Work stress and impaired sleep are linked to a threefold higher risk of cardiovascular death in employees with hypertension. That's the finding of research published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
Showing posts with label Cardiovascular Disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cardiovascular Disease. Show all posts
Monday, April 29, 2019
Thursday, July 16, 2015
The Jury is Still Out on Wind Turbine Noise
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Occupational hearing loss claims have been have been associated with exposure to sources of loud noise for decades. One would think that new technology would limit noise exposure but maybe not so for energy production. A new study from Canada reflects that more research is need to determine whether wind turbine can produce adverse medical conditions.Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Questioning Statins for Older Patients
Limiting medication can reduce overall patient care costs. The efficacy of controlling cholesterol in the "very old" population is now being discussed. Today's post was shared from the NYTimes.com.
Should older adults take statins if they have elevated cholesterol but no evidence of heart disease? It’s a surprisingly controversial question, given the number of seniors taking statins. Recently AMDA, a professional group representing physicians working in nursing homes, highlighted the issue in a list of five questionable medical tests and treatments. The list was drawn up as part of the national “Choosing Wisely” campaign, which alerts consumers to inappropriate or overused medical interventions, an effort that caregivers would do well to follow. The standout item on the AMDA list: “Don’t routinely prescribe lipid-lowering medications in individuals with a limited life expectancy.” That means anyone older than 70, according to the medical society. Dr. Hosam Kamel, an Arkansas geriatrician who is vice chair of AMDA’s clinical practice committee, said that there is scarce scientific evidence supporting the use of statins by 70- or 80-year-olds without pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Only a handful of studies have focused on outcomes (heart attacks, strokes, premature death) in this older population. Most of the data on the benefits of statin use come from larger studies that looked at adults of varying ages. The results... |
Friday, October 18, 2013
Shutdown’s science fallout could last for years
| The government may finally be on a path to reopening, but the shutdown’s effects will linger for scientists studying everything from climate change to cancer. Antarctica-bound field researchers stuck in budget limbo over the past three weeks fret that decades of data on penguins and ice sheets will end up with a glaring gap, undercutting their documentation of global warming. Doctors operating federal-funded clinical studies on Alzheimer’s, cocaine addiction and heart disease worry they’ve lost the trust of patients.
Public health officials warn the country is still “flying blind” for the start of the flu season.
“Even if the government opens tomorrow, a significant amount of damage has been done,” said Mary Woolley, president of Research!America, a nonprofit advocating for science-minded agencies. “This isn’t about a few people who can’t go to the labs like they’re on vacation or something. The whole research enterprise depends on operating 24/7.”Thinking more of the big picture, there’s also the little matter of keeping the best and brightest researchers working in, and for, the United States or seeing them flee to the private sector. It’s a realistic expectation after nearly three years of stop-and-go budget battles resulting in sequestration and now the cruel reality of laboratories ordered to keep the lights out. (WATCH: Who won the shutdown? Top 5 quotes) “Would you... |
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Family Makes the Difference
Mom and Dad are late in their years. Mom is 89 and has moderate dementia. Dad just turned 91 and was in excellent physical health despite a history of heart disease and bypass surgeries.
"Was" is the critical verb in the prior sentence. Dad is the decision maker, always has been. A retired dentist who had a successful practice, he is a leader and is used to being in charge. Also a faithful husband and family man, Dad made a personal commitment to himself years ago to take care of his wife to the end. He will also admit that he is the world's worst planner ... except for when it came to vacations. He didn't count on disability. Having elderly parents, seeing their travails on a weekly basis (my commitment to them was to visit at least once a week), and watching them sunset physically and mentally, provides some awareness of the disabled state. Dementia is a terrible disease. It progresses gradually, taking elements of memory away from daily functioning in a cruel manner. At Mom's stage, she forgets sometimes just how to walk, so she falls and then can't get back up. Dad thought he could deal with this. He thought wrong. Dad has sciatica and pain radiates down his leg. This started a few months ago. A shot of cortisone every once in a while alleviates the symptoms and he goes about his days with good energy and strength. But when he has to wait because of dosing issues, or just access issues, he can't move much without a walker. This past week was a seminal week in my father's... |
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Exercise 'can be as good as pills'
The work in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) looked at hundreds of trials involving nearly 340,000 patients to assess the merits of exercise and drugs in preventing death.
Physical activity rivalled some heart drugs and outperformed stroke medicine.
The findings suggest exercise should be added to prescriptions, say the researchers.
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| Man preparing to jog |
Experts stressed that patients should not ditch their drugs for exercise - rather, they should use both in tandem.
