|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK, Mar 19 (Reuters Health) - Even men in their 20s, 30s and 40s need to watch out for the risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure, researchers report.
Young men who had such risk factors were more likely than their peers to die of heart disease during a 20-year period, results of a study suggest.
The findings should encourage younger men to pay attention to risk factors for heart disease and seek regular check-ups, according to Elena L. Navas-Nacher of the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois, and colleagues.
The study, published in the March 20th issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, included more than 11,000 men aged 18 to 39 and nearly 9,000 men aged 40 to 59. Both groups were monitored for risk factors associated with heart disease, including elevated cholesterol levels, weight, smoking history and high blood pressure.
During the 20-year follow-up period, 455 of the men died. One third of these deaths (155) were due to cardiovascular disease, the report indicates. For every 40 milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) jump in cholesterol, the men aged 18 to 39 had a doubling in risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. The increase in risk associated with age, blood pressure and smoking was linked with heart disease deaths in both younger and older men.
"Our findings strongly endorse the concept that (heart disease) risk factors in men 18 to 39 years of age have a powerful effect on long-term risk for death from coronary disease," the authors conclude.
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine 2001;134:433-439.
| Health Topics | Drug Information | Dictionaries | Directories | Other Resources |
|
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
Copyright and Privacy Policy, We welcome your comments. Last updated: 20 March 2001 |