When you eat during the day could influence your chances of surviving a heart attack, a new study finds.

Specifically, skipping breakfast and eating dinner late in the evening were associated with poorer recovery and increased risk of death, scientists report.

Dangers of breakfast skipping

“Our research shows that the two eating behaviours are independently linked with poorer outcomes after a heart attack, but having a cluster of bad habits will only make things worse,” said study author Dr Marcos Minicucci, from Sao Paolo State University in Brazil.

“People who work late may be particularly susceptible to having a late supper and then not being hungry in the morning,” he noted.

The study included 113 heart attack patients, average age 60, who were asked about their eating habits when being admitted to a coronary intensive care unit.

Those with a pattern of skipping breakfast and eating dinner late in the evening had a four to five times higher risk of death, another heart attack or angina (chest pain) within 30 days after leaving the hospital.

A pattern of breakfast skipping was defined as eating nothing before lunch – other than beverages such as coffee and water – at least three times per week. A pattern of late dinners was defined as having a meal within two hours before bedtime at least three times per week.

Late dinner

Of the patients in the study, 58% were breakfast skippers, 51% were late-night dinner eaters, and 41% did both.

However, the study only found an association and not a cause-and-effect link between eating patterns and cardiac outcomes. It was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

The patients in the study had a particularly serious type of heart attack called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

“One in 10 patients with STEMI dies within a year, and nutrition is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to improve prognosis,” Minicucci said in a journal news release.

Previous studies have found that people who skip breakfast and have a late dinner are more likely to have other unhealthy habits such as smoking and low levels of physical activity.

Statins not a panacea

“We also think that the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endothelial function could be involved in the association between unhealthy eating behaviours and cardiovascular outcomes,” Minicucci added.

He noted that in the study, patients with unhealthy eating habits and worse outcomes were more likely to have used cholesterol-lowering statins before their heart attack.

“There are some controversies regarding eating habits of patients using statins. Our study suggests that patients with STEMI perceive statins as an alternative path to health benefits. But these drugs should be an addition to healthy eating habits, not a replacement,” Minicucci said.

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Have you ever wanted to lose weight in a specific area? Like, take away this belly fat, but for all that is good, leave my boobs and butt alone! We’ve all wished for slimmer midsections, thighs or arms, but is it even possible to lose weight in one specific area?

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no, there’s no solid scientific evidence to suggest that you can burn wobbly bits on specific areas of your body.

READ MORE: 3 Practical Habit Changes That’ll Help You Lose Weight

“It’s not possible to lose weight in one specific area, so doing 100 crunches will definitely not reduce belly fat. You have to work the entire body to reduce body fat and eating plays a major role in burning said fat,” says trainer and Women’s Health Next Fitness Star, Nomawothi Bafana. “If you do tricep dips, you will shape your triceps slightly, but it honestly will not make a major difference if your body fat is high.”

To understand why targeted fat loss — also called “spot reduction — isn’t possible, we have to understand how fat loss works.

READ MORE: Your Weight Loss Struggles Might Be Genetic, According To Experts

How fat loss works

In a nutshell… it boils down to science.

The fat in our blood is found in the form of triglycerides. Whenever we consume food, our bodies store any calories that aren’t used into triglycerides. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals. These triglycerides are then broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, which then enter your blood cells.

When exercising, the fatty acids and glycerol from anywhere in your body are used as fuel, not just the body part you’re working on. So, while you can target certain muscle groups, targeting fat loss in a certain area is not realistic.

READ MORE: How To Deal With Loose Skin After Extreme Weight Loss

So, how do I lose fat then?

Since no amount of crunches and sit-ups would burn through just your belly fat, how exactly do you lose weight? The best way to do this is a combination of healthy eating and exercise. Yep, no short cuts or magic formula, just good ol’ hard work.

So instead of doing just 100 crunches a day, aim to do 150 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise a week and mix in some strength training to help with muscle composition.

When it comes to eating, try to find a good balance. There are plenty of weight-loss methods, from intermittent fasting, keto and paleo (the list goes on), so find what works for you. Whatever eating plan you choose, just remember it’s important to give your body adequate calories and nutrients. Good ‘fat-burning’ foods to add to your shopping basket are:

• Nut butters. These are packed with healthy fat, fibre, and protein, which is a great combo to keep you energised and satisfied.
• Eggs. Another great source of protein (six grams) and healthy fats (five grams).
• Avocados. They’re an excellent source of potassium, which helps reduce water retention and bloat.
• Grapefruit. They’re low in calories and make an excellent snack.
• Quinoa. Not only will the super grain satisfy any carb cravings, but it is also a good source of protein.

Just aim to burn more calories than you consume, and your body fat should start decreasing.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za}

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Chandré Davids

Autopsies have uncovered new insight into how the illegal drug methamphetamine harms the heart.

Preliminary findings presented at an American Heart Association meeting, in Boston, suggest that meth triggers a build-up of tough protein fibres known as collagen in the heart muscle.

Collagen build-up

Previous autopsy studies have noted injury to heart cells, scarring and enlargement of the heart muscle in meth users.

In this study, Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers compared autopsy results from meth users and non-users in order to learn how the drug causes heart enlargement and heart failure.

The study included 32 chronic users, average age 38, who died from a meth overdose, gunshot or stab wounds, hanging, blunt force injury, or sudden heart or lung problems. Their autopsies were compared with five non-users who died suddenly from gunshot, hanging, blunt force injury or blood clots in the lungs.

