Men's Health

Diversity of Gut Microbiome Influences Prostate Cancer

The prostate gland is a small organ that’s similar in size and shape to a walnut. It’s linked to the sexual health of men in that it’s responsible for producing seminal fluid, which helps carry sperm to the penis. The prostate gland is a common target for cancer in men, but, because it develops slowly, prostate cancer may not produce observable symptoms right away. There are a number of known risk factors for prostate cancer, as well as natural ways to help protect against this common condition. Now, recent research has discovered that the health of the gut microbiome influences prostate cancer, suggesting a more diverse microbiome can help lower cancer risks.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate gland, and is one of the most common types of cancer to affect men. In many cases, the cancer may stay confined to the prostate gland and may not grow large enough to pose health risks. In other cases, it may grow and spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, it’s better to diagnose prostate cancer as early as possible, so it can be treated before it has a chance to spread.

Some of the most common symptoms of prostate cancer include:

decreased need to urinate
less powerful urine stream
semen that’s mixed with blood
soreness or discomfort in the pelvic area
bone pain
trouble achieving or maintaining an erection

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors and Treatment

The underlying cause of prostate cancer is still unknown, but as with other cancers, it begins with the growth of abnormal or mutated cells. As the number of abnormal cells begins to outgrow the number of healthy cells, they gather together to form a tumor. As the tumor grows, it may grow large enough to pierce the tissue of the gland and spread to the rest of the body. Alternatively, some of the mutated cells can break away and travel to other parts of the body, in a process known as metastasis.

While we don’t know what causes prostate cancer to develop, the following risk factors can determine how likely an individual is of contracting the illness:

Age: Older men are at a greater risk.
Ethnicity: Black men face higher risks.
Family History: If there is a history of prostate cancer or breast cancer in your family, your risk is greater.
Obesity: Obese men face a greater risk that prostate cancer will spread or metastasize.

Prostate cancer can be treated in a number of ways. If it has remained confined to the prostate gland, the best option may be simply to remove the gland altogether. Alternatively, radiation therapy may help eradicate the cancer while leaving the gland intact. Hormone therapy is a relatively newer option, which involves depriving the cancer of the testosterone that it needs to thrive and grow. Hormone blockers stop the supply of testosterone and, as a result, the cancer weakens and dies off. The treatments your doctor recommends will depend on the severity and nature of the cancer.

New Study Finds Health of Gut Microbiome Influences Prostate Cancer

In a recent study, researchers hoped to understand how the gut microbiome influences prostate cancer, particularly in the way certain bacteria affect inflammation and infection in the prostate gland. They found that the best way to determine these bacterial influences was to examine the seminal fluid of healthy men, as well as those who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Additionally, prostatic fluid samples were taken from each subject. Prostatic fluid is an alkaline-based fluid that makes up part of the seminal fluid. Once the samples were taken, each of the men also submitted to a tissue biopsy. Of the 59 subjects recruited for the study, 32 of the men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. This left them with 27 men with healthy prostate glands.

When tested, it was found that all of the men possessed high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). This is an enzyme secreted by the prostate gland and it’s commonly found to exist in higher levels in men with prostate cancer. However, PSA count alone isn’t enough to diagnose someone with prostate cancer, because PSA levels may be higher for any number of reasons.

After all of the samples were analyzed, the researchers found that the men with prostate cancer exhibited less bacterial diversity than those subjects with healthier prostate glands. The researchers said the findings led them to believe that a more diverse microbiome could help limit the advancement of prostate cancer.

While they admit more research is needed, they say the study does show a link between a diverse gut microbiome and a healthy prostate gland. In particular, they found that the presence of certain types of bacteria (Carnobacterium, Enterobacter, Geobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus) could affect how prostate cancer developed and grew. In the future, a test for these types of bacteria might be able to identify men who are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

Natural Ways to Promote a Diverse Gut Microbiome

If you’re concerned that your gut microbiome isn’t as diverse as it should be, a few lifestyle changes may help. Below, there are listed a few tips that can help you naturally improve the diversity of your microbiome.

