The blood vessels of obese teenagers look more like those found in middle-aged people, say Canadian researchers.

A study of 63 children, whose average age was 13, found signs of “stiffening” in the aorta – the largest artery in the body.

The British Columbia Children’s Hospital team said it was an early indicator of heart disease. Read the rest of this entry »

A study in 1957 showed that animals lose weight at high altitudes, and weight loss has long been known for people at high altitudes, but the subjects were all extremely fit and active mountaineers and skiers.

Obese and overweight people tend to suffer altitude sickness and resultant nausea, dizziness and heart attacks, when at very high altitudes, so the research team from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich decided to find out what would happen if overweight people spent some time at a moderately high altitude of 8,700 feet. Read the rest of this entry »

Couch potatoes and computer users face higher risk of death from heart disease, strokes and cancer, warn scientists.

Every hour spent watching television each day increases the risk of dying from heart disease by almost a fifth, say scientists.

Couch potatoes were warned that their lifestyle also increased the risk of death from other causes including cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Some risk factors for heart disease can be controlled, and some can’t. According to the American Heart Association, these are the leading factors that put you at risk for coronary artery disease or a heart attack.

Age: More than 83% of people who die from coronary heart disease are 65 or older. Older women are more likely to die of heart attacks within a few weeks of the attack than older men. Read the rest of this entry »

What do you think are the three or so most important supplements someone might want to take daily?

What supplements are the most important depends on your gender and your age. If your diet is lacking, a basic multivitamin is a good idea, which simply assures that you are getting the recommended daily doses of a number of essential vitamins. Beyond this, if you are a woman, I recommend you consider both calcium (600 mg twice a day) and magnesium (200 mg twice a day).  Read the rest of this entry »

Sugary soft drinks and energy drinks are taking it on the chin these days. First, two public-health experts floated the idea of a specific tax on sodas and energy drinks, and now, two other researchers are saying the drinks contribute to obesity and need an extreme makeover.

Walter Willett, who chairs the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, argues that there is a “direct causal link” between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and energy drinks and obesity, which is in turn linked to heart disease, some types of cancer, arthritis, and type 2 diabetes. Read the rest of this entry »

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. While it’s true that the majority of women still believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women, the truth is that more women die of heart disease each year than die of all types of cancer combined. Sadly, the fact is that only 13% of women are even aware that heart disease is number one killer of U.S. women.

Almost 500, 000 different women lose their lives to heart disease annually: Women who are moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, and daughters. The good news is that heart disease is the most preventable cause of death in women. Heart disease prevention is easy, if you follow a few simple tips: Read the rest of this entry »