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High blood sugar increases heart risk, even in non-diabetics
02.03.2012
Diabetes is known to be associated with a high risk of heart disease. High blood sugar is believed to damage cardiovascular tissue, increasing the chances of complications. But new research indicates that you don't need to be a diabetic to be affected by high blood sugar.Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that individuals who had moderately elevated glucose levels over extended periods of time were more likely to show signs of cardiovascular damage. This may increase their risk of experiencing a heart attack.
The findings could change the way the medical community looks at blood sugar. For years, it was regarded mainly as something only diabetics needed to worry about. However, this may not be the case. With rates of obesity, which often leads to high blood sugar, continuing to rise, the results could have important implications.
For the study, the researchers gave blood tests to nearly 1,000 adults. The samples were first measured for HbA1c levels, a common marker of blood sugar levels over time. Then each sample was analyzed for the presence of a the protein troponin T, which is known to be present in the blood of people who have sustained cardiovascular damage.
The results showed that individuals with elevated HbA1c test scores were significantly more likely to test positive for troponin T. This finding could lead to a new understanding of how high blood sugar leads to cardiovascular complications.
The researchers said that it is commonly believed that excess glucose causes hardening in the arteries. This contributes to high blood pressure and damage to the cardiovascular system. However, the team said their findings suggest that glucose might damage the heart muscle more directly.
Regardless of the cause, the findings underscore the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight and managing blood sugar levels.
Categories: Health and Wellness
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