PreDisease.com Blog

People who suffer from migraines are almost twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, but the reason for the connection between the two is not clear, according to a new study appearing this month in Neurology online.

In one of the largest studies on the subject to date, 6,102 people with migraine and 5,243 without were compared; there was a 4.1% incidence of heart attack in the migraine group, versus 1.9% in the control group. In addition, it was discovered that those migraine sufferers who experienced aura were 3 times as likely to have a heart attack. Migraine sufferers were more likely to have risk factors for stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

Researchers concluded that people who suffer migraines are at higher risk for heart attack for unknown reasons, and that these people need to be extra vigilant about controlling what risk factors they can. Controlling weight, cholesterol and blood pressure may be even more important for migraine sufferers than the general population. Migraine sufferers are more often young women, and their physicians should be aware of this link, intervening early to prevent heart disease and stroke.

Source: Migraine Linked to Increased Heart Attack Risk

Pre-diabetes can be defined as the condition of having abnormally high blood glucose levels that are not high enough to warrant the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that 57 million people in the United States are pre-diabetic (NDIC, 2007). How can you tell if you are one of these people?

Some groups of people are at higher risk of developing diabetes. These groups include the elderly, African Americans, those of Asian descent, Native Americans and those of Latin descent. However, pre-diabetes and diabetes can occur in people of all ethnicities and ages. Other risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes include a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, being overweight and a history of having had diabetes during pregnancy.

Two common tests that can help determine whether you have an abnormal metabolism are the Fasting Glucose Test and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. Abnormal results on either of these tests signal that your body has an impaired ability to metabolize glucose.

A diagnosis of pre-diabetes does not necessarily mean that you are destined to become diabetic. Studies have shown that lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and weight loss, can prevent the development of diabetes. Knowing your risk factors for diabetes can help you to avoid developing the disease.

Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/#pre-diabetes

A new study has shown a definite link between women who have family members with type 2 diabetes and the risk of developing the disease themselves. Previous studies have also supported this hypothesis, but there is no clear genetic link identified.

In a study which spanned 20 years, 73, 227 women from the U.S. were followed to determine their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Risk factors were taken into consideration, such as weight, height, BMI (body mass index) and lifestyle habits. After controlling for these variables, it was discovered that having a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with the disease more than doubled the women’s’ risk of developing the disease themselves. Women who had family members with the condition were more prone to being overweight, and this factor accounts for approximately 20% of the heredity factor. Eating red meat and consuming alcoholic beverages and sweetened drinks were also considered to be factors in common. In all, 5,101 of the women developed type 2 diabetes during the course of the study.

Researchers came to the conclusion that being overweight and sharing these dietary habits partially explains the heredity factor in type 2 diabetes. The study was reported in the January issue ofDiabetes Care.

February is designated as American Heart Month, a good time to reflect on our own personal risks for heart disease and how best to prevent the development of heart disease. Although there are some risk factors you can’t change, such as your age, heredity and whether you are male or female, there are several areas that you can work on:

Quitting smoking- this is perhaps one of the best and most important things you can do to decrease your risk for heart disease. Smokers carry a two-to-fourfold risk of developing heart disease when compared to non-smokers.

Lose weight- being overweight forces your heart to work harder. Obesity also contributes to hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. Losing weight, even a small amount, can help in the fight against heart disease.

Exercise- exercising can help you lose weight, avoid diabetes, lower your blood pressure and decrease your cholesterol. The more exercise you do, the healthier your heart will be! Regular, moderate physical activity has been proven to improve heart health, while a sedentary lifestyle is a known risk factor for the development of heart disease.

Watch your blood pressure- high blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease, especially when other risk factors are present, such as diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Monitor your blood pressure regularly, and intervene early.

As well as knowing your risk factors for heart disease, it is important to know the signs of a heart attack, the most obvious of which is chest pain or discomfort. Pain or discomfort may come and go, or may be constant. It may be centered in the mid-sternum and may feel like squeezing, pressure, or tightness. You may also feel light-headed, nauseous, and may feel short of breath.

The rapidly increasing numbers of type 2 diabetics in the US are being blamed for the inflated price tag of $218 billion, which is the estimated cost of pre-diabetes and diabetes for 2007. An analysis spear-headed by the Changing Diabetes Program (NCDP) studied both the direct costs of medical care required for diabetics and the indirect causes, such as absenteeism and lost productivity.

