Cardiovascular disease

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Prolonged periods of sedentary time strongly associated with amount of fat around internal organs

Prolonged periods of sedentary time strongly associated with amount of fat around internal organs

Prolonged periods of sedentary time strongly associated with amount of fat around internal organs


A team of researchers from the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, UK – a partnership between Leicester’s Hospitals, the University of Leicester and Loughborough University – has found new evidence to suggest that longer periods of sedentary time (defined as any sitting/reclining activity with low energy expenditure) are more strongly associated with the amount of fat deposited around internal organs.

The study, which was published in the journal, Obesity, took 124 participants at high risk of type 2 diabetes and measured the length of time they spent sedentary over a period of 7 days using accelerometers fitted to their waist. The research team also scanned the participants using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment to accurately measure the amount of fat in the liver, inner (visceral) and outer (subcutaneous) fat layers, and total abdominal fat.

Even when accounting for age, ethnicity and physical activity levels, the study team found that the longer a person remained sedentary during the day, the higher the levels of liver fat, inner (visceral) fat and total abdominal fat. The link was even stronger for participants who did not meet Public Health England’s recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.

Dr Joe Henson, Research Associate at the University of Leicester, led the study. He said: “We know that spending long periods of time sedentary is unhealthy and a risk factor for chronic illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Likewise, the amount of fat deposited around our internal organs may also predispose us to these diseases.

“Using MRI techniques and physical activity monitors we have shown that the more time spent sedentary, the stronger the association with higher levels of internal and abdominal fat. This was particularly so if the long periods of sedentary behaviour were uninterrupted. Our findings also show that reaching the UK government’s target of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity may offer some protection against the harmful effects of prolonged sedentary time.”

Professor Melanie Davies, Director of the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, UK, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Leicester and a co-author of the study, said: “Lack of physical activity and being overweight are two risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of prolonged sedentary time and whether physical activity can play a mediating role by reducing fat deposits on internal organs remain unclear. This research starts to shed a light on any connections between the two by using MRI to measure the distribution of fat in an individual’s body and analysing that in relation to their activity levels. The next step would be to examine the impact of regularly breaking up prolonged sedentary time upon internal fat levels.”

The article, “Sedentary Time and MRI Derived Measures of Adiposity in Active vs. Inactive Individuals” has been selected as the Editor’s Choice in the January 2018 issue of the journal, Obesity. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22034/full

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Endocarditis – what symptoms do you need to look out for?

Endocarditis

Endocarditis

The symptoms of endocarditis can develop rapidly over the course of a few days (acute endocarditis) or slowly, over the course of a few weeks or possibly months (subacute endocarditis).

Subacute endocarditis is more common in people with congenital heart disease.

Symptoms of endocarditis

The most common symptoms of endocarditis include:

a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above

chills

night sweats

headaches

shortness of breath, especially during physical activity

cough

heart murmurs – where your heart makes a whooshing or swishing noise between beats

tiredness (fatigue)

muscle and joint pain

Other symptoms can include:

the appearance of a spotty red rash on the skin (this is known as petechiae)

narrow, reddish-brown lines of blood that run underneath the nails

painful raised lumps that develop on the fingers and toes

painful red spots that develop on the palms of your hand and soles of your feet

mental confusion

When to seek medical advice

You should contact your GP as soon as possible if you develop any of the above symptoms, particularly if you’re at a higher risk of developing endocarditis, such as having a history of heart disease.

Read more about the causes of endocarditis.

These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a less serious type of infection. However, your doctor will want to investigate.

When to seek emergency medical advice

A stroke is one of the most serious complications that can develop from endocarditis.

If you suspect a stroke, you should dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance.

The most effective way to identify the symptoms of a stroke is to remember the word FAST, which stands for:

Face – the face may have fallen on one side, the person may be unable to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped

Arms – the person may be unable to raise both arms and keep them there as a result of weakness or numbness

Speech – the person’s speech may be slurred

Acute
Acute means occurring suddenly or over a short period of time.
Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and some others are good for you.
Blood
Blood supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide. It is pumped around the body by the heart.
Blood vessels
Blood vessels are the tubes in which blood travels to and from parts of the body. The three main types of blood vessels are veins, arteries and capillaries.
Fatigue
Fatigue is extreme tiredness and lack of energy.
Fever
A high temperature, also known as a fever, is when someone’s body temperature goes above the normal 37°C (98.6°F).
Haemorrhage
To haemorrhage means to bleed or lose blood.
Nodules
A nodule is a small growth or lump of tissue.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
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Carotid endarterectomy – will you need one?

Carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy

Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to unblock a carotid artery. The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply the head and neck.

Carotid endarterectomies are carried out when one or both carotid arteries become narrowed because of a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque). This is known as carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis.

