Lifestyle changes necessary to combat cardiovascular diseases

Lifestyle changes necessary to combat cardiovascular diseases

This was stated by the experts at the World Heart Day organised at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

Lifestyle changes are necessary to combat the 

cardiovascular diseases.

This was stated by the experts at the World Heart 

Day organised at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

The experts maintained that even more alarming is 

the fact that over a third of all deaths in Pakistan

 are caused by CVD which has emerged as the leading

 non-communicable disease in the country.

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of

 the heart and blood vessels. Heart attacks and 

strokes are usually acute events and are mainly 

caused by a blockage that prevents blood from 

flowing to the heart or brain.

In Pakistan‚ prevalence of hypertension has been found to be nineteen per cent in population

 over fifteen years of age.

Perhaps even more worrisome is that up to 25 per cent of the children in Pakistan are either

 overweight or at risk of being overweight.

This year the global theme `Take the road to a healthy heart' focused on lifestyle changes in

 order to prevent and control cardiovascular disease with a special focus on women and children.

Health kick 'reverses cell ageing'

Health kick 'reverses cell ageing'

They say it has found the first evidence a strict regime of exercise‚ diet and meditation can have an effect.

Researchers revealed that going on a health kick reverses ageing at the cellular level. 

They say it has found the first evidence a strict regime of exercise‚ diet and meditation can have an effect.

The researchers said that visible cellular changes in the group of 10 men switched to a vegetarian diet and stuck to a recommended timetable of exercise and stress-busting meditation and yoga.

Early-life stress can affect long-term health

Early-life stress can affect long-term health

Those who are exposed to pressure and stress whether prompt by 

family or society they are more likely to suffer from depression.

Stress in early stages of life may expose a person 

to bad health in coming years of life.

Those who are exposed to pressure and stress 

whether prompt by family or society they are

 more likely to suffer from depression‚ heart 

disease and diabetes.

Scientists from University of virgina found out

 that the sense of control tends to decline as one

 descends the socioeconomic ladder‚ with 

potentially grave consequences.

Those on the bottom are more than three times 

as likely to die prematurely as those at the top.

Perhaps most devastating‚ the stress of poverty early in life can have consequences that

 last into adulthood.

Even those who later ascend economically may show persistent effects of early-life hardship.

 Scientists find them more prone to illness than those who were never poor.

Educational attainment and school performance have long been linked to socioeconomic

 class‚ and a divergence in skills is evident quite early in life.

These associations raise profound questions about stress' role in hindering life achievement.

Stay positive for a healthy heart

Stay positive for a healthy heart

Having a positive attitude encourages heart disease patients to 

exercise more which in turn increases longevity‚ says a study.

Researchers found the 

most positive patients 

exercised more and had a
42 per cent less chance of

 dying for any reason during

 the follow-up period.
Deaths were less than 

10 per cent.
Among patients with less 

positive attitudes‚ 50 deaths

 occurred 

(16.5 per cent). Positive mood

 and exercise also cut the risk

 of heart-related hospitalisations‚

 reports Science Daily.
Coronary artery disease is 

caused by narrowed arteries 

that don't provide enough blood and oxygen to the heart.
"We should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac
rehabilitation‚ but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis‚ as exercise is 

associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health‚" said Susanne S. Pedersen‚ 

one of the study authors and professor of cardiac psychology‚ the Department of Medical and

 Clinical Psychology‚ Tilburg University‚ the Netherlands‚ and adjunct professor of cardiac 

psychology‚ the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital‚ Denmark.
The new research has been published in the American Heart Association
journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Childhood depression and anxiety may lead to physical problems at adult stage

Childhood depression and anxiety may lead to

 physical problems at adult stage

Child maltreatment has been associated with increased risk

 of adverse physical health outcomes.

Children who experience abuse or other 

adversities and develop mental health 

disorders are at greater risk for chronic

 physical problems when they are adults.

Child maltreatment has been associated with

 increased risk of adverse physical health

 outcomes.

Researchers from Melbourne University‚ 

Australia examined data from people in 10

 countries included in the World Health 

Organization World Mental Health Surveys

 initiative.

The team looked at anxiety disorders and 

depression in children and at the following childhood adversities: abuse‚ neglect‚ loss 

of a parent through death or other causes‚ divorce‚ parental substance abuse‚ parental

 criminal behavior‚ family violence and being poor.

Both anxiety and depression in childhood were associated with three chronic pain

 conditions in adulthood: osteoarthritis‚ chronic spinal pain (back or neck)‚ and 

frequent or severe headache.

It was found that physical abuse in childhood was associated with a number of chronic

 diseases in adulthood: heart disease‚ asthma‚ diabetes‚ osteoarthritis‚ chronic spinal 

pain and headache.

Psychological benefits for inmates doing yoga: Study

Psychological benefits for inmates doing yoga: Study

Yoga can improve the mood and mental well-being of 

prisoners‚ and may also have an effect on impulsive behavior‚

 an Oxford University study suggested.

Reported their findings

 in the Journal of 

Psychiatric  Research‚

 researchers said prisons

 see rates of mental health

problems that are many

 times higher than the 

general population‚Xinhua

 news agency reported.

Inmates from a range of 

ages were randomly assigned 

to either a course of ten weekly

 yoga sessions of 90 minutes‚ or

 to a control group.

"We found that the group that did the yoga course showed an improvement in positive

 mood‚ a decrease in stress and greater accuracy in a computer test of impulsivity and 

attention‚" said Dr Amy Bilderbeck‚ who led the study.

If yoga is associated with improving behavior control‚ as suggested by the results of 

the computer test‚ there may be implications for managing aggression‚ antisocial or

problem behavior in prisons and on return to society‚ researchers noted.

Avoid Outdoor Fried Food During Rainy Season

Doctors suggest to avoid outdoor fried food items during 

rainy season

Medical specialist says mostly the fasting persons get into 

trouble during Ramadan due to change in food habits and 

imbalance diet.

Health experts suggested that outdoor fried 

food items during the rainy season should be 

avoided as it can be harmful to health.

Talking to APP‚ a medical specialist Dr Usaid Khan 

advised people to take care of their food as this 

year‚ the holy month of Ramadan falls during the

 rainy season.

He said mostly the fasting persons get into trouble 

during Ramadan due to change in food habits and

 imbalance diet.

He said the carelessness may disturb the digestive

 system and increase risk of getting sick.