 2006

 

 

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

Later this week, many women throughout the U.S. will choose something

red to wear as they dash off to take care of their daily chores.

They'll be participating in National Wear Red Day (Friday, 2/3/06), an

annual campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of heart disease

among women.

 

Let's single out one of these women in red. Let's say she's been doing

everything right. For years she's exercised regularly, kept her weight

in check and followed a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh

whole foods and a minimum of processed foods. And yet, in spite of

these healthy ways she may still be at risk of developing type 2

diabetes and heart disease.

 

A new study from the British Medical Journal reveals why.

 

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Under pressure

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Why does stress increase heart disease risk?

 

UK researchers at the University College London (UCL) say they've

found evidence that metabolic syndrome may provide the primary link

between stress and heart disease.

 

Metabolic syndrome (sometimes called metabolic syndrome X, or MSX) is

a combination of symptoms that creates a high risk of type 2 diabetes

and heart disease. The core symptoms include high blood pressure,

excessive abdominal fat, high triglyceride level, high C-reactive

protein level, low HDL cholesterol level and insulin resistance. The

presence of just three or more of these symptoms is enough to diagnose

MSX. And although it's not a symptom, cigarette smoking is also

considered part of the MSX package.

 

UCL researchers designed a study to evaluate a possible association

between stress in the workplace and MSX. Using data collected on more

than 10,000 middle-aged, male and female civil servants in London, the

UCL team compared stress to MSX markers. For each subject, stress was

measured four times over a period of about 14 years using the

iso-strain model; an assessment of occupational stress in which the

demands of a job are compared to worksite social support.

 

The most surprising result: Prolonged work stress was linked to high

MSX risk, independent of other risk factors. Subjects with chronic

work stress were found to be twice as likely to develop MSX compared

to low-stress workers. The UCL team concluded that " psychosocial

stressors from everyday life " are linked to heart disease through MSX.

 

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Stress busters

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Commenting on the UCL study, professor Peter Weissberg, medical

director of the British Heart Foundation, told Reuters Health that the

good news concerning metabolic syndrome is that many of the symptoms

can be addressed with lifestyle changes: The overweight can lose

weight, the sedentary can start exercising, and smokers can stop smoking.

 

Now it seems that reducing stress can be added to that list, although

(like the other factors) it's much easier said than done. Fortunately,

some of the healthy habits that address MSX symptoms can also relieve

stress. Getting regular exercise and following a balanced, nutritious

diet may be very helpful in reducing stress, especially if you're

getting the right amount of sleep.

 

Stress overload may also be lessened with an increased consumption of

certain nutrients, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene.

 

Another stress relief method is called the Freeze Frame program, which

we first told HSI members about several years ago. Created by the

HeartMath Research Center (heartmath.org), Freeze Frame is a five-step

relaxation technique that alleviates stressful emotions. In a study of

32 hypertension patients who followed the Freeze Frame system for

three months, subjects were able to achieve twice the reductions in

blood pressure as normally seen with low-salt diets and exercise therapy.

 

(Just learn to do simple )

 

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....and another thing

 

Once again, it's time to play the " What if it were a Natural

Treatment? " game!

 

Last week the FDA ordered the makers of two eczema medications to add

warning labels to their products. The reason? Elidel Cream and

Protopic Ointment may cause cancer.

 

Now let's say that an herbal formula used to address eczema was found

to create a cancer risk. Would the FDA require a warning label?

 

If you answered: " No WAY! The FDA would ban the herbal formula in a

heartbeat! " then you just won the " What if it were a Natural

Treatment? " game.

 

I don't mean to make light of this. I have eczema myself, so I know

what an annoying problem it can be. But I also know that no matter how

bad my eczema might get, I would never consider using a treatment that

was shown to raise cancer risk, or for that matter, ANY disease that

starts with a C.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

 

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Sources:

 

" Chronic Stress at Work and the Metabolic Syndrome: Prospective Study "

British Medical Journal, Published Online 1/20/06, bmj.bmjjournals.com

" Why Work can Raise Your Odds of Heart Disease " Reuters Health,

1/19/06, msnbc.msn.com

" FDA Requires Cancer Warnings for 2 Eczema Drugs " WBAL TV, 1/19/06,

thewbalchannel.com

 

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