John P. Higgins, MD, MBA (Hons), MPHIL, FACC, FACP, FAHA, FACSM, FASNC, FSGC, is a sports cardiologist for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and the Harris Health System. His research interests include the effects of energy beverages on the body, and screening for underlying cardiovascular abnormalities in 12-year-olds (sixth graders), and steroid effects on the cardiovascular system. A study recently published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology found that being overweight or obese while in adulthood contributed to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Researchers used data from the Nurses’ Health Study, which looked at 72,484 women during a 32-year span (1980 to 2012).
Researchers looked at the relation between body mass index (BMI) and weight gain and the risk for sudden cardiac death, death from coronary heart disease, and non-fatal heart attacks.
What did the researchers find?
Over the 32-year period of the study, researchers found 445 cases of sudden cardiac death, 1,286 cases of fatal coronary heart disease, and 2,272 non-fatal heart attacks.
John Higgins, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the study and how being overweight and/or obese can cause an increase of cardiac death.
Health Topics A-Z
Overweight & Obesity Early in Life Increases Risk of Cardiac Death
Guest
: John Higgins, MD
From the Show: Train Your Body
Summary: A recent study found that being overweight or obese throughout adulthood is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Air Date: 2/2/16
Duration: 10
Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Tagged under