Side-effects of alcohol if you have Type 2 diabetes

The 2013 movie “Blood Pressure” is a chilling tale of a 41-year-old woman who puts her life in danger because she was thirsty for release from her everyday existence.

There’s a lesson in there for anyone with Type 2 diabetes who’s thirsty for a couple of drinks of alcohol a day. It may feel like it releases you from everyday stresses, but in truth, it just amps up your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association looked at the relationship between Type 2 diabetes, moderate alcohol consumption and high blood pressure. Using data on 10,000 participants in the four-yearlong Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes study, the researchers discovered that light drinking (one to seven drinks a week) was not associated with elevated blood pressure. But moderate drinking (eight to 14 weekly) upped the risk for elevated blood pressure (between 120/80 and 129/<80 mmHg) by 79 per cent and for diagnosed HBP by 66 per cent. They also saw that heavy drinking (15+ weekly) increases the odds of elevated blood pressure by 91 per cent and the risk for severe HBP by 204 per cent.

Heart disease is the number one complication of Type 2 diabetes, and HBP is a major contributor to diabetes complications such as retinopathy, kidney problems and, of course, stroke. So, if you have prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, it makes all kinds of sense to make sure your alcohol intake is on the low, low end of light drinking.

Coming back stronger from job loss — tough but doable

According to Department of Labour information, the Sept. 10 advance unadjusted number of people claiming unemployment insurance benefits in state programs totalled 13,197,059. A lot of you are contending with the financial hardships of job loss plus the emotional turmoil it causes, but you need to move forward.

Psychology Today wants you to know that you’ll bounce back best if your first step is to let it all out. They suggest you talk or write about it. Have a good cry. Lick your wounds. Accept hugs. Then you’re ready to deal with today’s challenges and search for a new job.

A study published by the Journal of Employment Counseling stresses how important it is to take charge of your emotions so you can fend off the depression that comes from the loss of social contact and sense of self-worth that work provides. And it can have a positive approach to your job search. You can do that by making sure you get physical exercise, create a structure to your day (up at the same time daily), have a good spot to work from and spend a predetermined amount of time doing your job search, working on your resume and taking classes to expand your qualifications.

And don’t shy away from getting help. These are tough times, but you can optimize how you feel and deal. We’re rooting for you!

Heart disease is serious, but many seem to ignore management

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection,” said Buddha. But it can be difficult to take care of yourself, even when you’ve been told you have a serious medical condition. Evidence of that comes, once again, from a study in JAMA Network Open that looks at how folks who are diagnosed with premature heart disease take their medications.

Although most instances of cardiovascular disease happen to folks ages 65 and older, it’s more and more common for those problems to show up in folks in their 40s, 50s and early 60s. Almost five per cent of Americans ages 18 to 44 have heart disease and nearly 12 per cent of those 45 to 64 do.

The JAMA study shows that those people with premature heart disease (men younger than 55; women younger than 65) and those with very premature heart disease (younger than 40) are skipping their meds. Although they’re more likely to be prescribed a high-intensity statin than older folks with heart disease, only around 58 per cent of the folks with premature heart disease take those drugs conscientiously. And younger patients with extremely premature disease are even less compliant: Only around 52 per cent stick with their regular or high-intensity statin therapy.

One major study found statins can reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 28 per cent over a 20year span. So, if you have early heart disease, take your statin, upgrade your nutrition, increase your exercise and listen to Buddha.

It’s smart to exercise because exercise makes you smart

Ryan Fitzpatrick, a.k.a. Fitzmagic, the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, scored a 48 on the Wonderlic test in 2005 when he was first in the league — the third highest in NFL history. That’s the exam the league uses to evaluate its players’ ability to comprehend and process information.

We figure he’s been athletic all his life, and according to a new study, that may have boosted his basic brainpower, and it can do the same for you. The research, published in Translational Sports Medicine, looked at 13 relevant studies of folks ages 18 to 35 years old who were walking, running and bicycling. They showed that aerobic exercise for as little as two minutes and up to 60 minutes, done at moderate to high intensity, boosts attention, concentration, learning and memory for up to two hours after you stop. Other studies with younger and older folks confirm it helps for all ages.

The bottom line: If you have a challenging assignment at work or are trying to learn something new, your best bet may be to get on the stationary bike, go for a fast walk or take a jog outdoors before settling in to do a demanding mental task. And you can amplify the benefits, which come in part from increased blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, if you work out every day.

We say go for 30 to 60 minutes, because then you strengthen your circulatory system and skeletal muscles along with improving your mental agility and ability.

Less soda, calmer kids

“The Breakfast Club” is an iconic film about adolescent angst — and bad behaviour. In the movie, a gaggle of high schoolers in after-school detention vent their emotions while chugging down CocaColas.

In light of recent research, it all fits together: Researchers evaluated 5,147 kids at ages 11, 13 and 16 to determine their soft drink habits as well as aggressive behaviour and depressive symptoms.

Their study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found more frequent consumption of sugared soft drinks is associated with more aggressive behaviour — 11year-olds who drink sugary soda and other beverages regularly are increasingly aggressive at age 13; if they drink more sugary soft drinks at 13 they’re even more aggressive at 16. The converse appears to be true, too. Teens who are more aggressive at 13 will be consuming more sugary beverages at age 16. (This study didn’t find a correlation between sugar intake and an increased risk for depression, although other studies have.)

Sweetened soft drinks comprise 10-15 per cent of American adolescents’ caloric intake and contribute to premature obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Plus, studies reveal that between the 1980s and the 2000s, there was a 70350 per cent increase in emotional problems among adolescents.

So, help protect your preteens and teens from premature physical and mental health problems. Keep sugary soft drinks out of the house and talk with them about choosing safer beverages, such as club soda. And if your adolescent is struggling with anger management, take a close look at what he/she is eating and drinking.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer Emeritus at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare.com.

Michael Roizen & Mehmet Oz This is a column from a pair of medical doctors whose tips for healthy living appear in Tuesday’s Herald.