According to a new study, tackling health and lifestyle issues could prevent thousands of cardiac arrests. While some of the suggested changes include eating more fruit and staying at a healthy weight, there is also some more surprising advice to be found in the article.
A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology looked at cardiac arrests and how they could possibly be avoided. The researchers looked at the data of 502,094 middle-to-older aged people in the UK Biobank of data, 3,147 of whom suffered sudden cardiac arrest over a period of 13.8 years. During a cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops beating, usually without warning. As a result, people become unconscious and stop breathing (normally). If no medical aid is given, most patients die of the arrest.
By analysing the data, the scientist found 56 risk factors when it came to cardiac arrests, including lifestyle factors, socio-economic status, and local environment. With that in mind, they think 40 to 63% of sudden cardiac arrests could be avoided.
As far as lifestyle factors go, a higher consumption of Champagne, white wine and fruit could protect people against cardiac arrest. So-called ‘fed-up’ feelings, a high body mass indexe (BMI), a high arm fat mass, high blood pressure, and lower education level instead increased the risk, as did poor sleep patterns and a lack of exercise.
“The study found significant associations between various modifiable factors and sudden cardiac arrest, with lifestyle changes being the most impactful in preventing cases,” said lead investigator and first author, Dr Huihuan Luo, from the Fudan University in Shanghai in China.
Why white wine and Champagne?
While it is unclear how Champagne en white wine are protecting the heart against a cardiac arrest, the study is already gaining a lot of attention because of the findings.
“One of the study’s most intriguing findings is the cardioprotective effect associated with Champagne and white wine consumption, questioning long-held assumptions about the specificity of red wine’s cardioprotective properties. Research on the underlying mechanisms remains unclear, but these findings reinforce the idea that the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption may be more complex than previously assumed,” said Nicholas Grubic from the University of Toronto and Dakota Gustafson from Queen’s University in Ontario in an editorial accompanying the study.
Previously, studies have showed how polyphenols in can potentially lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. However, those antioxidants are mainly found in red wine. The fact that the study found Champagne and white wine in particular to be beneficial is intriguing. As mentioned before, the study hasn’t identified a cause and does not look at the potential harms of such a glass of wine on other health aspects.