If a narrowed carotid artery is left untreated, blood flow to the brain may be affected. This is usually because a blood clot forms and a piece breaks off and goes to the brain. This can result in either:

a stroke – a serious medical condition that can cause brain damage or death

a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – sometimes known as a “mini-stroke”, a TIA is similar to a stroke but the signs and symptoms are temporary and usually disappear within 24 hours

Each year around 110,000 people have a stroke in the UK and around a quarter of these are caused by a narrowing of the carotid arteries. More than 5,000 carotid endarterectomy procedures were performed on the NHS between 2011 and 2012.

Carotid endarterectomy can significantly reduce the risk of a stroke in people with severely narrowed carotid arteries. In people who have previously had a stroke or a TIA, their risk of having another stroke or TIA within the next three years is reduced by a third after surgery.

It’s now thought the operation should be performed as soon as possible after symptoms appear. It’s important to seek immediate medical advice if you experience symptoms such as:

numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg

speech problems

loss of vision in one eye

Read more about when carotid endarterectomy is needed.

About the procedure

Carotid endarterectomy can be carried out using either local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic. The advantage of local anaesthetic is it allows the surgeon to monitor brain function while you’re awake. However, there’s no evidence that either is safer or better.

During the procedure, a 7-10cm (2.5-4 inch) cut will be made between the corner of your jaw and your breastbone. A small cut is then made along the narrowed section of artery, and the fatty deposits that have built up are removed.

The artery is then closed with stitches or a patch and your skin is also closed with stitches.

Read more about:

getting ready for carotid endarterectomy

how carotid endarterectomy is performed

What happens after the procedure

You’ll usually be moved to the recovery area of the operating theatre for monitoring. Most people are well enough to go home within about 48 hours of the procedure.

In most cases, the only problems experienced after the operation are temporary numbness or discomfort in the neck.

However, there’s a small risk of more serious complications, which can include stroke or death in around 3% of cases. Nevertheless, this risk is much lower than in people with carotid artery disease who haven’t chosen to have the operation.

Read more about:

recovering from carotid endarterectomy

risks of carotid endarterectomy

Are there any alternatives?

Carotid endarterectomy is the main treatment for narrowing of the carotid arteries, but sometimes an alternative procedure called carotid artery stent placement may be available.

This is a less invasive procedure than a carotid endarterectomy because it doesn’t involve a cut being made in the neck. Instead, a thin flexible tube is guided to the carotid artery through a small cut in the groin. A mesh cylinder (stent) is then placed into the narrowed section of artery to widen it and allow blood to flow through it more easily.

Carotid stenting is currently thought to be associated with a higher risk of stroke during the procedure, especially if it’s performed in the first few days after symptoms appear. However, it’s a useful alternative for people who may be at a higher risk of complications from an operation.

Read more about carotid artery stent placement.

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Blood Pressure: Know Your Numbers

Being knowledgeable about your health is always helpful. Your blood pressure is no exception, 1/3 people who have strokes die because of high blood pressure. The Blood Pressure infographic created by westfieldhealth.com describes what blood pressure is, what it means, and then how to maintain a healthy blood pressure. The infographic was found on behance.net.

High blood pressure puts strain on your heart and increases your likelihood of developing health problems in the future. It is one of the most common causes of heart attacks and strokes, and is also a risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and dementia. One in three people in the UK have high blood pressure even though just a few simple steps can help combat it. By checking your blood pressure, exercising regularly and reducing the amount of salt in your diet you can significantly lower your blood pressure and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

The infographic provides some useful tips and advice about how you can keep your blood pressure in check.

This is a really good design with great information for people.  I wish it was a little bit easier to understand though.  A few of the data visualizations are not clearly explained.

In Blood pressure High Spots, I don’t understand what the size of each symbol on the UK map represents.  The implication is the amount of reports high blood pressure cases, but the values are not shown.  I don’t understand the right circle at all.  The percentage numbers seem to be spread on a map, but it’s not the UK, and I don’t recognize it.

In Looking After your Blood Pressure, I think this diagram is completely artistic, even though it seems to imply that it’s a data visualization.

In A Guide to Blood Pressure Levels, the area chart seems to be a visualization over time of some sort, but no x-axis values are shown, so the readers can’t tell what this chart means.

Blood pressure

Blood pressure

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Love Your Heart, Stay Healthy – Why you need to be vigilant to prevent heart disease!

Heart disease accounts for 1 in 3 deaths and claims 17.7 million lives every year. This infographic from Study Medicine Europe takes you through how your heart works and what you can do to protect it. The heart when working efficiently is like a well-oiled machine and shuttles 2,000 gallons of oxygen rich blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels. Protecting yourself from heart disease starts at a young age but you of course will need to be more careful as you age.

One thing to remember is that if you’re accustomed to physical activity at a young age it’s generally easier to keep it up for your entire life. As you get older, the risks only increase, and it is good to learn about heart disease in your family as early as your 30s. The reality is that heart disease can be genetic so if it’s in your family you need to be more vigilant. Find out more in the infographic.

Love Your Heart, Stay Healthy

Love Your Heart, Stay Healthy