Rob W 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Cynicism link with heart disease Inflammation has been shown to be linked to heart attacks Being cynical can increase the risk of heart disease, US researchers claim. A study of 6,814 people found that cynical distrust was associated with signs of inflammation which in turn increase the risk of heart disease. Chronic stress and depression were also found to be associated with higher levels of certain inflammatory markers in the blood. The Archives of Internal Medicine study suggests cynical people are more likely to lead unhealthy lifestyles. Researchers from the University of Michigan asked participants to fill out a questionnaire that assessed a person's risk of chronic stress or depression. The strongest and most consistent associations were observed for cynical distrust, which was positively associated with all three inflammatory markers Dr Nalini Ranjit Cynical distrust was measured at a later follow-up visit. They also took blood samples from participants who were aged between 45 ane 84 years. The samples were analysed for three markers of inflammation - fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and IL-6. Higher levels of cynical distrust were associated with higher levels of all three inflammatory markers. Chronic stress was linked with higher levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein and depression was associated with higher levels of IL-6. "The strongest and most consistent associations were observed for cynical distrust, which was positively associated with all three inflammatory markers," said study leader Dr Nalini Ranjit. Inflammation Previous studies have reported links between psychosocial factors such as stress and cardiovascular disease. However, the reason for this is unclear. Inflammation is an important pathway in the development of atherosclerosis - a process where the arteries become narrow and hardened blocking blood flow - and in heart attacks and strokes. When Dr Ranjit and colleagues analysed the findings in more detail they found that much of the increase in inflammatory markers was linked to unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as obesity and smoking. They concluded that cynical people might be more likely to indulge in unhealthy behaviour, and that it was this that could explain their higher risk of heart disease. Vicky Styman, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said there was insufficient evidence to say that emotion was a significant risk factor for heart disease. She said: "One difficulty is that emotions are subjective. Some people thrive on stress while others prefer a slower pace, and it is often how people deal with stress that can increase their risk of heart disease rather than the stress itself. "It is particularly difficult to define if someone is cynical and measure what impact this has on their likelihood to develop disease. "As the authors of this study acknowledge, psychological factors such as stress can often lead to unhealthy behaviours, including smoking, eating an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity - all of which are established risk factors for heart disease." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10017 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 You just have to drink the right amount of red wine to counter it though (don't know if red Limassol is doing the tricks). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22414 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Sounds like a classic example of data dredging, it's utterly meaningless. You can "prove" anything using shite methodology like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31592 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Don't worry Rob, Toonraider has admitted that she's also regularly buggered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invicta_Toon 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Don't worry Rob, Toonraider has admitted that she's also regularly buggered. red wine doesn't mitigate her condition though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 (edited) Don't worry Rob, Toonraider has admitted that she's also regularly buggered. red wine doesn't mitigate her condition though It could mitigate against some of the side effects though Edited January 23, 2007 by alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Sounds like a classic example of data dredging, it's utterly meaningless. You can "prove" anything using shite methodology like this. Arch Int Med is a superb journal though Rents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22414 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Sounds like a classic example of data dredging, it's utterly meaningless. You can "prove" anything using shite methodology like this. Arch Int Med is a superb journal though Rents. I don't care, you can read some real bull shit in supposed world class journals. I've read some really dodgy stuff in JAMA, BMJ, Lancet, NEJM, etc. The problem is they aren't testing a hypothesis, they are dredging data and creating one to suit their results. Mind, I haven't read the paper, and there are statistical methods they could use to prevent false results, but in practice these are rarely applied. Anyway, they admit the relationship is unlikely to be causal but more related to unhealthy living. Quelle surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 "Mind, I haven't read the paper, " what can one say.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 "Mind, I haven't read the paper, " what can one say.................. Have you btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Rents is just pointing out that association does not mean causality. Anyway, the great paradox is that Rents is paid to be cynical about these things. He has a vested interest to rubbish it. Confused? I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 if it's good enough for the Beeb son it's good enough for me I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Wha? And start looking after sick animals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10017 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Wha? And start looking after sick animals? Wasn't that Dr. Doolittle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catmag 337 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Wha? And start looking after sick animals? Wasn't that Dr. Doolittle? I think St Francis did it first. He was the Rolf Harris of the 1100's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Wha? And start looking after sick animals? Wasn't that Dr. Doolittle? I think St Francis did it first. He was the Rolf Harris of the 1100's (modestly) I cannot paint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob W 0 Posted January 23, 2007 Author Share Posted January 23, 2007 I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Wha? And start looking after sick animals? Wasn't that Dr. Doolittle? he talked to them - a right loon IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 11079 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 my pops recently told me that German red wine is top banana, but it's difficult to get a hold of outside of Germany... is this true or more drunken ramblings from a retired fart? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15870 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 my pops recently told me that German red wine is top banana, but it's difficult to get a hold of outside of Germany... is this true or more drunken ramblings from a retired fart? Dunno. My former housemate over there swears by a variety called Dornfelder, but there was only one year of it that I thought was much cop. That said, I prefer my wines almost undrinkably rioja-esque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10017 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 my pops recently told me that German red wine is top banana, but it's difficult to get a hold of outside of Germany... is this true or more drunken ramblings from a retired fart? Depends... in general german white wine is better because the climate is more suited for grapes like Riesling. But the climate change and also the ambition to produce better quality means there some decent reds available, but they are normally quite expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10017 Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 I shall have to give up my cynicism and become like St Francis of Assisi Wha? And start looking after sick animals? Wasn't that Dr. Doolittle? he talked to them - a right loon IMHO St. Francis preached to them because he heard god's voice in his head... No wonder a lot of hospitals for mentally ill are named after him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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