Intense Anger Can Increase MI Rates, Study Finds

 

It suggests physicians can help reduce this risk A newly published study confirms what physicians and patients have suspected for years – that getting very angry is bad for a person’s heart. The study, published in February in the European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology, found that extreme anger can be a trigger for myocardial infarction (MI). The study encourages physicians to look for ways to help patients who are at risk of having an MI to find ways to control stress and anger, along with other risk factors. Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Curtis Rimmerman, MD, MBA, who was not involved in the study, commented on its importance in an interview with Time magazine. “This study is very helpful in many ways because it’s validating to what we already know,” Dr. Rimmerman says. “Anger is not what we would call a traditional risk factor because it’s so hard to measure. It highlights the importance of paying attention to a patient’s well-being.” Study details The study was an investigation of patients suspected of MI and admitted for primary angioplasty at a hospital in Sydney, Australia, between 2006 and 2012, and assessed by coronary angiography. Of 687 patients initially assessed, 313 were confirmed with occluded coronary blood flow by angiography and were enrolled in the study. Anger levels were determined by having patients answer a questionnaire that had a seven-point scale, with 1 being “calm,” and 7 being “enraged, out of control, throwing objects, hurting yourself or others.” The study considered a 5 (“very angry, body tense, maybe fists clenched, ready to burst”) as acute anger. The results showed that patients have an 8.5 times higher risk of MI in the two hours after an acute episode of anger than during the “usual frequency” patterns of anger. It found that the patients’ levels of anger or anxiety preceding the heart attack were significantly higher at hospitalization for MI than at the same time the day before. In the study’s primary analysis, anger exposures within 2 hours and 2 to 4 hours prior to symptom onset were compared with subjects’ own usual yearly exposures to anger using case-crossover methodology. Anger level of ≥5 was reported by seven (2.2%) participants within 2 hours of the MI. Compared with usual frequency, the relative risk of onset of MI symptoms occurring within 2 hour of anger level ≥5 was 8.5 (95% confidence interval 4.1-17.6). Anger level Arguments with family members or others topped the list of events that prompted the subjects’ anger-triggered MIs, followed by anger arising from work or while driving. Use for prevention The authors concluded that more study, including on ways for physicians to help their patients handle their stress and anger better, could “provide insight into prevention of MI during acute emotional episodes.” The investigators also said the findings coincide with an “increased acceptance of the role of psychological factors, both acute and chronic, in the onset of acute MI, sudden cardiac death and stroke,” and “are consistent with previous reports in other populations.” Unlike most other studies, however, this one could confirm angiographically that the subjects had indeed suffered an MI.

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This Woman Drinks 3 Litres Of Water Every Day And The Results Are Shocking!

 

By Gourav Gola - 42 year old, Sarah Smith is a British mother of two who was suffering from migraines. The suggested cure by her doctor, turned out to be the secret to her youth fountain. The doctor suggested she stops taking caffeine and increase her water intake. The picture on the left shows Sarah as an average 42 year old. During this time she was always sluggish and suffered from constant migraines. The picture on the right shows her as a woman in her low to mid thirties. The fountain of our youth is clearly right within our reach. Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk The amount of water she drank drastically made a change to her appearance. Her daily routine was normal during the photo on the left. “Usually I start my day with a cup of tea, then I might have a glass of water with my lunch and one with dinner – that’s about a litre of liquid in 24 hours. It feels like plenty, but apparently it’s not nearly enough.” She said in an article on Daily Mail. She read a survey that said that one in five women usually consumes less than the recommended amount of water in the UK. This is what led to her experiment. The photo on the left was taken the day she started the trial. It clearly indicates what dehydration can do to a face. “I am 42, but have to admit I look more like 52 in this picture, which is shocking. There are dark shadows under and around my eyes, which make me look exhausted, a profusion of wrinkles and strange reddish blotches, and my skin lacks any lustre. It looks dead,” She says. Most of our body functions and systems depend on water. It helps carry nutrients to cells, flash out toxins from our vital organs, eliminate waste and ensure a moist environment for our nose, ear and throat tissues. Not drinking enough water impairs most of these functions. For 28 days, Sarah took 3 litres of water daily and these are the results: Week One: Waist 28in, Weight 8st 7lb Sarah inquired from her local GP on whether taking all that water (three litres sounds like a lot) will affect her health. “I suggest you have a big jug of water in the morning, then another in the afternoon and another in the evening,” he says. “Your kidneys, which filter waste products from the blood before turning it to urine, will quickly feel the benefit, as they will be getting a good flush through.” Image Source: www.whydontyoutrythis.com Her migraines began to go away and her flexibility improved. Water, according to Gemma Critchley, (British Dietetic Association) helps lubricate joints. Week Two: Waist 28in, Weight 8st 6lb She lost a pound.  “My complexion is improving and my skin tone is more even. I still have wrinkles under my eyes, but they look less creepy and shadowy than before. The blotches on my face are diminishing, and the shadows around my eyes are less pronounced,” she says. She also had stopped having headaches. Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk “Our brain is 73 percent water, so poor hydration can affect how it functions. Dehydration can reduce our ability to concentrate as well as our cognitive performance,” says nutritional physiology senior lecturer at Metropolitan University, Dr Emma Derbyshire. Critchely advises on water being the best choice because it doesn’t have calories and will provide the much needed hydration. She also warns against taking juice since it will provide you with excess energy than you need. Week Three: Waist 27.5in, Weight 8st 6lb She lost half an inch on her waist. “The dark rings and wrinkles under my eyes have virtually disappeared, and my skin looks plumper and more nourished,” she says. She also stopped rubbing her eyes in the morning, which meant the extra water was keeping them moist. She ate less since water made her fuller. Studies show that 37% of people usually mistake being thirsty for hunger. Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk Week Four:  Waist 27in, Weight 8st 5lb She lost another 1lb and half an inch on the waist. “I genuinely can’t believe the difference in my face. I look like a different woman. The dark shadows around my eyes have all but disappeared and the blotches have gone. My skin is almost as dewy as it was when I was a child. The transformation is nothing short of remarkable.” Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk That’s the difference drinking lots of water can bring to your life. “I feel fitter, leaner and healthier, and my husband and friends tell me I look ten years younger. Who in their right mind would not want to try something which gets such incredible results?” she asks. [Source: www.dailymail.co.uk]