Besides noting the collagen build-up in meth users, researchers found similar levels in mice exposed to meth. They also saw indications that meth may cause structural changes in heart muscle by inhibiting a specific receptor in the heart. This suggests a possible way to prevent meth-caused heart damage, they noted.

“We found methamphetamine has profound harmful effects on the cardiovascular system and results in irreversible damage to the heart, raising the risk of a heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest and heart failure,” study co-lead author Chowdhury Abdullah said in a heart association news release. Abdullah is a postdoctoral fellow at LSU’s Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.

Further studies needed

“Rehabilitation centres for methamphetamine users should routinely monitor heart function and look for signs of heart failure, since early detection of heart problems could prevent further deterioration of the heart muscle. Monitoring should continue even after people have quit using the drug,” Abdullah said.

Researchers couldn’t determine how structural changes in the users’ hearts might affect blood tests and heart function.

Study senior author Shenuarin Bhuiyan, an assistant professor of pathology and translational pathobiology at LSU, added that researchers “need to further study cardiac function and biochemical blood parameters in methamphetamine users, and compare them to those in other substance users and in non-substance users.”

Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

About 1.6 million Americans reported using methamphetamine in 2017.

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Want to reduce your risk of dementia? Take care of your heart.

That’s the takeaway from a new study that suggests good heart health in middle age could lower your odds for problems with thinking and memory later in life.

Lower risk later in life

The study included nearly 7 900 British adults who did not have heart disease or dementia at age 50. Over an average 25-year follow-up, 347 cases of dementia were diagnosed among participants. Average age at diagnosis: 75.

After taking other factors into account, researchers linked a higher score at age 50 on seven healthy habits outlined in the American Heart Association’s “Life Simple 7” with a lower risk of dementia later in life.

The Life Simple 7 assesses smoking, diet, physical activity, fasting blood sugar, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight).

Dementia rates were 1.3 per 1 000 person years among participants who had high scores on heart healthy habits, compared to 3.2 per 1 000 for low-scorers, according to the study published in the BMJ.

A progressive disease

A better score at age 50 was also associated with higher overall brain and grey matter volumes in MRI scans 20 years later.

Though the study could not prove that heart-healthy living actually caused dementia risk to drop, the researchers said their findings support public policies to improve heart health in middle age. They pointed out that dementia is a progressive disease that can start 15 to 20 years before symptoms appear.

“Our findings suggest that the Life’s Simple 7, which comprises the cardiovascular health score, at age 50 may shape the risk of dementia in a synergistic manner,” the study team wrote. “Cardiovascular risk factors are modifiable, making them strategically important prevention targets.”

The lead author is Severine Sabia of the French National Institute of Health in Paris and University College London.

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What does your ‘Girls Night’ consist of? Pizza, wine and a few episodes of Sex and the City? Or is it a night where you and your girls get deep into conversations about sex, toys and men?

For many, it will be the first option, as the latter tends to make many feel uncomfortable. Why is it difficult to engage in conversations about our sexual health? Perhaps it’s a fear of judgement, that something may be “wrong” with you?

Did you know that a staggering 63% of women experience some form of sexual discomfort? Yes. It’s you and almost every woman around you!

Don’t worry, we have your back. Here’s a list of questions and answers you may be thinking of, but have never been comfortable to ask before.

1. My period is irregular — have I reached menopause?

You’ve crossed off all the calendar days and Aunty Flo hasn’t paid you a visit yet. Your initial thoughts could be pregnancy or menopause. Menopause is a reality between 45 and 55, but irregular periods can happen at any age. Dr Bradley Wagemaker, Medical Director at Lamelle Research Laboratories says, “When your body experiences hormonal imbalances and changes in hormone levels (such as when taking contraceptives or falling pregnant), you could experience an irregular flow.”

Research suggests that stress and pollution can affect the body, causing devastating effects on your sex organs and your vital sex hormone: oestrogen.

READ MORE: 5 Recent Discoveries About Periods That Could Literally Change Your Life

2. Why am I so moody?

I find it offensive when people accuse me of being moody. It’s never my fault, but my hormones fault. Mood swings are very common when there are hormonal changes happening inside your body. “Oxidative stress depletes nitric oxide in your body, causing the type of hormonal changes that lead to mood swings at any age,” says Dr Bradley Wagemaker.

READ MORE: 5 Foods With More Mood-Boosting Benefits Than Chocolate

3. I’m struggling to “get in the mood” — help me!

You want to get your groove back, but it’s a bit of a struggle? Dr Bradley Wagemaker says, “A decrease in libido or sexual desire is a normal psychological (mental) response to the physiological (physical) damage in your organs. When you experience dryness and discomfort during sex, your brain will often trigger a natural response in your brain to try and avoid the uncomfortable situation again.” Don’t be embarrassed and don’t avoid sex either. Explore different ways to spice things up in the bedroom.

READ MORE: 12 Ways To Feel Sexy AF Right This Very Second

4. How can I improve intimacy with my partner?

A couple’s physical intimacy requires work to maintain beyond the “honeymoon phase”. Take care of yourself by investing in your wellness, your personal development and your mindfulness. When you’re feeling your best, you bring an important vitality to your relationship. Be curious and open yourself up to new things. You can also use an all-natural supplement (like Lady Prelox). The supplement is made with a formula that improves sensual pleasure, desire and comfort.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za}

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Ondela Mlandu