Phytoestrogens are bioactive substances existing in natural plants. They have similar molecular structure to those of estrogens. In this article we introduced their classification and sources, and elucidated their effects on heart from aspects involving cardiac function and myocardial electrophysiology. By regulating serum lipid metabolism, arterial vessels, cytokine levels, and coagulation/fibrinolysis system, phytoestrogens possess the effects of anti-atherosclerosis and may be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Arteriosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; prevention & control ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy

Over the last two decades, significant research attention has been given to the acute effect of a single bout of exercise on postprandial lipaemia. A large body of evidence supports the notion that an acute bout of aerobic exercise can reduce postprandial triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations. However, this effect is short-lived emphasising the important role of regular physical activity for lowering TAG concentrations through an active lifestyle. In 1995, the concept of accumulating physical activity was introduced in expert recommendations with the advice that activity can be performed in several short bouts throughout the day with a minimum duration of 10 minutes per activity bout. Although the concept of accumulation has been widely publicised, there is still limited scientific evidence to support it but several studies have investigated the effects of accumulated activity on health-related outcomes to support the recommendations in physical activity guidelines. One area, which is the focus of this review, is the effect of accumulating exercise on postprandial lipaemia. We propose that accumulating exercise will provide additional physical activity options for lowering postprandial TAG concentrations relevant to individuals with limited time or exercise capacity to engage in more structured forms of exercise, or longer bouts of physical activity. The benefits of accumulated physical activity might translate to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in the long-term.
*Exercise ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias/metabolism/pathology/*prevention & control ; Lipid Metabolism ; Postprandial Period ; Triglycerides/blood

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the relationship between blood pressure, lipids and body mass index by smoking status among adolescents. METHODS: This study was designed as a descriptive correlational study. General and smoking characteristics were collected using a questionnaire. The smoking group consisted of 42 (33%) students and the non smoking group 85 (67%) students. Blood pressure, lipids, height and weight were measured, and body mass index was calculated to kg/m2. The collected data was analyzed by the n(%), chi-square-test, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient (SPSS 12.0). RESULTS: 1. The smoking level was different between grade, smoking status among the family, the contentment of their relationship with their parents, school life and teachers. 2. The smoking group's systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and body mass index were higher than those of the non smoking group. 3. The smoking amount had a significant positive correlation between total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The result of this study offered basic data to develop intervention programs to prevent hypertension and hyperlipidemia in smoking adolescents.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Psychology ; Blood Pressure/*physiology ; *Body Mass Index ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias/prevention & control ; Hypertension/prevention & control ; Lipids/*blood ; Male ; Questionnaires ; *Smoking/prevention & control/psychology

Alcohol Drinking ; China ; epidemiology ; Exercise ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence

Adolescent ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Child ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Life Style ; Obesity ; complications ; prevention & control ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Factors

Nutrition labels are helpful for chronic disease management in patients requiring balanced nutritional intake. This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of nutrition labels and chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia) by using the 2008-2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. A total of 10,695 individuals aged 20 and over was included in the analysis. Using multiple logistic regressions, there was no difference in nutrition label use between the chronic disease and normal groups (men with hypertension OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.75-1.27; women with hypertension OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.67-1.03; men with diabetes OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45-1.08; women with diabetes OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.84-1.53; men with hyperlipidemia OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.59-1.23; women with hyperlipidemia OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.91-1.44). In hyperlipidemia patients, awareness (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03-2.35) and control (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 2.32-3.63) of disease were related to nutrition label use; however, no significant associations were found for the hypertension and diabetes mellitus patients. Considering the importance of dietary habits in the management of chronic diseases, an improvement in nutrition label use by patients with these diseases is required.
Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Demography ; Diabetes Mellitus/pathology/*prevention & control ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias/pathology/*prevention & control ; Hypertension/pathology/*prevention & control ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritive Value ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea

INTRODUCION: Cardiovascular disease has the potential to lead to sudden in-flight incapacitation and permanent grounding. The aims of this study are to examine the relationships between lifestyle, job stress and blood lipid levels of male aircrew personnel of a Korean airline and to identify which factors influence their hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen male aircrew personnel completed a questionnaire by self-report and consented to participate in the study. The questionnaire collected data related to job stress, life style, serum cholesterol levels and general characteristics of the aircrew. The cholesterol levels of the subjects were collected from their most recent health check-up records. Subjects were divided into two groups (the desirable group and the risk group) based on their serum cholesterol level, 200 mg/dl. RESULTS: Mean age and marital status were significantly different between the two groups. More subjects in the risk group had habits of eating high lipid foods, while more subjects in the desirable group exercised more frequently than the risk group. In logistic regression analysis, after controlling age and marital status, types of working situation (domestic duty or international duty, odds ratio=.390, p=.018), diet (odds ratio=.429, p=.037), and exercise (odds ratio=.320, p=.055) were influencing factors on aircrew's serum cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: The cholesterol level of aircrew personnel is closely related to their lifestyle, such as lipid diet and exercise. The type of work situations, e.g. staying in an airplane for long periods of time or staying abroad, may influence these diet patterns and exercise habits.
Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Occupational Diseases/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Logistic Models ; *Life Style ; Korea/epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology/etiology/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Cholesterol/blood ; Aerospace Medicine ; Adult

