Poverty sometimes limits not only imagination, but also health: people who are stressed by the economy, work, etc., may be more susceptible to heart disease.
On December 15, 2021, researchers from Fuwai Hospital, Union Medical College, and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden published an article in the JAMa sub-journal: The risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the increase of economic problems, stress and the burden of adverse life events.
Life Times (search for "LT0385" within WeChat to follow) combines new research and interviews with experts to interpret the relationship between stress and heart disease risk, and teach you a few tricks to make the heart stronger.
Experts interviewed
Xu Dingli, chief physician of the Department of Cardiology, Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University
Li Chuanchang, chief physician of the Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University
Zhou Wei, deputy chief physician of the Department of Cardiology, Wuhan Central Hospital
Economic stress increases the risk of heart disease
The new study included 118706 people from 21 countries who had never had cardiovascular disease, including five low-income countries, 12 middle-income countries (including China) and four high-income countries, with participants aged between 35 and 70 years old. Participants were asked questions about perceived stress, including financial stress, life stress, work stress, and other adverse life events.
The analysis found that 8,699 (7.3 percent) had higher levels of stress, 21,797 (18.4 percent) reported moderate stress, 34,958 (29.4 percent) reported lower stress, and 53,252 (44.8 percent) reported no stress.
During the 10-year average follow-up period, a total of 7248 people died. During the follow-up, there were 5934 cardiovascular disease events, 4107 coronary heart disease events and 2880 stroke events.
Studies have found a significant association between stress and an increased risk of death, cardiovascular disease and stroke. After adjusting for confounding factors, it was found that the risk of cardiovascular events in high-stress people increased by 22%, the risk of heart attack increased by 24%, and the risk of stroke increased by 30%.
Previously, Swiss researchers had published in Cardiovascular Research, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology, that poor people are more likely to have heart disease, and lack of sleep is one of the reasons why poor people increase the probability of heart disease.
9 little things that "break" the heart
If you want to have a healthy heart, you should try to learn to relieve the pressure of the economy, work and other aspects as much as possible, and at the same time, you must be careful of a few small details in life that damage the heart.
The temperature is too low
Low temperatures can activate the sympathetic nervous system, which increases blood pressure and cardiac load, which may cause angina attacks, and atherosclerotic plaque may rupture and bleed, triggering myocardial infarction.
Push too hard
Once the unstable plaque in the carotid artery is "stimulated" to fall off, it will cause myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Do not turn back violently, suddenly change position and other actions; avoid sudden power sports, such as playing badminton, basketball.
Short-tempered
People who love to be angry have a higher risk of heart disease and a fatality rate. Irritability is a manifestation of type A behavioral characteristics and is closely related to the occurrence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias and other diseases.
Sad and depressed
Excessive sadness and depression can increase the amount of glucose and free fatty acids in the blood, aggravate oxidative stress, promote atherosclerosis, and the development of coronary heart disease and hypertension.
Excessive fatigue
Overwork can increase the load on the heart, upset the balance, and may induce myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and worsening heart failure.
Lack of sleep
Sleep deprivation lasts for 5 days, and heart function weakens, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Take painkillers often
Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, etc.) for pain relief increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, and the risk of heart disease is higher when taking opioids.
Drink heavily
Within a few hours after drinking alcohol, the blood vessels are in a state of dilation, which can temporarily reduce blood pressure, but the heart rate will increase with it, which can easily lead to an acute heart attack. Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
The oral cavity is unhygienic
Pathogenic bacteria in the mouth can flow to the heart with the blood, causing inflammation of the heart muscle. Poor oral health can also cause blood pressure to fluctuate, increasing the risk of stroke.
7 Habits to Make the Heart Stronger
Sticking to 7 good habits in life can effectively reduce the risk of heart disease. Even if only a few of these habits can be formed, it is good for heart health.
1
Keep exercising
For most people, it is recommended to exercise at least 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes a day, and ensure 150 minutes of exercise per week. Exercise is based on aerobic exercise such as jogging, walking, and cycling. Old people can try to play tai chi.
2
Control weight
Being overweight can increase the burden on the heart and even cause cardiomyopathy, and the earlier obesity occurs, the greater the damage to the heart.
Adult body mass index [BMI = weight (kg) / height (m) square] should be controlled at 18 to 24.9, 25 to 29.9 is overweight; greater than or equal to 30 is obese.
3
Adjust your lifestyle
Quit smoking, quit drinking, eat a low-salt diet, ensure adequate sleep and sleep quality; pay attention to emotional regulation, avoid great joy and sorrow or emotional agitation; combine work and leisure, learn to relax, and don't let yourself be too tired.
4
Eat less processed meat
Processed red meat products such as sausages, bacon, hot dogs, and ham contain more sodium, nitrate, phosphate, etc. If smoked, grilled meat is eaten, it will also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, which are not good for heart health.
5
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and grains
Spinach, leeks, celery and other vegetables are rich in vitamins and fiber, which help reduce the body's absorption of cholesterol. Carrots, tomatoes and other carotene are rich in carotene, which helps to alleviate arteriosclerosis.
Eat more grains, including whole grain flour, oats, brown rice, barley, corn, buckwheat, and millet.
6
Regular medical check-ups
The general population should undergo an electrocardiogram examination every year, and high-risk groups with various cardiovascular diseases and family history of sudden cardiac death should go to the hospital every year for a comprehensive cardiac examination.
7
Control other diseases
A number of studies have confirmed that hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and diabetes are all important risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Early lifestyle improvement is recommended and treatment accordingly. ▲
Editor: Wang Xiaoqing
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