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The Link Between Smoking, Diabetes, Cholesterol and Hardening of the ArteriesWhat is the problem and what is known about it so far?Hardening of the arteries, known as atherosclerosis, often leads to coronary artery disease (disease of the heart's blood vessels) and results in a heart attack. Scientists believe that high cholesterol helps harden the arteries, while cigarette smoking makes it worse. The role of diabetes in hardening of the arteries isn't clear. Why did the researchers do this particular study?The researchers wanted to study the link between high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes on hardening of the arteries. Who was studied?The study included 6,384 men and women who were between 45 and 84 years old and had no known disease of the heart or blood vessels. All participants volunteered in a study of hardening of the arteries in different ethnic groups. How was the study done?Each participant had a physical exam, had blood drawn for lab tests, and had an ultrasound to measure the amount of hardening of their arteries. What did the researchers find?The results suggest that high cholesterol starts the hardening process, while smoking makes it worse. Diabetes contributes by affecting blood vessels differently, by making them stiffer than in people without the disease. What are the limitations of the study?The way the researchers studied blood vessels could affect the results. There could be other substances or factors involved in hardening of the arteries that were not studied. What are the implications of the study?The links between smoking, cholesterol, and diabetes may help guide research into hardening of the arteries. For doctors and patients, the results suggest that the effects of poor health habits add to the problem. FOR MORE INFORMATIONDiabetes, Cholesterol and Heart Disease Medical Tests and Procedures for Finding and Treating Heart and Blood Vessel Disease Keeping Your Heart Healthy Despite Diabetes |
Now Available! Late-breaking Diabetes research summaries Read the ADA's research magazine Forefront Wedding Diabetes Forecast - Free Issue! |
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