Eat a Diverse, Plant-Based Diet

The foods you eat play a major role in building a diverse gut microbiome, but only if you’re eating healthy, natural foods. You can start by reducing your intake of sugar and trans-fats, but also strive to consume a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts.

Eat Fermented Products

Foods that are fermented, such as yogurt and sauerkraut, possess a wider range of bacteria. By eating more of these foods, you can introduce a much more diverse range of bacteria into your microbiome.

Take a Dietary Supplement

You may have heard about probiotics and prebiotics, especially if you’re concerned about your physical fitness and digestive health. While probiotics can be found in certain foods, there are also supplements on the market that can help you increase the amounts of probiotics you introduce into your system. Taking a high-quality protiotic/prebiotic supplement can help you build up a diverse microbiome.

Prostate Cancer Urine Test Detects Cancer Earlier Than Traditional Methods

Jul 15 by Ewcopywriting

The prostate gland, located beneath the bladder just in front of the rectum, is essential to male health in that it helps produce certain compounds that make up semen, while also helping regulate urination. Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men. While it is treatable when diagnosed early, the American Cancer Society estimates that of the approximately 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer each year, nearly 26,730 cases will be fatal. Now, a new prostate cancer urine test may help diagnose the illness even sooner than is currently typical. When combined with certain lifestyle changes and effective treatment, early diagnosis may improve the chances of beating this common cancer.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer has been difficult to diagnose in the past, because the symptoms may be minimal or not present at all. In general, the following symptoms may be observed in the early stages of the illness:

frequent need to urinate, even at night
trouble urinating, including difficulty in maintaining the stream
urine contaminated with blood
urinating and ejaculation may be painful
difficulty developing or maintaining an erection

Once the illness advances, the symptoms become more severe, making it easier to obtain a diagnosis. In the late stages, prostate cancer causes bone pain and increases the risks of developing bone fractures. Pain will be especially pronounced in the femur, ribs, pelvis and spine.

There are many treatment options available to men with an early diagnosis of prostate cancer, and the success rate is much higher when the illness is diagnosed early. In some cases, the prostate may be surgically removed. This ensures the cancer won’t spread to other organs in the body. In other cases, radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland. This treatment, called brachytherapy, lets a doctor target the cancer cells directly, eliminating them safely. Depending on the location and size of the cancer, other types of radiation therapy may be used.

When prostate cancer grows more severe, it becomes harder to treat. In some situations, aggressive chemotherapy may be the best option. Another treatment is advanced hormone suppression therapy, which targets the androgens that can stimulate cancer growth in men. This type of treatment is usually considered to be a long-term, or ongoing, form of therapy.

Research Leads to Game-Changing Prostate Cancer Urine Test

A recent study conducted in the U.K. uncovered a way to use urine samples to identify the development of prostate cancer up to five years earlier than traditional diagnostic methods. A group of 535 men were asked to provide urine samples, which the researchers tested for the cell-free expression found in 167 different types of genes. From that group, the scientists were able to identify 36 gene markers that indicated a likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Dubbed the PUR test, this prostate cancer urine test would look for those genetic markers that raise the likelihood of developing prostate cancer in men.

Dr. Jeremy Clark, one of the researchers involved in the study, says this test is revolutionary in the degree of accuracy it provides. In addition to determining if an individual is at risk for prostate cancer, he says the degree of risk can also be determined. This test can take the place of more invasive procedures in some cases, which involve taking biopsies via the use of long needles.

Even more surprising was the fact that the PUR test could predict the development of cancer up to five years before traditional tests would provide a diagnosis. This means patients can be treated more successfully, while the cancer is still in the very early stages of development. Patients could be monitored for cancer growth once their risk of developing the illness was established. As soon as cancer cells were identified, treatment could begin to eradicate the growing cells.

