Recent studies presented at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) show the effect of anabolic steroids, noise … in the heart.
Today ends the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) which brought together thousands of experts from around the world. In has been made of the effects that natural disasters such as tsunamis or earthquakes can have on the heart, and also the role of noise in this regard. Let’s look at the key points. In addition there is further research into the effects of anabolic steroids on blood pressure and anti-hypertensive drugs on erectile dysfunction.
Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is an exceptional event for the medical convention, in which approximately 35,000 specialists from 140 countries around the world to present and learn about the latest research related to cardiovascular diseases involved. Many of the studies presented in these days have confirmed as the environment and natural events play a key role in these diseases: earthquakes, shipwrecks, tsunamis and other disasters actually have a direct effect on heart health. And not only that but also the noise pollution to which we are all constantly exposed, can have a negative impact on our hearts.
A study by Cornell University had shown that fear and stress resulting from a natural disaster, like an earthquake, cause an 15% increase in cardiovascular risk even in healthy people. Now he presented another study that analyzed the long – term effects on the population of the earthquake that struck northeastern Japan in 2011. A tsunami magnitude 9 that killed more than 15,000 people dead. In this case there has been an increase in cases of acute coronary syndrome, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary embolism and acute cerebrovascular events. Which they stood out immediately, both acute stress and the lack of efficient services and the shortage of doctors and volunteers. In particular, researchers analyzed the incidence of heart failure by comparing the most affected areas with the least affected.The number of cases was 1.66 times higher in the year of the tsunami and has remained high in the two years following the disaster, while in areas less affected, no significant differences were seen.
Such events cause changes in blood pressure, increasing blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, hematocrit, fibrinogen and blood fluidity.
Mental stress, fear and dramatic environmental changes cause abnormal activation of the sympathetic nervous system that reacts giving hormonal cascades that interfere with blood pressure. It also acts to increase coagulation and platelet activity, factors that can act as activators cerebrovascular events.
Noise pollution and heart. The sounds, buzzing, background noise electrical appliances are not just a nuisance or a problem for hearing, but can have an impact on the heart. To investigate the effects ofnoise pollution can have on health has undertaken a study by the University of Krakow (Poland). They focused on the impact of aircraft noise on blood pressure levels of the inhabitants living in the vicinity of airports, the prevalence of hypertension and damage in asymptomatic organs such as the stiffness of the arteries, ventricular hypertrophy left and diastolic function.
To carry out the study we examined 101 people who live very close to airports and houses are exposed to more than 60dB of noise. Then there was another control of 100 people were chosen to live in areas of low noise or a group limit of 55 dB. Analysis of the results revealed that blood pressure was higher in subjects exposed to noise compared to the control group , with a prevalence of 40%, versus 24%.
Moreover, indicators of asymptomatic organ damage were significantly altered in both groups. That is, that long-term exposure to air traffic noise is associated with higher blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension, along with a higher incidence of cardiac organ damage.
Chronic or excessive noise interferes by increasing levels of stress hormones, like cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These in turn cascade affect on the immune and endocrine autonomic nervous system. And this causes problems related to the heart.
Anabolics and pressure. According to a study by the University of Copenhagen, that s people taking anabolic steroids have more risk of hypertension. In this research the impact of substance abuse to increase muscle mass in a group of men with less than 50 years and was controlled blood pressure was evaluated. The results showed that those who abused steroids had higher levels of pressure during the day 133.8 (127.5 to 140) compared with those no longer taking but had taken anabolic steroids that showed an average value of 126.8 and the control group (never taken anabolic steroids) with 125,7mmHg. Night values were even more significant: At nightfall, the values were 125.6; 115,3mmHg and 118.2 respectively.
Anabolics are substances that mimic the effects of testosterone and many seek for their ability to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance. But the use and especially the abuse of these substances have side effects and risks. Is often increased aggressiveness appear exciters-manic symptoms, psychotic episodes, and increased blood pressure, fluid retention and consequent heart muscle fatigue.
In approximately 10-20% of those taking antihypertensive drugs, especially diuretics and beta blockers, can be erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Until now no study had investigated exactly the effect of each class of drugs on hemodynamics of penile arteries. But they have now become doctors of the General Hospital of Hippokration in Athens, who studied 156 patients treated for at least 6 months and 47 subjects who had never received treatment for hypertension but suffering from erectile dysfunction and doppler ultrasound of the penis after intracavernous injection of prostaglandin to assess the functionality and severity of vascular disease of the corpora cavernosa.
The researchers studied the effect of each class of drugs in systolic rate in patients treated in monotherapy and then compared with the effects of the combination of two specific molecules in the same parameter. A low Peak Systolic velocity (PSV) indicates a change in blood flow to the penis and thus severe erectile dysfunction. The results showed that, compared with subjects who did not receive treatment for hypertension, those who did take passtillas hypertensive gave PSV a lower value of 31.5 vs 36.3 cm / s.
Patients receiving a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker showed lower than those receiving ACE inhibitors or receptor blocker medication angiotensin II values.
The study showed that the combination of a diuretic, an angiotensin receptor blocker or an ACE inhibitor has a major negative impact on hemodynamics of penile arteries.
Olmstead County study noted that erectile dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of a coronary heart disease, about 80%.
