Filed under: In the news
Getty
People who feel light-headed or dizzy when they get up quickly could be at higher risk of developing heart failure, say experts.
The Daily Mail reports that these 'headrushes' are caused by a rapid drop in blood pressure, known as orthostatic hypotension.
Scientists from the University of North Carolina have found that people who experience this are 54 per cent more likely to develop heart failure than those who don't.
The risk still stood at 34 per cent when researchers took account of those who suffered from high blood pressure, and was most pronounced in people aged 44-55.
The research team measured the blood pressure of 12,000 patients when they were lying down and shortly after they stood up. They followed up an average of 17.5 years later and details of heart failure was taken from hospital records or death certificates.
They found that about 11 per cent of patients who developed heart failure had orthostatic hypotension at the start of the study, compared to only four per cent of those who did not develop heart failure.
Study leader Dr Christine DeLong Jones said: "Orthostatic hypotension appears to be related to the development of heart failure.
"Hypertension, diabetes and coronary disease are already known to contribute to a person's risk of developing heart failure.
"Orthostatic blood pressure measurement may supplement what is already known about the risk for heart failure and requires no additional equipment, just a standard blood pressure cuff."
Heart failure affects around 900,000 people in the UK and occurs when the heart is having trouble pumping enough blood around the body. The condition often develops slowly and can be controlled with medication.
Do you get headrushes when you get up quickly? Let us know below...
Click on the image below to find out how to reduce your risk of developing diabetes...
- One minute a day of exercise<p> Even the most fervent of anti-gymgoers may be enthusiastic about the news that 60 seconds of exercise a day can have health benefits. Experts from the University of Bath have claimed that <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/12/09/three-minutes-of-exercise-a-week-could-prevent-diabetes/" target="_blank">exercising for as little as one minute a day, three times a week</a>, could be enough to prevent type 2 diabetes, after study participants did two 20-second cycle sprints on exercise bikes, three times per week. After six weeks, researchers saw a 28 per cent improvement in their insulin function.</p> <div> </div> <div> </div>
![One minute a day of exercise]()
- Two takeaway meals a week<p> That takeaway habit may be doing damage to more than just waistlines. A study by researchers at the University of Tasmania looked at the diet and exercise habits of 1,896 male and female participants and found that <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/12/12/could-eating-two-takeaways-a-week-cause-diabetes/" target="_blank">women who ate two takeaways or more had higher blood sugar levels than the women who ate one or less a week</a>. These women showed more indication of becoming insulin-resistant, which can lead to type two diabetes.</p> <div> </div>
![Two takeaway meals a week]()
- Insomnia<p> Don't underestimate the importance of a good night's sleep. Scientists at Imperial College London found that <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/01/30/people-who-dont-sleep-are-more-likely-to-develop-diabetes/" target="_blank">difficulty sleeping could be linked with an increased risk of diabetes</a>. The research suggested that people who don't sleep well may be six times more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease and it could also explain why people who work nights are more prone to these diseases. </p>
![Insomnia]()
- BPA in plastics and tins<p> The organic compound BPA (bisphenol A), found in plastics and tins, has been linked to cancers, obesity and diabetes. <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/02/16/bpa-found-in-plastics-now-linked-to-obesity-and-diabetes/" target="_blank">A recent study led by BPA expert Angel Nadal of the Miguel Hernandez University in Spain</a> found that even small doses of the chemical can interfere with hormone signals, tricking the body into creating more fat. BPA can also affect the pancreas, leading to the increased production of insulin, which can cause weight gain and type 2 diabetes, according to the research.</p> <div> </div>
![BPA in plastics and tins]()
- Low vitamin D levels<p> Need another excuse to book that beach holiday? Scientists from the University of Melbourne in Australia found that a <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/07/28/could-a-lack-of-sunshine-give-you-diabetes/" target="_blank">lack of vitamin D (from a lack of sun exposure) has been linked to increased diabetes risk</a>. The study found that a person's risk of diabetes was reduced by 24% for every additional 25 nanomoles of vitamin D in their blood.</p> <div> </div> <div> </div>
![Low vitamin D levels]()
- Low-calorie diet<p> If you're a lettuce leaf for lunch kind of person, good news: Researchers from the Department of Radiology at Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands found that a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/29/low-calorie-diet-can-cure-type-2-diabetes_n_1118122.html" target="_blank">low-calorie diet may be more effective at beating diabetes than prescribed medication</a>. In the study, diabetes sufferers who ate a low-calorie diet for 16 weeks had dramatically improved health and insulin use.</p> <div> </div>
![Low-calorie diet]()
- Sekenium supplements<p> Researchers from the University of Surrey in Guildford found that selenium supplements, meant to improve hair and nail condition, could be problematic for those with enough selenium in their diets. According to the research, a possible side-effect of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/29/selenium-beauty-supplements-diabetes-risk_n_1310647.html" target="_blank">too much selenium is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes</a>. Selenium is found in nuts, shellfish, seafood and fish and whole grains.</p> <div> </div>
![Sekenium supplements]()
- White rice<p> Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston believe that high consumption of <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/03/16/white-rice-increases-risk-of-diabetes/" target="_blank">white rice could explain why there is a much higher incidence of diabetes</a> among South Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean communities. Researchers said that people from China and Japan have a higher white rice intake than those in the West, averaging three to four servings a day, compared to our one or two servings a week. Researchers speculated that it was the high glycaemic index in white rice that contributed to the increased diabetes risk.</p> <div> </div>
![White rice]()
- Women sitting down for too long<p> Even if you're stuck at a desk all day, get up and move around when you can. A recent study at the University of Leicester found that women who spent more time <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/02/23/sitting-down-raises-diabetes-risk-in-women/" target="_blank">sitting down during the week were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes</a> than their more active counterparts. Researchers said that women who sat for the longest amount of time each day had higher levels of blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin, a sign that the body is becoming resistant to the hormone and is at risk of developing diabetes. </p>
![Women sitting down for too long]()
- Four cups of coffee a day<p> Fancy a cuppa? New research from Harvard says that <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/02/21/drinking-coffee-cuts-diabetes-risk/" target="_blank">four to five cups of coffee a day can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes</a>. Coffee consumption was linked to a 20-30 per cent lower risk of developing the disease. As for jittery hands, that's another story.</p>
![Four cups of coffee a day]()
Be a fan of Lifestyle on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter! | Sign up to our newsletter