There are already some screenings that men can undergo to determine their risk of developing prostate cancer. Most of these tests, such as a digital rectal exam, will look for masses that may potentially be prostate cancer. If something is found, a biopsy is necessary to confirm a diagnosis. While a biopsy may still be necessary following a PUR test, this test’s ability to diagnose the level of risk can help doctors anticipate prostate cancer earlier. Catching it early means treating the illness with less invasive procedures and improving the potential for a full recovery.

Natural Methods for Promoting Better Prostate Health

Fortunately, there are many natural ways for you to improve the health of your prostate gland. Even if your risk of developing prostate cancer is high, employing some of these suggestions can help you strengthen the prostate gland. This may reduce your risk of cancer growth.

Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods

By eating foods that will help alleviate inflammation, you can maintain a healthier prostate gland. These foods include oily fish, plant-based foods and whole grains.

Avoid Foods That Are Likely to Harm Prostate Health

As you might expect, foods in this group include those with high sugar content and high trans-fats. Artificial sweeteners, processed foods and fried foods are also common culprits.

Take a Dietary Supplement

There are many supplements on the market that help improve overall health. Some effective natural supplements are specifically engineered to boost prostate health. Adding them to your diet can give you the natural boost your body needs to resist developing health problems.

Lose Weight

Obesity can instigate a number of health problems. For men, this includes an enlarged prostate and urinary tract infections. By engaging in more physical activity and burning off excess fat, you can lower the health risks to your prostate gland.

Since one in nine men are likely to develop prostate cancer, regular check-ups are essential. By visiting your doctor once per year, you may be able to identify prostate problems and other health concerns before they become too serious.

Vitamins and Aging: Can Taking Vitamins Reduce Disease Risk?

Jun 19 by Ewcopywriting

Recent research has found that increasing vitamin intake may reduce the risk of chronic disease as we age. Whether by consuming a more diverse diet or by taking a high-quality dietary supplement, ingesting sufficient amounts of antioxidant vitamins may reduce the chances of developing myocardial infarction, stroke and other medical disorders. Similarly, getting enough of other important vitamins has been shown to encourage better metabolic health and mobility in seniors.

Vitamins and Aging: Vitamins Help Stave Off Illness as We Age

Numerous studies have presented strong evidence that getting proper levels of certain crucial vitamins can help lower the risk of major chronic disease that comes with age. This research suggests that many health problems could be avoided by simply increasing the amount of vitamins we ingest on a daily basis.

For years, it has been known that sufficient levels of vitamin D, along with calcium, are necessary to maintain strong bones and protect against fractures. At the same time, proper amounts of beta-carotene are necessary to assist zinc and vitamin E in slowing the rate at which macular degeneration (age-related vision loss) progresses. Additionally, vitamin E has been shown to assist lycopene, an antioxidant phyto-nutrient, in lowering the risk of prostate cancer.

These are just a few examples of ways that sufficient vitamin intake can benefit overall health in seniors. Further studies may reveal more important ways that consuming proper amounts of vitamins can benefit health and wellness as we age.

Certain Vitamins Help Post-Menopausal Women Manage Metabolic Health

Previous research has found that estrogen and vitamin D work well together in promoting better bone health, but a new study has found that this duo may benefit women in other ways. In particular, vitamin D and estrogen may help lower the chances of developing metabolic syndrome in post-menopausal women.

Metabolic syndrome is a growing concern that affects both genders, but may be especially destructive to post-menopausal women. Metabolic syndrome involves a variety of health concerns, including obesity, hypertension and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. When left untreated, metabolic syndrome can increase the risks of developing other serious health conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The study, which took place in southern China, involved studying the effects that vitamins had on 616 post-menopausal women, ranging in ages from 49 to 86. As the study began, none of the participants had been taking estrogen or vitamin D supplements. At the start of the study, each women underwent examinations to determine the levels of vitamin D and estrogen in their blood. They were also assessed for their risks of developing metabolic syndrome.

