HEALTH NOTES
A HIDDEN KILLER
A STAGGERING 37% of Brits are unaware there are no visible symptoms of high cholesterol, says a new study.
Commissioned by cholesterol experts Benecol, it highlights a serious lack of understanding among the UK population around cholesterol, with one in five adults (20%) believing regular exercise will prevent it.
Having elevated levels of cholesterol – the fatty substance found in your blood – can lead to coronary heart disease, and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels, with a quarter of all UK deaths caused by Cardiovascular disease attributed to high levels of cholesterol.
However, it typically will not carry any outwardly visible symptoms and the only way to know you have it is to get a cholesterol test from a GP or pharmacy.
AT THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM
DEPRESSION can be predicted with a
90% accuracy by analysing a person’s heart rate over a 24-hour period, according to a new study.
Scientists in Germany found that people who are depressed have consistently higher heart rates and lower heart rate variability.
They believe their findings could help diagnose depression and determine the most effective type of treatment more quickly.
HELP IS AT GLAND
DO you suffer from anxiety? If the answer is yes, you could have an inflamed thyroid.
A new study from Ukraine suggests anxiety disorders may stem, at least in part, from malfunctions in the thyroid gland.
This means there could soon be new ways to treat the disorder, which affects millions worldwide.
Currently, medications tend to target the central nervous system but fail to provide lasting relief.