Enough with the conflicting heart data
Oh well, grumbling aside, I cave into the media deluge of changed information on what's good for women's heart health by writing about the topic this week. But the deluge also leads me to a second question: Why is the industry standard changing all the time? I'm no doctor, though some of my good friends are. Nonetheless, it seems to me that medicine's foray into preventive heart-health medicine must be in its infancy. Otherwise, why would the protocol for medical advice on what's good and what's bad for women's hearts loop-de-loop from year to year and twist itself into pretzel-like contortions?
This week, new guidelines from the American Heart Association and the U.S. government tell us that aspirin is "in," even more "in" than it's been in years when we already thought it was "in." Now, in addition to the daily dose earlier suggested by medical brass for women at higher risk of heart disease, this week's new and improved guidelines tell all women to take an 81-100 mg. dose daily.
The AHA news release advises, "Routine low-dose aspirin therapy may be considered in women age 65 or older regardless of CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk status, if benefits are likely to outweigh other risks. (Previous guidelines did not recommend aspirin in lower-risk or healthy women.) The upper dosage of aspirin for high-risk women increases to 325 mg. per day rather than 162 mg."
Believe it or not, the "aspirin a day" recommendation now falls into the "controversial"-advice category, particularly for women with uncontrolled blood pressure, not to mention women with digestive issues whose stomachs don't take kindly to aspirin.
Other than that, the AHA recommendations fall under the duh-hey heading: Don't smoke, don't drink too much (more than one drink a day, which seems like too much from where I sit), exercise like a banshee, etc.
And the release repeats advice that's been the industry standard since 2002, when the government's Women's Health Initiative abruptly halted a study of women on hormone-replacement therapy: "Hormone-replacement therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are not recommended to prevent heart disease in women."
Except that, according to another new study out this week from France, another form of hormone-replacement therapy might help women with severe menopausal symptoms without adding to the risk of blood clots now associated with HRT in American women's minds. Confused? You ought to be.
Data contradicting data is the norm, and not the exception. However, in this case, it looks like it's conflicting data, but it's really not.
Comments
- Funds for new courthouse approved 1:48 a.m.
- Godfrey vetoes Ogden budget 1:48 a.m.
- Odd Fellows Hall move 1:47 a.m.
- 2 country groups to perform 1:47 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz in back of line for free agents 1:19 a.m.
- Okur signs two-year extension 1:18 a.m.
- Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz 1:16 a.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- AK will not play for Russia this summer
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
122 - Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
73 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
Through the years, I've always raised eyebrows whenever I tell people...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away...
Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to...
Despite the fact that logging has all but stopped in the pacific northwest...
My understanding of what FAIR is trying to do, is to provide well thought out...
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake. First off,...
I was waiting for it to be burned on the big metal structure right by the...
Hey Ute fan... the Utes had a good season. And keep throwing that BCS bowl...
Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for...
CougarKeith, people don't know how to properly retire the flag, what they did...
It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla &...



You can be the first to comment on this story.