The researchers found that there was a strong link between estrogen levels and vitamin D. Where there was a deficiency of vitamin D, there were also lower levels of estrogen. Conversely, women with higher estrogen levels also had higher levels of vitamin D in their blood.

The study also found a correlation between higher levels of vitamin D and more positive test results. The women with high vitamin D levels had better lipid counts, better regulated blood pressure and lower blood sugar counts. Alternatively, a lower estrogen count was linked to poorer results in determining the risks for metabolic syndrome. Women with lower levels of estrogen also exhibited higher blood pressure and heightened levels of triglycerides. They also suffered from high cholesterol.

The research team concluded that the risk of metabolic syndrome was raised in women with lower estrogen levels. This was especially true for women who also exhibited lower levels of vitamin D. Since the estrogen levels and vitamin D deficiencies are linked, raising vitamin D levels may be beneficial. Women may be able to reduce their risks of developing metabolic syndrome by ensuring that they get enough vitamin D in their diet or by taking a high-quality multivitamin.

Can Supplements Help Improve Mobility Among Seniors?

As people age, one of the biggest problems they face is decreased mobility, defined as the ability to move around independently. It has been determined that 30 percent of seniors do experience mobility problems. Mobility is often inhibited by long-term health conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease and arthritis. At the same time, with age, muscles, bones and tissue deteriorate, inhibiting mobility. Now, recent research into the link between vitamins and aging may have found a solution: A new study suggests an increased intake of vitamin K, commonly found in leafy green vegetables, may help boost mobility in seniors.

Previously, research has found that a vitamin K deficiency can affect the development of cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and other conditions that affect mobility. The latest study, which was led by M. Kyla Shea, sought to look for a more direct link between vitamin K and senior mobility. In conducting the study, the research team examined the records for 635 men and 688 women from data assembled as a part of the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Approximately 40 percent of the subjects were black and the subjects varied in age from 70 to 79.

It was found that a low level of phylloquinone, which was one of two biomarkers used to measure vitamin K levels, increased the risk of inhibited mobility. The researchers determined that low phylloquinone levels increased the risks of developing limited mobility by 1.5 times. Developing a mobility disability was determined to be twice as likely for seniors with low phylloquinone levels when compared to those with sufficient levels of the compound. The study’s authors noted that there was no noticeable difference in results between men and women.

While the research does identify a link between vitamin K deficiency and mobility issues, more research is needed. If a clearer connection can be made between vitamin K and mobility, these findings may help millions of seniors maintain a better quality of life. Vitamin K can be found in broccoli, spinach, kale, dairy products and certain multivitamin/multi-mineral formulas.

IBD and Prostate Cancer Linked, Says New Study

Jan 11 by Ewcopywriting

The prostate gland is a small organ that’s shaped like a walnut. This gland is responsible for producing seminal fluid, the liquid that transports sperm within a man’s body. This small but crucial gland is the site of one of the most common forms of cancer to afflict men — prostate cancer. When prostate cancer remains confined to the prostate gland, it usually causes little trouble. In fact, it’s not always necessary to treat this type of cancer, and when treatment is pursued, it involves minimally invasive techniques. A problem can arise, however, when the cancer starts to spread beyond the prostate gland. In these cases, more aggressive forms of treatment are required.

Recently, new research has identified a strong correlation between IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and prostate cancer. As men age and face this risk, prostate health becomes a larger concern.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Treatment

All men should be able to identify the common symptoms of prostate cancer. If one or more of the following symptoms are experienced, consult a doctor as soon as possible to rule out a serious cause:

difficulty urinating
decrease in the force of the urine stream
blood mixed with semen
bone pain or discomfort around the pelvic region
erectile dysfunction

One of the most common ways to treat prostate cancer is to remove the gland and some of the surrounding tissue. During the procedure, the surgeon will likely remove a few lymph nodes in the area as well, so the risk of a recurrence is minimized. Alternative methods of treatment include radiation and chemotherapy. Once the cancer is either removed or destroyed, the doctor may prescribe hormone therapy to block the release of testosterone. The prostate gland relies on testosterone to function, which is why prostate cancer cells can be affected by the absence of the hormone. Without testosterone, any lingering cancer cells will grow at a slower rate and may ultimately die.

