Released January 27, 2009

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. -- Avoiding heart disease in the future may involve adopting a lifestyle that many of our Greek and Italian cousins may take for granted.

For decades medical researchers have advised watching our weight, exercising regularly, steering clear of foods high in saturated fats, not smoking and controlling blood pressure to reduce risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

All of this advice is as valid as ever, experts say. But as researchers continue to discover, the roots of prevention run much deeper.

“There are risk factors for heart disease beyond high blood cholesterol and blood pressure,” says Robert Keith an Alabama Cooperative Extension System nutrition and health specialist and Auburn University professor of nutrition and food science.

Ranking at or near the top of the list of these newly identified major risks is chronic body inflammation. Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a major factor behind the artery-blocking plaque and clots that impede blood flow to the heart, eventually bringing on heart attacks.

C-reactive protein, better known as CRP, is now being measured as the blood marker of this inflammation, Keith says.

“Your cholesterol and triglyceride readings may look good, but if you have high blood levels of c-reactive protein, you may still may be at risk of heart disease because of the chronic inflammation associated with a high CRP value,” Keith says.

Among some people, recurring problems, such as chronic sinus infections and periodontal disease, may be hallmarks of high CRP levels in the blood.

“When this kind of inflammation becomes chronic and doesn’t go away, we have trouble in terms of a greater likelihood of developing heart disease,” Keith says.

Obesity is also believed to be a major factor behind chronic inflammation. Adipose cells, commonly known as fat cells associated with obesity, secrete chemicals that appear to promote inflammation.

Over time, this chronic inflammation may cause damage to arterial walls that, in turn, may produce the plaque and clotting associated with heart attacks.

Equally disturbing is that while high cholesterol and inflammation often go together, they sometimes don’t, which makes testing for the presence of this blood marker even more paramount.

The good news is that scientists have now developed a blood test to determine blood levels of CRP.

The other good news is that the lifestyle changes believed to reduce this risk are relatively simple and straightforward. Broadly speaking, it involves adopting the dietary habits that most of our Greek and Italian cousins take for granted.

This includes avoiding many common features of the American diet – processed and fatty foods —opting instead for traditional Mediterranean fare.

“Processed foods, such as luncheon meats, and highly refined wheat products, such white bread, are believed to be proinflammatory,” says Keith, adding that the same appears to hold true for foods high in saturated and trans fats.

By contrast, Mediterranean diets emphasize fruits and vegetables, fish oil, nuts, and moderate amounts of wine (or grape juice), all of which are known to contain properties that reduce inflammation, Keith says.

And don’t discount exercise. Research has demonstrated time and again that getting only 15 minutes a day of brisk walking can reduce one’s heart disease risk by as much as 46 percent.

“Exercise, much like fruits and vegetables and other foods, tends to be anti-inflammatory,” Keith says.

“And this doesn’t have to be stressful exercise, just moderate, regular exercise, such as walking.”

Studies continue to affirm the value of Mediterranean diets. New York Times health writer Jane Brody recently cited a University of Athens study involving more than 3,000 men and women in Greece. The study found that sticking with a Mediterranean diet improved six markers of inflammation and coagulation.

As additional safeguards, experts recommend getting regular dental checkups to avoid periodontal disease and reducing levels of chronic stress, which may involve everything from getting adequate amounts to sleep to getting a pet or acquiring a new hobby.

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http://www.aces.edu/department/extcomm/npa/newsline/archives/003853.php