BACKGROUNDS: Ischemic heart diseases has increased by more than 80% in the past 10 years among Korean and the global risk assessment of coronary heart disease(CHD) based on the relative risk factors to the probability of developing CHD became widely used for western populations. In this study we hope to provide information on the distribution and characteristics of the relative risks of CHD using the Framingham risk score. METHODS: This Study involved the subjects who visited a university hospital for health promotion from 1995 to 2000 without CHD. We surveyed medical history of the subjects, and measured their blood pressure, serum glucose, total cholesterol(total C) and HDL cholesterol(HDL C). Risk points from the Framingham chart were given to age, systolic BP, total C, HDL C, smoking, diabetes, and the global risk score was calculated from their sum. We analyzed the global risk scores and each risk points of the high risk groups. RESULTS: For younger and older men in the high risk group, the factors smoking and high blood pressure had the highest score assigned respectively. With younger women total C had the highest score assigned, and with older women diabetes took over but HDL C and high blood pressure still had a higher score. CONCLUSION: For primary prevention of CHD, younger men need active education to quit smoking and for older aggressive blood pressure control is desperately needed. For women, concern about low HDL C is highly needed and after menopause aggressive treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure, low HDL C is needed.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Disease* ; Education ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Heart ; Hope ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Male ; Menopause ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking

Peripheral arterial disease, which is caused by atherosclerotic occlusion of the arteries to the legs, is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. The disorder affects old people and should be considered as serious condition because our people getting older. To evaluate the patients who complain of intermittent claudication, throughftil history taking, palpation of all peripheral arterial pulses, checking the ABI by Doppler technique were important and angiography will confirm the peripheral arterial disease. The risk factors for intermittent claudication were diabetes, smoking, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, which should be modified as secondary prevention for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The outcomes for treatment of intermittent claudication should documented objective status, symptoms, hemodynamic status, patency if the revascularized vessel, and quality of life. All patients with peripheral arterial disease(whether symptomatic or asymptomatic) should be considered for treatment with low-dose aspirin, or other approved antiplatelet(unless contraindicated), to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Though no drug has effectiveness for intermittent claudication, percutaneous intervention and surgical bypass grafting were two majot treatment modalities.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Aspirin ; Atherosclerosis ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Intermittent Claudication* ; Leg ; Mortality ; Palpation ; Peripheral Arterial Disease* ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transplants

OBJECTIVETo analyze the status of beta blockers (BBs) prescription in Chinese patients with stable angina pectoris. To determine the gap between clinical practice and treatment guidelines and factors influencing the use of BBs in Chinese patients.

METHODA questionnaire survey was conducted in patients diagnosed with chronic stable angina pectoris in 2011. A total of 298 Chinese hospitals attended the survey. The questionnaire collected patient demographic information, clinical and medication information. In the analysis, patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were on BBs at the time of the interview. Hospital characteristics, patient demographic information, cardiovascular risk factors, diagnostic method of coronary heart disease, past history of coronary revascularization and use of secondary prevention medications were compared between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to BBs use. Patients were followed-up for 3 months. Patients who were on BBs at baseline were divided into two groups according to whether they were still on BBs after 3 months. Comparison of the clinical information previously mentioned was made between the two groups, and binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to BBs adherence.

RESULTSOf the 5 011 questionnaires, 2 859 cases were male, mean age was (67.6 ± 11.5) years old, 3 060 (61.1%) patients were on BBs at baseline. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that when adjusted for other factors, old age (OR = 0.895, 95% CI 0.849-0.944, P<0.001) was related to no BBs use, while comorbidity with hypertension (OR = 1.255, 95% CI 1.103-1.427, P = 0.001) or hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.456, 95% CI 1.287-1.648, P<0.001), diagnosed with coronary disease by imaging (OR = 1.250, 95% CI 1.070-1.461, P = 0.005) and past history of coronary revascularization (OR = 1.490, 95% CI 1.220-1.820, P<0.001) were related to higher percentage of BBs use. A total of 2 533 cases (82.8%) were still taking BBs 3 months after baseline interview. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that, when adjusted for other factors, treated at traditional Chinese medical hospitals (OR = 1.612, 95% CI 1.154-2.251, P = 0.005), low levels of education (OR = 1.316, 95% CI 1.151-1.504, P<0.001), hypertension (OR = 1.345, 95% CI 1.096-1.651, P = 0.005), high baseline heart rate (OR = 1.020, 95% CI 1.010-1.030, P<0.001) and diagnosed with coronary disease by imaging (OR = 1.342, 95% CI 1.095-1.644, P = 0.005) were factors related to higher BBs adherence, while low baseline CCS class (OR = 0.794, 95% CI 0.704-0.896, P<0.001) was related to lower BBs adherence.

CONCLUSIONSIn Chinese patients with clinically diagnosed chronic stable angina, BBs use was not sufficient. Old age, comorbidity with hypertension or hyperlipidemia, past history of coronary revascularization were independently related to higher percentage of BBs use. Treated at traditional Chinese medical hospitals, low levels of education, hypertension, high baseline heart rate and diagnosed with coronary disease by imaging were independent factors related to higher BBs adherence, while low baseline CCS class was related to lower adherence.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; Aged ; Angina, Stable ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Comorbidity ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention ; Surveys and Questionnaires