There are many more treatment options available. If you do develop prostate cancer, discuss your options with your doctor. He may recommend multiple approaches to ensure the cancer is eliminated. Certain treatments can also reduce your risk of getting prostate cancer again.

New Study Links IBD and Prostate Cancer

While we know that age, diet, race and genetics play a part in raising the risks of developing this form of cancer, new research has also discovered that IBD may also play a part. IBD affects the gastrointestinal system, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, cramps and bloating. Both men and women can develop IBD and, as the CDC reports, more than three million people suffer from it annually. While it has been known that IBD raises the risk of cancer growing in the gastrointestinal tract, the link between IBD and prostate cancer had not been previously studied. A team at Chicago’s Northwestern Medicine sought to change that with a new research project.

The idea of a link between IBD and prostate cancer was already suggested in the way prostate cancer is diagnosed: Doctors use prostate specific antigens (PSA) to determine the presence of cancer. Since PSA levels are normally low, a spike indicates that cancer may be present. The problem is that men suffering from IBD also have a high PSA count. Doctors attribute this to the chronic inflammation that characterizes IBD.

To learn more about if and how the two conditions are related, the researchers compared 1,033 men with IBD against a control group of 9,306 men without the disease. As the project began, the men had an average age of 53; the two groups were studied for 18 years. By the end of the project, the researchers discovered a startling correlation between IBD and prostate cancer. Those men with IBD were five times more likely to develop prostate cancer than their healthier counterparts.

While more research may uncover evidence to explain this correlation, the research team has a theory. They believe the medication used to treat IBD may be the culprit. The body’s immune system seeks out and destroys cancer cells before they can grow, but IBD medication inhibits the immune system. It has also been suggested that IBD and prostate cancer share genetic links, which may also explain the correlation.

Keeping Your Prostate Healthy Naturally

It’s never too early to adjust your diet and lifestyle to take prostate health into consideration. There are a number of natural ways to protect prostate health:

Eat More Foods Rich in Flavonoids

Flavonoids are miracle compounds that deliver powerful antioxidants to the body. Flavonoids possess anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, which may be why people who ingest flavonoid-rich foods and drinks are less likely to develop cancer. Studies have found that flavonoids may prevent prostate cancer, while killing prostate cancer cells that have started to grow. Green tea, fruits, vegetables and whole grains are rich in flavonoids.

Consume More Soy

Soy and soy byproducts are rich in phytoestrogens, which are a type of phytohormone found in plant-based foods. While not as strong as estrogen, phytoestrogens may be able to counteract the effect of testosterone in the prostate gland. In Japan, where soy is most commonly consumed, the men have a significantly lower rate of prostate cancer.

Eat More Tomatoes

Regardless of how they’re prepared, tomatoes are believed to prevent a range of cancers from developing. The presence of a compound called lycopene gets the credit for this. Studies suggest it’s especially effective in preventing prostate, stomach and lung cancer.

Drink More Coffee

The rush of antioxidants that coffee delivers to the blood stream is believed to prevent many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Those antioxidants attack the free radicals in the body that are responsible for cancer cells. Adding more antioxidants to your diet may be one of the best ways to prevent some forms of cancer.

There are some risk factors that simply can’t be altered, when it comes to prostate cancer. For instance, older men and black males are far more likely to develop prostate cancer. That doesn’t mean you can’t act to decrease your risk of developing the disease. Paying closer attention to your food choices and being wary of the symptoms may help you lower your risks and identify problems earlier.

The Little-Known Connection Between Melatonin and Fertility

Nov 26 by Ewcopywriting

Many people associate melatonin with sleep — with good reason. Helping to regulate and maintain the circadian rhythm appears to be the most important and best-known role of this pineal gland hormone. However, melatonin also plays a variety of other important roles in the human body. According to recent studies on melatonin and fertility, it may play a very important role in helping couples to conceive.

