Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

New findings in the International Journal of Clinical Practice reveal the symptoms of cardiovascular disease prior to a heart attack go largely undiagnosed. Of the 1,573 heart patients surveyed, over 50% claimed their ailment was not identified until they started showing symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath or an actual heart attack, with 22% saying they were diagnosed while being treated for something else; via Booster Shots.

Listen, heart disease doesn’t just happen. In fact, in Dr. Fuhrman’s book Disease-Proof Your Child, he explains precursors to cardiovascular, like high cholesterol, start in childhood and lead to heart disease in adulthood, but the problem is, young people don’t take heart health seriously.

In related news, a recent report found people with poor cardiovascular fitness have a 56% higher risk of heart attack and eating red meat is linked to a 27% higher risk of heart disease.

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To me, as a single guy, pregnancy means sweaty palms, shortness of breath and an anxiety attack, but to women, it’s apparently a big deal. Who knew! Now, we all know women care about their figures, but should pregnant women lose weight and exercise? Here’s a quick discussion about pregnancy from Dr. Fuhrman’s member center:

Question: I am 45 years old and just found out I am pregnant. I recently gained seven pounds and was gradually losing it before I knew I was pregnant. Should I try to avoid losing the last few pounds and just keep my weight stable?

And are there restrictions on exercise or lifting. I currently do about 15 to 20 minutes strength training and about 20 to 30 minutes riding a bike and I frequently lift heavy boxes and my four year old.

Dr. Fuhrman: Even if you aren’t pregnant, if you don't overeat and only eat when you’re really hungry, your weight will drop to the healthiest weight for you. And if you are pregnant and you eat healthfully, don't overeat and only eat when you are hungry. Your weight will rise to the healthiest weight for the two of you.

In regard to exercise, whatever activity you are presently accustomed to, you can continue, until the sixth month. Then start to decrease gradually over the last few months, being careful not to strain yourself.

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Go outside and run! Because a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows people with high levels of physical fitness, i.e. cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), have lower risk of all-cause mortality and heart disease. Experts analyzed data from more than 100,000 individuals, including 84,323 people with coronary heart disease, and findings revealed people with low CRF had a 70% higher risk of all-cause death and a 56% higher risk of heart disease or cardiovascular event than those with high CRF; HealthDay News explains.

You need to exercise! Exercise keeps you fit, builds strong bones and muscles, and more! It goes double for heart health. In March, a study showed exercising after a heart attack helps improve blood flow by 10%, but Canadians didn’t get the message. They don’t exercise enough.

In related news, a previous report found diabetic men who stay active live longer. Now, if you’re too lazy to run, cycle, swim, whatever. Check out Oscar Pistorius, he does it with no legs!

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Stop yawning! It’s a bad sign. Discussed at the American Thoracic Society's International Conference, a new study suggests body mass index and sleep share a strong relationship. Scientists analyzed sleep, activity levels and energy expenditure of 14 nurses enrolled in a heart-health program, which included stress management and sleep improvement. Data revealed numerous conclusions, but most notably that insufficient sleep causes or worsens stress, leading to stress eating and weight-gain; via EurekAlert!

Sleep is very important. According to Dr. Fuhrman, sleep allows your body to clean up brain waste, which helps keep your nervous and endocrine systems functioning normally. Your immune system too! Not getting enough sleep makes you more likely to get the sniffles.

And just last week, a report conveyed the grim news that lack of sleep in areas with extended seasons of daylight, like Greenland, increases the number of suicides. Eek!

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• Like George Carlin said, “There are people walking around with a kind of a neutral zone around their head.” Call them what you will, daydreamers, space cadets, whatever. But spacing out might be a good thing! A new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals letting your mind wander actually helps activate the problem-solving area of the brain; via LiveScience.

• Okay, you can space out, just don’t pig out! Presented at the European Congress on Obesity, scientists blame overeating for the booming obesity in the United States. Saying food intake in the U.S. has increased, while physical activity declined. Between 1970 and 2000, adults are on average 18.9 pounds heavier, surprisingly lower than their prediction of 23.8 pounds; Reuters reports.

• Our new overstuffed, sluggish attitude has made us less productive at work. Published in the American Journal of Health Promotion experts surveyed 7,338 working adults about their sick days, reduced efficiency and difficulties doing daily activities, finding obese people with type-2 diabetes reported physical impairment during 20 to 34% of their day and missed 11 to 15% of work time; from HealthDay News.

• And eating Cheerios won’t give us a boost. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has slammed General Mills for harebrained proclamations that eating Cheerios can lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease risk. The FDA calls them "unauthorized health claims” and that Cheerios isn’t an approved drug, saying the product is misbranded; via Med Page Today.

• The National Boy Scouts of America is also drawing a hard line on health. If you plan on dressing up in short-shorts and traipsing around the wilderness, you better meet the weight requirement, or you can’t go. The Boy Scouts established weight regulations to ensure the health of their scouts and volunteers. A 6-foot, 2-inch, 370-pound man is not happy about it; CBS News explains.

• Being overweight is a common risk factor for sleep apnea, a condition causing abrupt pauses in respiration during sleep. And now, new search in Journal of Cardiac Failure, involving 218 heart failure patients with sleep apnea, found central sleep apnea was associated with atrial fibrillation, i.e. abnormal heart rhythm; ScienceDaily investigates.

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I guess more Canadians should take up hockey, because a new study in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity reveals 56% of participants, 884 adults, ages 18 to 60, living in cities, suburbs and rural areas are mostly inactive. People with less education and lower income get even less exercise, compared to people with more education and higher family income; ScienceDaily investigates.

Exercise keeps you fit, we all know that, but it also improves mood and mental function and even reduces stress and anxiety. I love exercise! I exercise six days a week. Now, for some great exercise tips check out Dr. Fuhrman’s DVD Osteoporosis Protection for Life.

In related news, a recent study showed diabetics who stay active have less chance of dying. But astronauts in space have to exercise even harder to stay strong.

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Printed in the journal Sports Health, a new study suggests weaker hip muscles could contribute to overuse injuries, such as knee pain, shin splints, tendonitis and sore feet, in runners. Experts estimate 70% of runners sustain an overuse injury each year, with half of those injuries occurring in the knee. If hip abductors, i.e. muscles at the outer hip, are weak or easily fatigued it can cause pain under the kneecap, researchers believe strengthening hip muscles could prevent these types of injuries in runners; via Reuters.

But don’t give on your running just yet! Impact exercise like running has been shown to develop stronger bones and muscles, even better than weightlifters. Now, in Dr. Fuhrman’s DVD Osteoporosis Protection for Life he demonstrates some exercises that help strengthen your muscles and bones.

In August, a report revealed middle-aged runners were 50% less likely to die than people who did not run. Runners also had a lower risk of heart disease and cancer.

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