Another Risk Factor...

The Framingham people are at it again. A recent publication from the journal Circulation reports that drinking more than one soft drink daily — whether it’s regular or diet — may be associated with an increase in the risk factors for heart disease.

This is not going to bode well with all of the caffeine junkies out there, and more so, the soft drink industry. Dr Ramachandran who is the senior author of the study was surprised of the results.

"We were struck by the fact that it didn’t matter whether it was a diet or regular soda that participants consumed, the association with increased risk was present,” said Ramachandran Vasan, M.D., senior author of the Framingham Heart Study and professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. “In those who drink one or more soft drinks daily, there was an association of an increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.”

Metabolic syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good” cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels. The presence of three or more of the factors increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The Framingham study began in 1948, they are now well into the third generation of participants. We've learned to avoid cholesterol, stay away from sweets, avoid smoking, control our blood pressure, live stress free, and now...watch our soda intake. What's next?

To read the press release by the American Heart Association, click here.

"On Health" is a column designed to present the latest controversies and newest information regarding your day-to-day health. Please feel free to contribute a topic by sending an email to nyemergencymedicine@gmail.com