Obesity 'can play protective role in people with established CVD'
Wednesday 20th May 2009
While being overweight is itself a leading contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it can play a protective role in patients with established heart problems.
This is the claim made by a team of researchers from the Ochsner Medical Centre, who published their results in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Lead author of the study Carl Lavie said: "Obese patients with heart disease respond well to treatment and have paradoxically better outcomes and survival than thinner patients."
However, he went on to say that, while such patients had more favourable prognoses, the researchers do not yet understand the mechanisms causing the outcomes.
He added that, when studies into CVD are taken together, they are mostly supportive of purposeful weight loss for preventing and treating the condition.
Meanwhile, proposals to take emergency heart attack patients in Suffolk to centres in Norwich, Papworth or Basildon for treatment were recently criticised by Graham Newman, Suffolk county council's portfolio holder for adult and community services.
He said the plans may jeopardise people's safety as ambulance journey times could be longer, the Ipswich Evening Star reported.
Written by Mathew Horton
Related articles
High blood pressure can be combated by ...
The risk of having a heart condition due to high blood pressure can be combated by pills that contain a variety of drugs. ...
Wednesday 16th May 2012
Stroke risk increased by irregular heartbeat in...
Strokes are among the biggest killers worldwide and new research has found that older women diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat...
Thursday 10th May 2012
Blood pressure drugs could help trauma victims
Blood pressure drugs could be the latest weapon to help trauma victims reduce the likelihood of getting severe post-traumatic...
Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Related Cardiac-Physiology Jobs
Interested in locum Cardiac Physiology jobs in the UK?Mediplacements are continually recruiting for qualified and experienced...
Full infoInterested in Cardiac Physiology jobs in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire area?We currently require qualified and experienced...
Full infoExperienced Cath Lab Technician required for a temporary job in the East Midlands. Exclusive 2 month job opportunity for a locum...
Full info