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Many
Don't Make Changes
After Heart Attack or Stroke
By
Merritt McKinney
NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Living through a heart attack or stroke might seem to
be a wake-up call, prompting patients to make major life changes
to reduce their risk.
However, the
results of a new study suggest that many survivors of a heart
attack or stroke don't make enough changes in their diet and lifestyle,
or take adequate medication, to prevent a second heart attack
or stroke.
In a study
of more than 1,200 US adults who had experienced a heart attack,
stroke or both, Dr. Adnan I. Qureshi, of the State University
of New York at Buffalo, and colleagues found that more than one
third of the patients still had at least two major risk factors
for heart attack and stroke.
Of the patients
who had been diagnosed with high blood pressure before the heart
attack or stroke, 53% still had high blood pressure, the researchers
report in the July 9th issue of the journal Archives of Internal
Medicine. And previously undetected high blood pressure was found
in another 11% of patients.
The investigators
note that 46% of patients who had been previously diagnosed with
high cholesterol, a risk factor for both heart attack and stroke,
still had high cholesterol. And almost half of people with diabetes,
which is a major risk factor for heart disease, did not have their
blood sugar under control.
The study,
which was based on a national survey, also found that many patients
were not following a low-fat diet as recommended. And even though
smoking increases the risk of both heart attack and stroke, nearly
one out of every five heart attack and stroke survivors was a
current smoker.
It is important
for heart attack and stroke victims ``to recognize that they remain
at high risk for subsequent events,'' Qureshi told Reuters Health.
In the report,
the researchers point out that the risk of a heart attack is three
to six times greater in people who have already had a heart attack.
Thirty percent of stroke survivors may go on to have another stroke,
according to the report.
``The risk
factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and active
smoking contribute heavily to this risk,'' according to the Buffalo
researcher. ``Our report points out the inadequacy in risk factor
modification in this population.''
But taking
steps to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients
who have already had one should be relatively easy, according
to Qureshi, since these patients are usually under the care of
a medical professional.
For any effort
to succeed, however, physicians and patients must come to terms
with the fact that many people are not reducing their risks after
a heart attack or stroke, he said.
``Patients
need to recognize the importance of regular physician visits and
strict compliance to treatment plans,'' Qureshi said. He added
that patients have to take it upon themselves to reduce some risk
factors such as cigarette smoking.
SOURCE:
Archives of Internal Medicine 2001;161:1621-1628.
Reference
Source 89
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