Blueberries, Already a Superfood, May Help Combat PTSD

 

by Rebecca Rupp Blueberries are not only scrumptious – they may be able to protect us from cardiovascular disease, cancer, memory loss, and maybe even PTSD in the future. Bears go bats over blueberries. In blueberry season, bears will travel miles just to get their paws – well, lips – on a ripe and scrumptious blueberry patch. And an increasing amount of scientific evidence indicates that we should all be as pro-blueberry as the bears. Blueberries these days are touted as a superfood – an unofficial term that refers to low-calorie edibles with greater-than-average (even super) nutritional and health benefits. Among these – along with the yummy blueberries – are broccoli, kale, kiwi fruit, pomegranates, beans, salmon, and sardines. The notable health value of blueberries derives in part from their lush content of antioxidant flavonoids – compounds that not only make blueberries blue, but also act to mop up free radicals. Blueberry fields turn bright red in Maine during the autumn season. Photograph by B. Anthony Stewart, National Geographic Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with the potential to damage cell integrity and mess with our all-important DNA. These are products of normal body metabolism – each of our body’s cells generates about 20 billion every day – and we also pick up a good many from pollutants and radiation in the environment. Free radicals, as destructive as molecule-gobbling Pac Men, have been implicated in everything from cardiac disease to cancer, memory loss, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Our bodies do their best to beat these off – we have a couple of enzymes tailor-made to combat and eliminate free radicals – but with age and environmental exposure, they can begin to overwhelm us. We can help protect ourselves with antioxidant-enriched foods – and when it comes to antioxidants, blueberries are at the top of the food heap. According to the U.S.Department of Agriculture, blueberries, antioxidant-wise, out-rank everything but red beans – and red beans aren’t ahead by much. The latest in the array of blueberry bennies is their possible potential to combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About 8 percent of the American population suffers from PTSD at some point in their lives, due to emotional or physical trauma, and – at an estimate – PTSD afflicts up to 20 percent of veterans. Current, but not particularly effective, treatments for PTSD are drugs known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or SSRIs – that is, medications that boost levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood disorders. A sprig of black highbush blueberry blossoms and berries from the February 1919 issue of National Geographic. Illustration by Mary E. Eaton Some recent research, however, indicates that blueberries may be a helpful alternative, at least in rats. Experiments conducted by Philip Ebenezer and colleagues at Louisiana State University involved rats which developed PTSD after being (deliberately) terrified by cats. The researchers found that rats who were fed blueberries following their traumatizing experience had markedly higher serotonin levels than rats fed a blueberry-less control diet, suggesting a better recovery. If blueberries have similar effects on neurotransmitter levels in human beings, they may help alleviate the problems of the severely traumatized. Other health benefits of blueberries have been in the news for a while. A cup of blueberries a day, according to the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Other studies indicate that blueberries decrease the risk of prostate cancer, combat urinary tract infections, reduce age-related memory loss, and promote brain health. Various experiments have shown that blueberries boost brain power, variously upping memory, learning, and cognitive functions – among these reasoning skills, decision making, verbal comprehension, and numerical ability. To be fair, there are other foods that are also excellent sources of brain-bolstering flavonoids – among them wine, tea, dark chocolate, and tofu. But blueberries are also great sources of vitamin C – and, since a cup of blueberries adds up to a mere 80 calories, they’re not about to make you fat. What to make of all of this? Scientists tell us not to go overboard. Popular claims for superfoods can be exaggerated; and chances are that blueberries aren’t a universal panacea. But a cup a day sure can’t hurt.