Infertility: A Growing Modern Problem

For reasons that doctors and scientists do not fully understand, an increasing number of people are struggling with infertility. Only one in six couples trying to conceive will be able to do so in a reasonable amount of time, generally defined as around a year.

Infertility has classically been seen as a female problem, but men are contributing increasingly to low pregnancy rates. Causes that can be attributed to the male are now behind around 30 percent of infertility cases. For reasons that are not completely understood, sperm counts around the world have dropped dramatically and are continuing to fall. An increasing number of couples are seeking IVF and other fertility treatments, making reproductive technology one of the fastest growing fields of medicine. Despite this medical assistance, birth rates in the developed world are below replacement rates and continuing to fall.

What is causing this decline in fertility? There are several hypotheses, including estrogens in the water supply, increased pollution of water and air, radiation from smart devices and a general inclination to wait until later in life to conceive. Regardless of the cause, several studies suggest that melatonin may be part of the answer.

Could Melatonin Affect Egg Quality?

The rise in in-vitro fertilization has allowed scientists to study in depth what factors make an egg healthier and more likely to successfully become an embryo. The life cycle of an egg is complex and extremely important to fertilization, making it a popular avenue of study in the fertility world. Eggs, or oocytes, spend most of a woman’s life dormant in her ovary. When stimulated, a single egg begins to mature and resumes cell division. It matures in a follicle until it is released. From here, it travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it is hopefully fertilized. If a couple is undergoing IVF, the egg is instead harvested.

Melatonin fluids in follicular fluid have been found to predict the health of the future egg. Melatonin also appears to protect eggs from oxidative stress during the collection and fertilization process, which in turn improves the chances of successful fertilization and implantation.

Simply giving melatonin to women trying to conceive has been found to improve egg quality as well as increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. Although these are all small studies, they definitely suggest that melatonin is crucial to conceiving and carrying a pregnancy, especially for women struggling with infertility.

Melatonin and Fertility in Males

Melatonin is important to the fertility of women, but it also appears to play a role in the fertility of men. High melatonin levels have been linked to sperm quality in both living men and in storage for insemination. This appears to be partly due to melatonin’s role as an antioxidant, preventing damage to DNA in semen.

However, melatonin may play another role as well, one that is increasingly important in the modern world: protecting sperm from damage due to pollutants. For men who live in areas where water and air quality are affecting fertility rates, this could be an immense advantage.

Although melatonin alone cannot cure male infertility (that we know of, at least), it appears to have an important role in male fertility. Men who are on the borderline between infertility and conception may especially benefit from taking a nightly supplement or from taking care to keep their natural production of melatonin high.

Links Between Circadian Rhythm and Fertility

Many of these studies have been performed in-vitro, on eggs that are fertilized in dishes for use in IVF and other reproductive technologies. However, the findings also likely apply to conceptions that occur the natural way. Because melatonin is a natural antioxidant and free radical scavenger, it can prevent cells from getting damaged from respiration and other activities. This is likely part of the reason that both eggs and sperm fare better when exposed to melatonin.

However, there may be other causes of the link between a healthy circadian rhythm and fertility. Melatonin appears to contribute to healthy hormonal cycles in women, which are essential for conception and pregnancy. In addition, people who have irregular melatonin may also have other health risk factors such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, as both of these have been linked to low melatonin levels.

There definitely appears to be a link between melatonin and fertility rates; one that may become increasingly important as infertility rates increase around the world. Although the causality remains in question, people nonetheless may find they are more fertile when they lead a healthy lifestyle, including getting plenty of sleep and keeping their circadian rhythm well-regulated.

