Heart Disease - General

Initially, partially hydrogenated fats (trans fats) were artificially put into foods to substitute of the harmfulness of saturated fats.

We know today, that trans fats are possibly even more harmful than saturated fats. A new study conclusively reports that erythrocytes (or red blood cells) with a higher level of trans fats, was significantly related to the amount of trans fats that a person had eaten.

The American Heart Association for over 50 years has recommended antibiotics be taken prior to a dental visit. This recommendation was for all patients who had heart defects, valvular defects, transplants, prosthetic devices, etc.. The antibiotics prevented endocarditis; a potentially life and death condition of the heart. Therefore, it will come as a surprise to many patients that they no longer need to take antibiotics prior to seeing their dentist.

Smoking cigarettes is never good. Most of us know that fact; however, from time to time it's healthy to review what the Federal Government has to say.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and has negative impacts on people at all stages of life. It harms unborn babies, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer. These are in addition to diseases previously known to be caused by smoking, including bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, and throat cancers, chronic lung diseases, coronary heart and cardiovascular diseases, as well as reproductive effects and sudden infant death syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex complex sleep apnea are defined in detail, and yes, men do snore (one of the possible signs of sleep apnea) more than women.

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.

An association between Body Mass Index (BMI) at age 18 years in young women (who have never smoked) and death has been reported. Women who were a little overweight at 18 were more than half as likely to die young. Obese teens were at greater risk of premature death. Causes of death included cancer, heart disease, stroke and suicide.

According to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, "No one knows what causes Kawasaki disease, but it is thought to start from an infection or from exposure to some toxin. There is no firm evidence that the disease can spread from one person to another."

Underlying health problems that may contribute to the development of arrhythmias are many. They include congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, atherosclerosis, diabetes, thyroid disease, and damaged heart valves.

High fructose corn syrup, according to Dr. Mercola, is the cheapest ingredient in the American food chain (profit factor) after air, water and salt. Small wonder that it's found in so many prepared foods and beverages. Its use parallels the increase in obesity, but is it one of the causes?

According to a recent (July, 2006) study in Denmark, living alone can have dire implications for the heart.

Women over age 60 and men older than 50 who live alone have a two- to three-fold higher risk for unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or sudden cardiac death, according to the researchers.