Show Doctor Doctorin t r. r b in the fine Kitchen Kitchen J i by Laurence M M. M Hursh MD M.D. Consultant National Dairy Council of I I THE RISKS OF HEART DISEASE DISEASE II II i Last week we were talking about the fact that mere overweight overweight over weight and that people differ and must be treated Individually by bythe bythe bythe the physician may be the most Important factors In heart disease dis dis- ease ense Dr Robert S. S Lees Director Director tor of or the Massachusetts Institute of ot Technology Clinical Research Center believes this tills and Ind said so sonta at nta a recent food writers' writers conference conference confer confer- ence enle In Chicago Dr Lees described MIT l MITre research research re re- search with 18 10 slightly to moderately moderately model obese Individuals By Dy getting get ting these people to reduce at the rate of ot one to two pounds a week using ordinary solid foods they were able to too achieve significant drops in excess levels of blood fats that raise the risk of heart attack Overweight 7 Z 18 The subjects were 7 to 18 overweight at the start As a bonus weight reduction often brought about a decline In blood sugar blood pressure and uric acid factors which in excess tend to Increase coronary risk Thus Dr Lees' Lees research which he also reported last tast November at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association suggests suggests sug that simple weight control may may be the best approach to preventing preventing pre pre- venting heart disease And not with drastic changes in your diet dietor dietor dietor or switching of kinds of fats just ordinary foods Dr Lees however also says that that persons at really high risk of heart disease can fall faU Into five categories of blood fat disorders a and d that such people can be treated treat ed cd with specific dietary Itc Ite is not too hopeful that i such treatment can be a h heart disease deterrent in middle middle aged and older people But ho does does' ree recommend it for young oung high risk patient pal i 1 iThe The term risk factor also was discussed by Dr Lees andI aMI certainly agree with his com ments Risk factor Is a phrase that is used prominently in the tho medical profession and is easily misunderstood by lay persons Risk does docs not mean cause ause A risk risk- factor In heart disease is some something some som something thing that has been found to b bo boV l common among people who havoc hare heart attacks For example it iss is' known statistically that if you yoA parents had heart disease you may be more prone to to- it iL It does docs not mean you definitely will hava have hav a heart attack Similarly with many people high levels o of c clid chow in their blood may mean heart disease But Dut some such SUell pe pepIe pea T peo-T pie will never have a a heart It Isn't Simple aSo a So when you read about re l during your risk of heart by doing or not doing this otti 0 that dont don't fig figure re that you ah ant reducing causes of heart disease It isn't that simple But if y yo l. l find out from your doctor that you are suffering from several risk factors factors- say smoking high blood pressure and high blood blood- fats then he will probably s sugi gest you do something about it ill it But Dut again you may be bo only giving yourself a statistically bett bette chance of not haying having a heart at at k tack As weve we've said sald heart disease is a very involved business Morel Mort next week I 0 |