Healthy for Life

Causes of 90% of heart attacks

Just a quick reminder that 90% of all heart attacks are caused by smoking, dyslipidemia (high total, high LDL, low HDL, and high triglyceide levels), hypertension, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

"Moderate Exercise: No pain, big gains"

The title is in quotes because it is so accurate.  I took it from the excellent Harvard Men's Health Watch, which I strongly endorse.  Click here to start to subscribe. 

Th May, 2007 issue has a great couple of lines:

1.  10% of all premature deaths and 25% of chronic illnesses in America are caused by inactivity.  Wow.

2.  "The average American adult spends 170 minutes a day watching television and movies and 101 minutes a day driving, but only 19 minutes exercising. 

Then they have a great table from HB Simon's book "The No Sweat Exercise Plan" (New York: McGraw Hill, 2006).  This table lists 22 separate studies that all show the huge health benefit of moderate exercise.  Basically, walking 1.5 to 2 miles a day or moderate leisure time activity will lower your risk of death by 25% to 35%. 

Time to log-off and go for a brisk walk.  Be good to your heart.  Dr. Bob    

Cancer death rates declining

Cancer death rates, expressed as deaths per 100,000 population, have turned the corner and started to decline.  These are real improvements and not just a statistical fluke of earlier diagnosis.  The article is here. 

A huge increase in diabetes documented

This week’s Lancet contains an extremely important and well written article on the steeply increasing incidence (new cases per year) and prevalence (total cases at one time) of diabetes a population study of Ontario Canada between 1995 and 2005.  The key findings are: