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A proposed new definition of metabolically healthy obesity uses waist-to-hip ratio as a key measurement for identifying individuals classified as obese by body mass index (BMI) who were not at increased mortality risk.
A team led by Matthias Schulze, DrPH, of the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, developed the new definition using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and validated the change in a cohort from the U.K. Biobank.
The new definition, as explained in the study online in
Systolic blood pressure less than 130 mm Hg and no use of blood pressure–lowering medication
ASHER ROSINGER
Imagine seeing a news report about lead contamination in drinking water in a community that looks like yours. It might make you think twice about whether to drink your tap water or serve it to your kids – especially if you also have experienced tap water problems in the past.
In a new study, my colleagues Anisha Patel, Francesca Weaks and I estimate that approximately 61.4 million people in the U.S. did not drink their tap water as of 2017-2018. Our research, which was released in preprint format on April 8, 2021, and has not yet been peer reviewed, found that this number has grown sharply in the past several years.
Sleep duration linked to heart disease risk
Both too little
Credit: Malte Mueller/Getty Images
It’s well established that sleep is vital to health and wellbeing, and that sleep deprivation has a host of adverse outcomes. What’s perhaps less well known is that excess sleep – commonly defined as more than 8–9 hours per night – can be too much of a good thing.
Both ends of the spectrum have been linked with metabolic, hormonal and immune changes, premature mortality, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease risk.
A large population study in the US adds new evidence to the mix, suggesting that 6–7 hours of sleep each night could be optimum for heart health.
Many adults with hypertension may be taking other medications that could raise blood pressure
Nearly 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, also take a medicine that could be elevating their blood pressure, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology s 70
th Annual Scientific Session. The results underscore the need for patients to routinely review all of the medications they take with their care team, including those available over the counter, to make sure none could be interfering with blood pressure lowering efforts.
Which are the most likely culprits? Based on the study findings, the three most common classes of medications were antidepressants; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that include ibuprofen and naproxen; and oral steroids used to treat conditions such as gout, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or after an organ transplant. These medications were reported by 9%, 7% and 2% of par
Many People with High Blood Pressure are Taking a Medicine that Could Actually Raise It
Boston – Nearly 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, also take a medicine that could be elevating their blood pressure, according to new research conducted by physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 70th Annual Scientific Session. The findings underscore the need for patients to routinely review all of the medications they take with their care team, including those available over the counter, to make sure none could be interfering with blood pressure lowering efforts.