There may be a link between air pollution and the thickness of the walls of the main arteries to the brain.
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Discoveries
Did you know that findings from MESA have been widely published in well-respected scientific journals and at research conferences? Indeed, data gathered from MESA has been used in over 1,100 published papers. Each of these papers represents an important contribution to the body of medical knowledge, which in turn helps medical professionals provide their patients with better care. Below, you can read about what researchers have learned from your participation in MESA.
Doctors and researchers have known for a long time that smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, and being physically inactive increase a person’s chances of heart disease and stroke.
Understanding whether air pollution contributes to the development of diseases of the heart and blood vessels can help with preventing these diseases and helps justify strong air pollution standards.
Small particles of air pollution and living close to traffic have been linked to heart disease in a number of large studies, but the relationship between air pollution and the size or pumping ability of the heart has not been studied.
You may have heard that eating low-fat dairy foods is healthier for your heart than full-fat dairy. Dairy foods are those that are made from milk, including cheese, ice cream and yogurt. Some studies have shown that eating low-fat dairy foods reduces the risk of stroke and high blood pressure.
Omega-3 and omega -6 fatty acids have gotten attention recently for their possible health benefits. When eaten, these acids break down into smaller parts that promote heart health. They do so by reducing inflammation in the blood vessels.
Low vitamin D blood levels are linked to greater risk of heart disease in whites and Chinese, but not in blacks and Hispanics, according to a study appearing this week in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis usually top the list of the world’s leading killers. But congestive heart failure is what worries Dr. Joao Lima.