The cost of type 2 diabetes was found to be $10,000.00 per person (annual), while the cost of pre-diabetes was only $443.00 annually. The message here is that it is important to prevent those with pre-diabetes from advancing to full-blown type 2 diabetes, with its attendant costs and complications. How can this be done? The answer is to focus on prevention, particularly weight loss and moderate exercise, which may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 60%.

The cost of pre-diabetes and diabetes is borne by all citizens in the form of higher health care premiums. Furthermore, it is estimated that in the US, the diabetes population will double in the next 25 years, and that the cost of this increase will reach $336 billion by 2034 (American Diabetes Association). These figures make it that much more imperative that we all work together to develop programs to prevent diabetes.

Source: Diabetes And Pre-Diabetes Accounted For $218 Billion In Costs In 2007, Health Affairs Paper Demonstrates

Source: National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007

A new study has found that having obstructive sleep apnea can mean poorer glucose control for type 2 diabetics. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect more than 18 million people in the US. In obstructive sleep apnea, the sufferer quits breathing during their sleep for sometimes as long as a minute at a time. This may happen hundreds of times in a night. The person who has obstructive sleep apnea is often unaware they have a problem, but may report feeling tired all the time.

The study included 60 participants, only a few of whom had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. After testing, 77% of the sample were found to be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. After testing the participants and measuring a  blood value sensitive for glucose control (Hgb A1C), it was determined that those participants with obstructive sleep apnea had higher numbers, leading the researchers to conclude that obstructive sleep apnea has a detrimental effect on glycemic control.

What is meaningful about this research is that treating obstructive sleep apnea could improve control for those who have concurrent type 2 diabetes. This could mean fewer complications for diabetics and less dependency on medication to control blood sugar levels. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with weight loss, oral appliances, positional therapy, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Losing weight will often cure sleep apnea and will often improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

Source: The Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes

Women who are an unhealthy weight during pregnancy may be putting themselves and their unborn babies at risk. More than half of non-pregnant women of childbearing age are considered overweight or obese. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can lead to complications for both mother and baby.

Complications for babies can include neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, heart defects and the risk of having more than one health problem at birth, or multiple anomalies. In addition, babies born to overweight mothers are more likely to be obese when they grow up.

For overweight pregnant mothers, health risks can run the gamut from high blood pressure to preeclampsia, increasing the risk of a cesarean birth, the necessity of inducing labor, and hemorrhage. In addition, being overweight or obese during pregnancy increases the risk of gestational diabetes. Having diabetes during pregnancy is one of the risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes later on.

There is a definite relationship between obesity in pregnancy and obesity in the offspring of overweight women. By entering pregnancy at a healthy weight, women can reduce the risk of their children becoming obese, lowering their future risk of diseases related to obesity, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Source: Overweight Pregnant Women May Be Putting Their Infants At Risk

Pre-diabetes can be defined as the condition of having abnormally high blood glucose levels that are not high enough to warrant the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that 57 million people in the United States are pre-diabetic (NDIC, 2007). How can you tell if you are one of these people?

Some groups of people are at higher risk of developing diabetes. These groups include the elderly, African Americans, those of Asian descent, Native Americans and those of Latin descent. However, pre-diabetes and diabetes can occur in people of all ethnicities and ages. Other risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes include a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, being overweight and a history of having had diabetes during pregnancy.

Two common tests that can help determine whether you have an abnormal metabolism are the Fasting Glucose Test and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. Abnormal results on either of these tests signal that your body has an impaired ability to metabolize glucose.

A diagnosis of pre-diabetes does not necessarily mean that you are destined to become diabetic. Studies have shown that lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and weight loss, can prevent the development of diabetes. Knowing your risk factors for diabetes can help you to avoid developing the disease.

Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/#pre-diabetes

It’s been said that diabetes is one of the most serious diseases a person can have. When you consider the fact that this potentially life-threatening disease can wreak havoc on practically all body systems – it’s easy to understand why.

In addition to contributing to heart disease and stroke, diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. More than 24 million people in the United States have diabetes and more than 180,000 people are living with kidney failure as a result.

Diabetic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease that develops from diabetes takes many years to develop. During the first years, people will have a blood protein called albumin present in their urine. The kidneys are still able to function normally during this time. But as the disease progresses, more and more albumin leaks into the urine. At this time that the kidney’s filtering function begins to fail. As a result, the body holds on to various toxins and waste. As more damage occurs, blood pressure often increases.

For the most part, chronic kidney disease rarely occurs within the first 10 years of diabetes. It’s not uncommon for 15 to 25 years passed before kidney failure occurs. For people who have lived with diabetes 25 years or more without any symptoms of kidney failure, the likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease decreases.