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Science Now

 

In this week's episode we learn about an app to detect depression, walking efficiency, how babies learn from surprise and finally we explore how high-tech tools are helping researcher better understand how granular materials like snow and sand behave. Credit: NSF

China’s thriving export industry comes with a high cost

 

Fri, 04/17/2015 - 8:35am American Chemical Society China has become the world’s largest exporter, leading to the country’s rapid economic development—and notorious pollution that’s harmful to human health. For the first time, scientists have estimated this trend’s health cost. They report in Environmental Science & Technology that in 2007, export-related emissions in China led to almost 160,000 deaths. Qiang Zhang and colleagues note that Chinese exports have increased at an annual rate of about 20% over the past 10 years. This fast clip has boosted the economy but is also contributing significantly to air pollutant emissions. These emissions lead to increases in concentrations of fine particulate matter, which has been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory problems and related deaths. Some research has provided information to help estimate how much the export industry is contributing to air pollution, but so far, no work has measured the health effects. Zhang’s team decided to fill that gap. The researchers calculated that China’s export-related emissions in 2007 caused 157,000 deaths. That accounted for 12% of the overall mortality due to fine particulate matter in the country. They also noticed geographic and economic disparities. Health problems experienced by people in the central, northern and western regions of the country (where heavy, emissions-intensive industries are concentrated) were disproportionately high compared to the economic benefits. Based on their findings, the researchers recommend several policy measures, such as updating technology to reduce harmful pollutants from industry. Source: American Chemical Society

GE announces first FAA approved 3D-printed engine part

The T25 housing is located inlet to the high-pressure compressor and protects the sensor electronics (Photo: GE Aviation) We've only just begun to see the huge impact 3D-printing technology will have on manufacturing, and the aerospace industry is a prime example. Earlier this year we saw the first example of a 3D-printed jet engine, now GE has announced the first 3D-printed part certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a commercial jet engine. The fist-sized T25 housing for a compressor inlet temperature sensor for a jet engine was fabricated by GE Aviation and will be retrofitted to over 400 GE90-94B jet engines on Boeing 777 aircraft. The T25 housing is located inlet to the high-pressure compressor and protects the sensor electronics from cold and being buffeted by airflow, and is the product of a decade's experimentation in additive manufacturing. In this, the usual fabrication methods of casting or milling metal are replaced by building up a part layer by layer guided directly from a CAD file like a hobbyist's 3D printer. The difference is that instead of making an item by adding layers of molten plastic, the T25 housing is made of a fine powder of cobalt-chrome alloy. This is spread out in a flat layer and a laser or electron beam fuses a section of the CAD plan in it. Another layer of dust is laid down and the process is repeated. When the printing is completed, the excess powder is blown and brushed away, and the part is given a finish. This method has a number of advantages. The part can be made lighter and extremely complex shapes can be made in a single piece, instead of several fitted together. This allows for designs that were previously impossible, much faster turnaround times from design to finished product, and much lower manufacturing costs with very little waste. According to GE, making a prototype of the T25 would have taken a year longer using conventional methods. Though the T25 is the first 3D-printed part to go into service, it won't be the last. GE says that the next-generation LEAP jet engine currently being flight tested will include 19 3D-printed fuel nozzles. In addition, 3D-printed fuel nozzles and other parts are also under development for the GE9X engine for Boeing’s new 777X aircraft; the largest jet engine ever built. The new engines' development also includes ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and carbon-fiber fan blades. "The 3D printer allowed us to rapidly prototype the part, find the best design and move it quickly to production," says Bill Millhaem, general manager for the GE90 and GE9X engine programs at GE Aviation. "We got the final design last October, started production, got it FAA certified in February, and will enter service next week. We could never do this using the traditional casting process, which is how the housing is typically made." Source: GE

