Can heart failure risk depend on where you live?

A new study suggests that the risk of developing heart failure also depends on where we live.
 
The research compared census tract data on socioeconomic deprivation - a clustering of neighborhood-level variables of wealth, education, occupation and housing patterns - and heart failure rates among 27,078 middle-aged whites and African-Americans from the Southeastern states.

Researchers grouped the participants (average age 55, 69 percent African-American, 63 percent women) in three groups ranging from the least-deprived to the most-deprived neighborhoods. During an average follow-up of more than five years, 4,300 participants were diagnosed with heart failure.

Researchers noted that residents living in more socioeconomically deprived areas were at the highest risk for heart failure. 

As neighborhood socioeconomic factors worsened between one group to the next, researchers noted a 12 percent increase in risk of heart failure. After adjusting for other factors, researchers say 4.8 percent of the variance in heart-failure risk was explained by neighborhood factors.

“There is existing evidence suggesting strong, independent associations between personal socioeconomic status - like education, income level and occupation - and risks of heart failure and many other chronic diseases,” said the study's co-senior author.

“But what this study adds is evidence suggesting that characteristics of your place of residence, actually also play a significant role in influencing the risk of heart failure over and above the role of your own individual socioeconomic characteristics,” she said. “It opens the door for possible interventions that center on preventive measures in the community.”

Study participants were from the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) - an ongoing prospective investigation of cancer and other chronic conditions in a largely resource-limited, under-insured group of recruits in 12 Southeastern states.

More than 50 percent of the participants studied lived in the most deprived neighborhoods. Seventy percent of residents studied earned less than $15,000 a year. 

Researchers suggest residents may benefit most from improvements in community resources such as exercise facilities, healthy food outlets and medical facilities.

“Increased and improved access to community-level resources could mitigate cardiovascular disease risk factors like obesity, hypertension and diabetes,” said the first author of the study. 

“Improved community-level resources may ultimately reduce the risk of heart failure in these communities.”

The focus on public policy and prevention may have the greatest potential to mitigate the burden of cardiovascular disease and improve overall health, researchers said.

An accompanying editorial said this research adds an important aspect to our understanding of the role of neighborhood in health by focusing on low-income neighborhoods.

“By conducting this study in a predominantly low socioeconomic status (SES) population, the potential for bias from individual SES is reduced, allowing for a direct interpretation of associations of neighborhood aspects with heart failure incidence,” the authors wrote.

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Financial stress can put your heart at risk

Are you worrying too much about money issues? Beware as you may be putting your heart at risk.

A new study has claimed that people suffering from financial stress are at a 13 times higher risk of having heart attack.

Researchers say people, majorly in the developing countries, are experiencing a hike in the chronic diseases of lifestyle such as myocardial infarction — a medical condition that develops a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.

Therefore, psychosocial aspects of the body, especially stress related to finances, deserve more attention in order to prevent the increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases.

“Our study suggests that psycho-social aspects are important risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. Often patients are counselled about stress after a heart attack but there needs to be more emphasis prior to an event,” said an Associate Professor.

“Few doctors ask about stress, depression or anxiety during a general physical and this should become routine practice, like asking about smoking. Just as we provide advice on how to quit smoking, patients need information on how to fight stress,” Prof. added.

The researchers studied over 106 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction but without any symptoms of cardiac diseases.

All participants completed a questionnaire about depression, anxiety, stress, work stress, and financial stress. The levels of psychological stress based on social conditions were compared and associated with chances of having heart attack.

The paper, noted that self-reported stress levels were common among all participants.

There was also a three-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction if a patient had experienced any level of depression compared to those with no depression.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.   
 
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Why Excess Salt is Bad for You!

In a recent study it was found out that high intake of salt may increase one’s risk of a heart failure.  In fact the risk can double up if your intake of salt is too high. If you love eating fries, nuts, wafers and any processed foods that have salt in it, it increases the risk of heart failure by 2 times.  The researched mentioned that people who consumed salt less than 6.8 grams are at a lesser risk in comparison to consumption of 13.6 grams of salt every single day. The study was conducted by taking the urine sample of more than 4630 people that includes both men and women. Their salt intake was analyzed based on this. That’s how they came to the conclusion that more than 13.6 grams of salt per day can be very dangerous fro your heath. Now this study only spoke about high risk of heart failure. We will give you 5 more reasons that show why excess salt is bad for you.

Bloating

If you have ever faced chronic bloating that may be because you are eating foods with high salt content. Salt sucks out most of the water from your body that causes bloating and water retention.

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart diseases occur when the blood flow to the heat is reduced or blocked. And this happens when there is too much salt in your body.  And if you cut your salt intake, you will have a healthy heart.

Asthma

There have been several studies conducted in the past that suggested that asthma can also occur because of a high salt intake. If you already have asthma it is better that you choose healthier options for food.

Obesity

Now salt is not directly linked to obesity or weight gain. When you have anything that has a high salt content in it, it makes you thirsty and you end u drinking sugary or fizzy drinks. This can lead to weight gain.  Apart from this if you have French fries and wafers too often, then that can cause obesity.

Kidney stone

High salt diet causes a high production of calcium by the kidney which then goes to the urine. The calcium content is stored and with time it leads to kidney stones.  Kidneys usually control the fluids in your body to be balanced. And excess salt will only make it worse.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
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