Too few adults currently get enough exercise. Only a third of people in England do the recommended 2.5 hours or more of moderate-intensity activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.
In contrast, prescription drug rates continue to rise.
There were an average of 17.7 prescriptions for every person in England in 2010, compared with 11.2 in 2000.
For the study, scientists based at the London School of Economics, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute at Harvard Medical School and Stanford University School of Medicine trawled medical literature to find any research that compared exercise with pills as a therapy.
They identified 305 trials to include in their analysis. These trials looked at managing conditions such as existing heart disease, stroke rehabilitation, heart failure and pre-diabetes.
When they studied the data as a whole, they found exercise and drugs were comparable in terms of death rates.
But there were...
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Preventing Occupational Heart Fatalities
The US CDC has published a report on co-morbidity factors that precipitate fatal heart disease. This is yet another case why "wellness examinations" and prevention should be integrated into workers' compensation insurance coverage, especially in light of an aging workforce.
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| Rates* of avoidable death from heart disease, stroke, and hypertensive disease,† by county — United States, 2008–2010 |
Deaths attributed to lack of preventive health care or timely and effective medical care can be considered avoidable. In this report, avoidable causes of death are either preventable, as in preventing cardiovascular events by addressing risk factors, or treatable, as in treating conditions once they have occurred. Although various definitions for avoidable deaths exist, studies have consistently demonstrated high rates in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of U.S. deaths (approximately 800,000 per year) and many of them (e.g., heart disease, stroke, and hypertensive deaths among persons aged <75 years) are potentially avoidable.
National Vital Statistics System mortality data for the period 2001–2010 were analyzed. Avoidable deaths were defined as those resulting from an underlying cause of heart disease (ischemic or chronic rheumatic), stroke, or hypertensive disease in decedents aged <75 years. Rates and trends by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and place were calculated.
In 2010, an estimated 200,070 avoidable deaths from heart disease, stroke, and hypertensive disease occurred in the United States, 56% of which occurred among persons aged <65 years. The overall age-standardized death rate was 60.7 per 100,000. Rates were highest in the 65–74 years age group, among males, among non-Hispanic blacks, and in the South. During 2001–2010, the overall rate declined 29%, and rates of decline varied by age.
Nearly one fourth of all cardiovascular disease deaths are avoidable. These deaths disproportionately occurred among non-Hispanic blacks and residents of the South. Persons aged <65 years had lower rates than those aged 65–74 years but still accounted for a considerable share of avoidable deaths and demonstrated less improvement.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Occupational Secondhand Smoke Exposures Continue in Some States
A recent report by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that despite potential disease smoking is not prohibited yet in some workplaces.
"Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure causes lung cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in nonsmoking adults and children, resulting in an estimated 46,000 heart disease deaths and 3,400 lung cancer deaths among U.S. nonsmoking adults each year. Smoke-free laws that prohibit smoking in all indoor areas of a venue fully protect nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to SHS indoors. A Healthy People 2010 objective called for enacting laws eliminating smoking in public places and worksites in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC); because this objective was not met by 2010, it was retained for Healthy People 2020 (renumbered as TU-13). To assess progress toward meeting this objective, CDC reviewed state laws restricting smoking in effect as of December 31, 2010. This report summarizes the changes in state smoking restrictions for private-sector worksites, restaurants, and bars that occurred from December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2010. The number of states (including DC) with laws that prohibit smoking in indoor areas of worksites, restaurants, and bars increased from zero in 2000 to 26 in 2010. However, regional disparities remain in policy adoption, with no southern state having adopted a smoke-free law that prohibits smoking in all three venues. The Healthy People 2020 target on this topic is achievable if current activity in smoke-free policy adoption is sustained nationally and intensified in certain regions, particularly the South.
"As of December 31, 2010, in addition to the 26 states with comprehensive smoke-free laws, 10 states had enacted laws that prohibit smoking in one or two, but not all three, of the venues included in this study. Additionally, eight states had passed less restrictive laws (e.g., laws allowing smoking in designated areas or areas with separate ventilation). Finally, seven states have no statewide smoking restrictions in place for private worksites, restaurants, or bars. Of note, only three southern states (Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina) have laws that prohibit smoking in any two of the three venues examined in this report, and no southern state has a comprehensive state smoke-free law in effect.
Secondhand smoking is a recognized compensable condition for workers' compensation benefits. Recently a casino worker exposed to secondhand smoke was permitted by a court to obtain benefits for the lung cancer that he suffered.
Secondhand smoking is a recognized compensable condition for workers' compensation benefits. Recently a casino worker exposed to secondhand smoke was permitted by a court to obtain benefits for the lung cancer that he suffered.
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