Good blood pressure, blood sugar levels can prevent heart blockage

FRIDAY, May 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) – Keeping blood pressure and blood glucose under control could help prevent a common heart rhythm disorder called "heart block".

This is revealed by a new study badyzing the data of more than 6,000 people aged 30 and over in Finland.

In the study, researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) found that 58 of these people had developed heart block after a mean follow-up of 25 years.

Cardiac blocking, or atrioventricular blocking, occurs when electrical signals between the four cardiac chambers are disturbed. Often felt like a skipped beating, it can lead to the need for a pacemaker.

Each 10-mm increase in systolic blood pressure resulted in a 22% higher risk of cardiac blockage, and each one-millimeter increase in fasting glucose (glucose) resulted in a 19% higher risk, the results showed. .

The researchers estimated that 47% of 58 cases of heart block could have been prevented with ideal blood pressure and 11% with normal fasting blood glucose.

Finnish data badociated with increased risk of heart blocking were related to aging, man, and history of heart attack or heart failure.

The study was published online May 24 in the journal JAMA Network open now.

The researchers noted that little research had been conducted to determine whether lifestyle modifications could prevent cardiac blockage, possibly because the condition was largely treated with pacemakers.

"It may be precisely because pacemakers have been so successful in treating cardiac blockages immediately that we have not previously paid more attention to the prevention of this important disease," said Dr. Gregory Marcus. , experienced author at the cardiologist, said in a university press release.

"In addition to the prevention and treatment of [heart attack] Heart failure, effective treatment of high blood pressure and maintenance of normal blood glucose levels could be useful prevention strategies, "he added.

"Given the prevalence of heart block in the adult male population, as well as the multiple risks badociated with pacemakers, it would be interesting to continue researching this link," added Marcus.

"This new information could also help persuade people with hypertension to receive and continue the prescribed treatments," he said.

More information

The US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has more to do on heart blockages.