Kidney disease and blood pressure

In people with diabetes high blood pressure is a major factor in the development of kidney problems. A family history of high blood pressure or hypertension,as well as high blood pressure in the diabetic, increases the chance of the onset of kidney disease.

Not only can high blood pressure cause kidney disease, but kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure. It’s a dangerous circle involving rising blood pressure coupled with factors that cause the blood pressure to rise. That’s why people with diabetes must take care to manage even mild hypertension.

Preventing kidney disease in people with diabetes

In addition to medication to control blood pressure and moderate protein diets, intensive management of blood glucose has shown to be especially helpful to diabetics who are in the early stages of chronic kidney disease.

Researchers have found a 50% decrease in both the development and progression of early diabetic kidney disease in people who followed an intensive regimen of monitoring and controlling glucose. Other studies showed that any program which sustains a lower glucose level will be helpful to diabetic patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease.

Preventing the onset of diabetes

As the number of people with diabetes continues to spiral upwards, so does the number of people with resulting kidney failure continue to grow. Some experts predict that diabetes will soon be the cause of up to half the cases of kidney failure. In light of the increasing numbers of serious illness and deaths related to diabetes and resulting kidney failure, it’s absolutely crucial to delay or prevent the onset of diabetes — even in people who exhibit common risk factors for the disease.

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Clinical studies show that using PreCrea™ to treat pre-diabetes actually lowers blood glucose levels 20-30 points. As an added bonus, a weight loss of 15-20 pounds is entirely possible – which also contributes to getting the predisease state under control.

Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease can be life threatening conditions. Don’t gamble with your health – or your life. If you are pre-diabetic right now, or you are at risk for developing prediabetes, you can find knowledgeable information about PreCrea™ here.

If you’re one of the estimated 41 million people who have pre-diabetes, you’re at risk for not only developing type 2 diabetes within 10 years, but you’re also at risk for the onset of heart disease and stroke.

And if you have frank diabetes, you are at least twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as someone who does not have diabetes. Not only that, you may also develop heart disease or have a stroke at an earlier age.

The statistics get even grimmer.

If you are middle-aged and have type 2 diabetes, some studies suggest your chance of having a heart attack are just as high as someone without diabetes who has already had one heart attack.

People with diabetes who have already had one heart attack are at an even greater risk of having a second one. The grim reality is heart attacks in people with diabetes are more likely to result in death.

Why does diabetes increase this risk is so dramatically?

Over time increase blood glucose levels lead to fatty deposits inside blood vessel walls. These deposits effect blood flow and there is an increased chance of clogging and hardening of the blood vessels.

As disturbing as all of this is, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Ways to prevent or delay diabetes, heart disease, and stroke

Diabetes and the increased risk of heart disease and stroke is not inevitable. By taking the following steps you can keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.

1. Follow a “heart healthy” diet. For every 1000 calories consumed include at least 14 g of fiber every day. Good sources of fiber include oatmeal dried beans and peas vegetables, fruits, and whole grain breads and cereals.

2. Reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet. Saturated fat is known to raise cholesterol levels and is found in meats, butter, shortening, fatty dairy products, and tropical oils.

3. Limit the amount of cholesterol in your diet. Foods such as dairy products, eggs, and meat have cholesterol in them. You should have less than 300 mg of cholesterol a day.

4. Limit trans fats (a type of fat that increases cholesterol) found in cake mixes, cookies, fried foods, snack foods, salad dressings, crackers, and other foods prepared with partially hydrogenated oil.

5. Ramp up your physical activity. You should strive for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, or at least most days. There are simple things you can do that will increase your activity such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

6. Strive for a healthy body weight. If you are overweight increase your physical activity and plan your meals around low-fat and low-calorie foods.

7. If you smoke, quit.

Intervention

Even if you do not have diabetes, but have been diagnosed as having pre-diabetes, the reality is you’re headed for trouble – if you don’t do something about it. You can dramatically reduce the onset of chronic disease through lifestyle changes, sound nutrition, as well as natural dietary supplements.

PreCrea™ is a proprietary twice-daily therapeutic botanical formulation developed with eight synergistic botanicals acting collectively to reduce blood sugar levels. This powerful combined effect also causes a weight loss of 20 to 25 pounds in 6-8 months with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.

PreCrea™ is a 100% safe and natural herbal supplement specifically designed for people with pre-diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes and are serious about delaying or preventing the onset of diabetes, you owe it to yourself to find out more about this. Simply visit this website and have a look around. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.