It’s February once more, and for those of us in the healthcare arena, it’s also “Heart Month.” So, it would be reasonable to consider some issues that are important to this vital organ.
We’ve talked a little in the past about the usefulness of pulmonary function tests (PFT) in evaluating your lung capacity, and in predicting the possibility of the development of emphysema. It’s a simple and inexpensive test that can yield very helpful information. And now, thanks to a study published in the “European Respiratory Journal,” there appears to be good evidence that indicates the PFT can help predict all-cause mortality (mainly cardiovascular death). The authors found a significant correlation between worsening PFT levels and increasing risk of cardiac death. For instance, those with the lowest PFT test results had three times the risk of death compared with those people with normal studies.
So why is this important? And how can you improve your PFT results?
As with any of the well-accepted “risk factors” for the development of heart disease, the more information we have, the better we are in identifying individuals at risk, and helping them reduce their chances of developing cardiac disease. This may be one more significant and helpful tool. But how do you improve your lung functioning? That’s a little trickier. Of course, if you smoke, stop. And if you don’t, don’t start. Exercise here is also important, as is the maintenance of a reasonable weight. It all seems to tie together, doesn’t it? Exercise, weight loss, not smoking, and knowing your numbers. Those would be your blood pressure, lipid levels, BMI, blood sugar level, and now, your PFT.
Now, with regards to keeping your heart healthy, where is that magic bullet? Where is that one pill, maybe two, that would significantly lower your chances of developing heart disease?
As we all know by now, there are multiple factors at play here, and no single and simple answer. Yet, emerging information seems to indicate that one agent might prove to be significant in providing that answer. Sound a little fishy? Well, you’d be right. We’re talking now about omega-3 fatty acids – fish oil. Or more correctly, salt-water fatty-fish oil (from tuna, sardines, salmon, Atlantic cod).
But just what are we talking about here? What kinds of benefits do we see from increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet?
A study published in a recent edition of the “Lancet” reported a 30% reduction in deaths related to coronary artery disease in patients who ate fatty fish twice a week, as compared with those who ate none. That’s significant. They also presented data that showed a reduction in the incidence of sudden cardiac death, especially in those who have had a previous heart attack. These effects may be due to several factors, but researchers have consistently seen the ability of these fatty acids to lower triglyceride levels, which is itself another well-established risk factor. And we know that they reduce inflammation in our coronary arteries, as well as the formation of dangerous plaques. Some of the most dramatic effects have been seen in those with diabetes and/or high blood pressure – and that’s a lot of us.
In addition, earlier studies have shown that the risk of heart failure goes down as the ingestion of fish goes up. And the press has frequently reported on the decreased incidence of heart disease in Japan, where the consumption of fish is very high.
But how much is enough? And just where do you get these omega-3 fatty acids?
We’ve already mentioned salmon, tuna, etc. But not many of us are going to eat fish every day. Thankfully, a non-prescription supplement of omega-3 is readily available, inexpensive, and the 1000mg capsule is about equivalent to one portion of these fish. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend the use of 1000mg of n-3 PUFA (poly-unsaturated fatty acids) – check your label – each day, along with two fish meals each week. That’s something that each of us ought to be able to do. There’s a good chance it will help keep your heart healthy. And you just might become a better swimmer.
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