A resolution for well-being
From time to time, the resident
physician at Google headquarters weighs in with her thoughts on
healthy living. This is not medical advice, and you should check
with your own doctor before pursuing any particular course of
action.
Posted by Dr. Taraneh Razavi, M.D.,
Staff Doctor
How many of you resolved that in the New Year you'd start a
cholesterol- or blood pressure-reducing medication, or perhaps plan
to spend a few days in the coronary care unit? My guess is that not
too many of you — but you might end up needing this sort of help
rather than staying resolute to intended lifestyle changes that
reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Let's
face it, it's tough to get motivated. It's so much easier
to take the pills or have the tests done — later.
So to help motivate you now, here's a short review of the
findings of
a recent study by J. A. Iestra that appears in a 2005 issue of
the journal Circulation.
It's called "Effect Size Estimates of Lifestyle and
Dietary Changes on All Cause Mortality in Coronary Artery Disease
Patients." Iestra's data showed notable reductions in
coronary artery disease — and mortality — when patients make
these changes:
Diet change: 40-45%
Smoking cessation: 35-50%
ACE inhibitors (for blood pressure): 26%
More physical activity: 20-30%
Beta blockers (for blood pressure): 23%
Statins (for cholesterol): 21%
Aspirin: 18%
Moderate alcohol: 14-20%
The reduction in mortality from coronary artery disease is the same
if not better with lifestyle or dietary changes as it is with
medications. Other things to consider (but not analyzed in this
study) are that lifestyle changes, such as more physical activity,
don't produce bad side effects — well, maybe a little sweat,
but all medications may have some side effects. And certainly the
cost of exercise vs. medication is lower too. So whether you're
a Googler or not, let's all be visionaries not just about our
work, but about our own bodies and souls.
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