Devices or divisive: Mobile technology in the classroom

Little is known about how new mobile technologies affect students' development of non-cognitive skills such as empathy, self-control, problem solving, and teamwork. Two Boston College researchers say it's time to find out. Boston College Lynch School of Education Assistant Professor Vincent Cho and BC Graduate Research Assistant Joshua Littenberg-Tobias present a new survey measuring teachers' perspectives on these issues today at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting session "Examining the Potential of Mobile Technology." "Schools see digital devices -- smart phones, tablets and laptops -- as a way to propel innovation, but we haven't effectively asked teachers about the impact of these technologies on students' social, emotional and personal development," said Cho. "Furthermore, teacher attitudes are crucial to the success of high-tech initiatives. Teachers are the people who will revolutionize schools. Technology is just a starting point. We should know what teachers think." Schools around the world spent $13 billion -- including $4 billion in the U.S. -- on K-12 classroom technology in 2013 and total spending is slated to grow to $19 billion by 2018, according to Futuresource Consulting. Cho and Littenberg-Tobias have designed a survey tool to measure views on the effects of digital technology. The researchers surveyed 59 educators at a "1:1" Catholic high school where each student is required to bring a smart phone, iPad or laptop. They found that teachers' views could be grouped into three areas: how mobile technology can be used to improve "whole student" outcomes, the impact of these new technologies on classroom learning, and the impact of "digital distraction." Although teachers were mostly positive about the impact of technology on classroom learning, they also had concerns about the impact of mobile technologies on students' non-cognitive skills, such as empathy, self-control, problem solving and teamwork. "Teachers are the ones implementing these new technologies," said Littenberg-Tobias. "They are the eyes and ears on the ground and they see the impact of these technologies on a day-to-day basis." Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Boston College. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Exercise protects the heart via nitric oxide, researchers discover

 

May 5, 2011 Emory University Exercise both reduces the risk of a heart attack and protects the heart from injury if a heart attack does occur. For years, doctors have been trying to dissect how this second benefit of exercise works, with the aim of finding ways to protect the heart after a heart attack. Researchers have identified the ability of the heart to produce and store nitric oxide as an important way in which exercise protects the heart from injury. Exercise both reduces the risk of a heart attack and protects the heart from injury if a heart attack does occur. For years, doctors have been trying to dissect how this second benefit of exercise works, with the aim of finding ways to protect the heart after a heart attack. Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified the ability of the heart to produce and store nitric oxide as an important way exercise protects the heart from injury. Nitric oxide, a short-lived gas generated within the body, turns on chemical pathways that relax blood vessels to increase blood flow and activate survival pathways. Both the chemical nitrite and nitrosothiols, where nitric oxide is attached to proteins via sulfur, appear to act as convertible reservoirs for nitric oxide in situations where the body needs it, such as a lack of blood flow or oxygen. The Emory team's results, published online in the journal Circulation Research, strengthen the case for nitrite and nitrosothiols as possible protectants from the damage of a heart attack. The first author is John Calvert, PhD, assistant professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. The senior author is David Lefer, PhD, professor of surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Cardiothoracic Research Laboratory at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Collaborators included scientists at University of Colorado, Boulder, and Johns Hopkins University. "Our study provides new evidence that nitric oxide generated during physical exercise is actually stored in the bloodstream and heart in the form of nitrite and nitrosothiols. These more stable nitric oxide intermediates appear to be critical for the cardioprotection against a subsequent heart attack," Lefer says. Timing is key -- the benefits of exercise don't last In experiments with mice, the researchers showed that four weeks of being able to run on a wheel protected them from having a coronary artery was blocked; the amount of heart muscle damaged by the blockage was less after the exercise period. Importantly, the mice are still protected a week after the wheel is taken away. The researchers found that voluntary exercise boosted levels of an enzyme that produces nitric oxide (eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase). Moreover, the levels of eNOS in heart tissue, and nitrite and nitrosothiols in the blood as well as heart tissue, stayed high for a week after exercise ceased, unlike other heart enzymes stimulated by exercise. The protective effects of exercise did not extend beyond four weeks after the exercise period was over, when nitrite and nitrosothiols in the heart returned to baseline. In mice that lack the eNOS enzyme, exercise did not protect the heart from a coronary blockage, although these mice appeared to lack the ability to exercise as much as normal mice. Another molecule that appears to be important for the benefits of exercise is the beta-3-adrenergic receptor, which allows cells to respond to the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. All of the beneficial effects of voluntary exercise are lost in mice that are deficient in this receptor. One of the effects of stimulating the receptor appears to be activating eNOS. Additional animal studies are currently underway in Lefer's lab to determine the potential benefit of beta-3-adrenergic receptor activating drugs following a heart attack. The research was supported by the American Diabetes Association, the National Institutes of Health and the Carlyle Fraser Heart Center of Emory University Hospital Midtown. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Emory University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: J. W. Calvert, M. Elston, J. Pablo Aragon, C. K. Nicholson, B. F. Moody, R. L. Hood, A. Sindler, S. Gundewar, D. R. Seals, L. A. Barouch, D. J. Lefer. Exercise Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Stimulation of β3-Adrenergic Receptors and Increased Nitric Oxide Signaling: Role of Nitrite and Nitrosothiols. Circulation Research, 2011; DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.241117