One or more soft drinks per day heightens your risk of new-onset metabolic syndrome by about 45 percent, regardless if it’s regular or diet soda….Daily consumption of sweetened soda seems to go along with cardiovascular risk factors. So drop the pop, and switch to water or carbonated water.
A huge study published in Circulation (July 2007) found that Americans who drink one or more soft drinks a day - even a sugar-free or diet brand – are at strikingly increased risk for metabolic syndrome. If you have three or more of these five specific health issues: excess abdominal fat, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low levels of the good cholesterol HDL, and high blood pressure, you have the metabolic syndrome, which increases your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, or developing diabetes.
One or more soft drinks per day heightens your risk of new-onset metabolic syndrome by about 45 percent, regardless if it’s regular or diet soda. The study included 9,000 middle-aged men and women followed for over four years.
One or more soft drinks daily was associated with:
e 31 percent greater risk of becoming obese, especially around the belly.
e 25 percent higher risk of having high levels of triglycerides or blood sugar.
e 32 per cent higher risk of having low HDL levels (good cholesterol).
Daily consumption of sweetened soda seems to go along with cardiovascular risk factors. So drop the pop, and switch to water or carbonated water. If you need the caffeine buzz, try tea or coffee (hold the cream and sugar).
Heart Institute Research Reveals Risks for Athletes
You might think that highly trained athletes would be the least likely to be at risk for sudden cardiac death, but research conducted at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute shows that may not be the case. And to some degree, race can influence the likelihood of cardiac abnormalities.
Physicians Strive to Prevent Sudden Death in Athletes
As the father of four active, healthy children, I can only imagine how devastating it would be for one of them to die suddenly from a heart ailment. And yet, a little more than a year ago, my good friend and mentor Bob Conn, went through just such a tragedy when his 22-year-old grandson, Jordan Mann, died suddenly.
10 Tips for Staying Lean Through the Holiday Season
The holiday season may be hazardous to your health.Studies show that Americans typically gain about seven pounds over the holiday season each year, and some of it stays on permanently despite the New Year's resolutions to get it off. Even more worrisome are reports showing increased risks of heart attack, dangerous cardiac rhythms, and even death during the holidays. Emotional stress, depression, over-eating, not enough exercise, and too much salt and alcohol are all likely to be playing a role. Make sure you and your family stay healthy and happy this year by following these 10 rules for safely navigating the holiday hazards.