Scientists Discover Snow Shoveling Boosts Risk of Heart Attack

Jan 03 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

For many people, the long dark months of winter are a reason to hole-up inside. For others, however, winter can also mean an increase in physical activity. There are many outdoor hobbies that require cold weather, such as skiing and sledding. In addition, for people in many areas, the cold weather brings an increase in chores such as shoveling newly fallen snow. However, there may be good reason to avoid some of these cold weather tasks. According to new research, shoveling snow boosts the risk of a heart attack and other potentially deadly cardiovascular events.

Cold Weather and Cardiovascular Health

Cold weather brings a variety of risks to cardiovascular health. When we experience cold, our bodies constrict our blood vessels. This helps to conserve body heat but also increases blood pressure while decreasing blood supply. Combined with a strenuous activity, this factor alone can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cold weather also can increase the risk of blood clots, which then easily can block these constricted blood vessels.

In addition, winter brings with it several risks that are related to human behavior. The festivities of the season often include fatty or rich foods, alcohol consumption and even smoking. These create an even greater strain on the heart. In addition, many people are more sedentary during the winter months and become somewhat out of shape. Suddenly taking on a very physical activity places stress on their system.

How Snow Shoveling Boosts Risk of Heart Attack

Considering our knowledge of how cold weather affects the cardiovascular system, it should come as no surprise that snow shoveling is a particularly risky activity. In fact, recent studies show that heavy snowfall (20 centimeters or more) is correlated with a 16 percent higher chance of heart attack in the general population and a 34 percent increase in men. In fact, snow shoveling has been shown to increase a heart attack more than being on a treadmill or otherwise performing strenuous activity.

Researchers believe that this is due to the effects of the cold, but also to a few unique characteristics of this chore. First, it is a very strenuous activity that involves mainly upper extremity muscles. These muscles can become fatigued more easily, thereby increasing blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. In addition, most people go out to shovel snow in the morning hours, when we are particularly prone to cardiovascular events due to our circadian rhythms. Cortisol and other biochemicals that increase cardiovascular strain are present in the highest amounts in the hours immediately after we rise.

Is Snow Shoveling the Only Risk?

Snow does not just bring more chores, but also a variety of weather-specific activities. Many people all over the world enjoy ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and more. Could these recreational activities increase heart attack risk as much as snow shoveling? Clearly, more research will be needed in order to evaluate the risk of cold weather alone. However, it is clear that people should try to stay in good shape throughout the winter months and avoid stress on their heart through activities such as smoking or eating unhealthy foods. Winter activities are not generally a risk for people who have good heart health. In fact, staying healthy in the winter can be a healthy decision for most people.

Maintaining Good Heart Health All Year Long

Whether you will be getting your cold weather exercise from snow shoveling or hitting the slopes, it is important to keep your cardiovascular system in good working order to lower the risk of heart attacks. There are several ways that you can accomplish this. First. eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fats, cholesterol and salt. While this can be difficult during the holiday season, moderation is key. Second, get plenty of cardiovascular exercise. Most experts recommend either 150 of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week. In general, cardiovascular exercise is exercise that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat.

In addition, there are several natural supplements that can help you to maintain good cardiovascular health by protecting against free radicals and helping to sustain healthy cells. These include:

B vitamins, which have been found in several major studies to reduce stroke and heart attack deaths by reducing lifelong damage to the inner lining of blood vessels and other delicate cardiovascular tissues.
Vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant and also supports healthy cells and tissues.
Coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant that prevents oxidative damage to heart cells and DNA.
Grapeseed extract, which lowers systolic blood pressure while also reducing the effects of clotting disorders.
Lycopene and lutein, antioxidants that also protect against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) that is known to contribute to heart attack and stroke.
Bioperine or black pepper extract, which has been shown to increase the absorption and effects of other natural supplements.

This study should not be seen as a warning against shoveling snow or otherwise being active in the cold weather months. Rather, it is an encouragement to stay active and maintain good cardiovascular health all year long. With the right diet, exercise and natural supplements, most of us will be shoveling snow (whether we like it or not) for many decades to come.