Weekly Blog

Nov 13

Over its 100+ years, the American Heart Association (AHA) has become a massively influential voice in the global conversation about preventing and treating the world's number 1 killer: Heart Disease. While rightfully proud of the role they've played in cutting the disease's impact in half since their 1924 founding, they also point out that there is still SO much to be done. After all, losing almost 700,000 Americans each year to a largely preventable disease is certainly not outright victory. One of the AHA's most important contributions is funding discovery. They spend hundreds of millions each year (>$6 billion cumulatively) funding scientific research which slowly trickles into clinical practice and the lives of all of us who navigate the risks. With that in mind, we always monitor the studies presented at their annual scientific meeting, which ended this past Monday, to gauge what is currently on the radar. Here are a few areas that grabbed our attention. 

1. Sleep Health - 2 new studies related to sleep were discussed. The first study reinforced an idea we've discussed many times in the past: Consistency is key. When researchers reviewed the sleep timing, duration, and quality data of 10,000 people, they found that inconsistent sleep - whether related to altered bedtime and wake time schedules or total sleep duration - added a 20-25% increased risk of a major heart event. Those who maintained a steady sleep schedule and consistently got 7-9 hours of sleep fared much better than those who did not.

The second study showed that, while sleep can be our primary mechanism to RECOVER, the environment matters. When researchers studied the relationship between exposure to residential transportation noise and heart-related risk factors like blood pressure & cholesterol, they found a persistent link. Individuals with regular exposure to high levels of noise (>50 decibels) had a greater risk whether they were getting adequate sleep or not. There's a lot to learn here, but in theory, anything that stresses the senses stresses the nervous system and, consequently, the heart. More to come. 

2. Energy Drinks & Supplements - For those who reach for energy drinks or supplements marketed as energy boosters, especially individuals aged 18 to 34, the latest news isn't great. A research team from the University of Virginia Medical School found that stimulants in energy drinks and other supplements were implicated in 11 times more cardiac arrest cases and 4.5 times more heart attacks than those without these ingredients, based on a review of nearly 30,000 reports filed with the Food and Drug Administration. Forty-five percent of cases were in adults aged 18-34. While 400 mg of caffeine per day is generally considered safe, one main concern is that energy drinks and pre-workout supplements can contain 3 to 12 times the amount of caffeine per fluid ounce when compared to coffee, the known standard. This high concentration may add risk. 

3. Cannabis - A fourth study discussed at the scientific meetings found that recreational cannabis use was associated with a significantly increased risk of heart disease, particularly stroke. While the study produced both important questions and answers, the punchline ultimately was: cannabis users had anywhere from a 25% to 40% greater risk of stroke compared to non-users. It was an observational study, which has several limitations, but it raises a flag that will undoubtedly prompt more research worth watching.

4. Wearables & AI - Lastly, when a research team analyzed wearable fitness tracker data and remote blood pressure readings using AI, they could predict and react to dangerous changes in blood pressure, known as a hypertensive crisis, up to 3 days before the onset and determine key events that acted as warning signs. When we sleep, our blood pressure typically drops. When we wake, it typically rises moderately. The AI model determined that when considered along with heart rate and heart rate variability, if a person did not have a natural lowering of blood pressure during sleep or had a significant spike upon waking, they were likely to experience a major event in the coming days. Amazingly, patients whose doctors were alerted and could intervene with changes to medications or other care-plan adjustments had a 61% lower risk of experiencing the hypertensive crisis and a 45% lower risk of needing an emergency room visit. While there are MANY things about AI we should be skeptical of, recognizing patterns in data is certainly an interesting application.

We'll keep an eye out for others. 

Have a great weekend,

Mike E.