| A study that followed over 21,000 male doctors | | | | Two thirds of Americans are members of this |
| for two decades, measuring a variety of things | | | | very same group, carrying those extra 10, 15 or |
| including the influence of carrying a few extra | | | | even 25 pounds and not being very active (only |
| pounds and physical activity on risk of cardiac | | | | about 30% of us are working out on a regular |
| heart failure has an important message - even a | | | | basis). |
| few extra pounds can be risky, especially if you're | | | | When the research began, 5% of the subjects |
| not active. | | | | were considered obese, another 40% overweight. |
| For the non-medical among us, heart failure is a | | | | The doctors reported on their activity levels, |
| progressive inability of the heart muscle to pump | | | | defining exercise as activities that caused them to |
| blood though the body, and is often the prelude | | | | sweat. |
| to major coronary "events". | | | | Upon review of the data, the team found that |
| Sometimes called congestive heart failure (or | | | | there was a 49% increased incidence of heart |
| CHF), there are almost 660,000 new cases | | | | failure in the overweight subjects as compared to |
| diagnosed each year in the U.S. | | | | those with BMIs under 25.0. |
| Once heart failure develops, the statistics get | | | | As you might expect, the obese subjects had an |
| even scarier... | | | | incidence far above that, a whopping 180% higher |
| 80% of men, 75% of women over 65 will die of | | | | than their leaner counterparts. |
| heart failure within eight years of diagnosis. | | | | Of the subjects who engaged in activity as little |
| As the disease progresses, patients aren't able to | | | | as one to three times per month there was an |
| exert themselves because their "ailing" hearts | | | | 18% reduction in heart failure risk. Those who |
| can't supply the body cells with oxygen, leaving | | | | were a bit more active - 5 to 7 times a week - |
| them tired and short of breath. | | | | showed a 36% reduction in risk. |
| The good news is that treatment options are | | | | It seems that the more active you are, the more |
| expanding all the time, and today there are many | | | | of a reduction in heart failure risk you get. |
| things you and your doctor can do to help | | | | "What this study shows is that even overweight |
| manage mild to moderate heart failure so that | | | | men who are not obese have an increase in heart |
| you continue to enjoy life. | | | | failure risk," said Dr. Satish Kenchaiah, the lead |
| What's more, there are steps you can take | | | | author of a report discussing the finding in the |
| today to keep heart failure from being part of | | | | December 23rd issue of the American Heart |
| your life. | | | | Association journal Circulation. Kenchaiah, now at |
| If you have risk factors for heart failure like a | | | | the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute |
| family history, high cholesterol or you smoke, the | | | | conducted the study as an epidemiologist at |
| steps you take now can make all the difference. | | | | Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. |
| Being overweight is also a contributing factor to | | | | The good news is that you didn't have to be |
| CHF, especially if your body mass index (BMI) is | | | | incredibly active to see a reduction in your cardiac |
| over 30.0. | | | | heart failure risk. Even modest changes in how |
| This latest study looked at men who fell into the | | | | active you are (or the reduction in salt and fat in |
| borderline overweight category - BMIs of 25.0 to | | | | your diet) can make a difference. |
| 29.9. | | | | |