INTERHEART STUDY
At the MARCH 2006 CHIP Alumni Meeting at Abu's Deli, Dr. Personius presented the INTERHEART STUDY. The main objective of the study was to determine the strength of association between various risk factors and acute myocardial infarction in the overall study population and to ascertain if this association varies by geographic region, ethnic origin, sex, or age. The study focuses on the association of nine easily measured and potentially modifiable protective or risk factors that account for an overwhelmingly large (over 90%) proportion of the risk for an initial acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
INTERHEART- 9 RISK FACTORS WHICH ACCOUNT FOR 90% of HEART ATTACKS:
Worldwide, the two most important risk factors are smoking and abnormal lipids. Together they account for about two-thirds of the risks of an acute myocardial infarction. Psychosocial factors, abdominal obesity, diabetes, and hypertension were the next most important risk factors in men and women.
The study concluded that eating fruit and vegetables, taking exercise, and avoiding smoking could lead to about 80% lower relative risk for myocardial infarction. The results are similar to the finding of the US Nurses Health Study, which also indicated that lifestyle modification could potentially avoid more than three-quarters of the risks of coronary heart disease and strokes in women.
The data suggest that lifestyle modification is of substantial importance in both men and women, at all ages, in individuals from all geographic regions of the world, and in those belonging to all major ethnic groups. Therefore, smoking avoidance, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, and moderate activity (along with lipid lowering) should be the cornerstone of prevention of coronary heart disease in all populations worldwide.
*Smoking - Smoking even five cigarettes per day increased risk. This finding suggests that there is no safe level of smoking and that if quitting is not possible, the risk of myocardial infarction associated with smoking could be significantly reduced by a reduction in the numbers smoked.
**Alcohol consumption - Although the study included taking an alcoholic drink to lower your risk for myocardial infarction, Dr. Personius pointed out that the authors of the study admitted that adding alcohol lowered the risk insignificantly (by less than 1%) and enhances the risk of other diseases such as strokes, some cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, or injuries. Dr. Personius recommends avoiding alcohol for the best health.
(Dr. Personius also mentioned that heart healthy diets include about 40g fiber DAILY! Click here for much more on fiber information.)
- Abnormal lipids (blood fats)
- Smoking*
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Abdominal obesity
- Psychosocial factors
- Lack of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables
- Regular alcohol consumption**
- Lack of physical activity
