Nov. 14, 2000--
You may want to watch this next story before you gobble down that big Thanksgiving meal next week.
A new study shows a heavy meal may trigger a heart attack, and within only two hours after eating!
How does it happen?
Science Specialist Ed Yeates has the answer.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston say overeating can trigger a mechanism similar to a sudden burst of physical exertion or an outburst of anger - especially in someone who has heart disease.
Students in medical school have long been told it's a good idea to avoid a heavy meal - especially if you have heart disease. But nobody has documented the actual risk - until now.
FRANCISCO LOPEZ-JIMENEZ, M.D., BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL: "IN THIS STUDY, WHAT WE OBSERVED WAS THAT THE RISK OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK WAS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY FOUR FOLD. SO IT WAS ABOUT FOUR TIMES HIGHER IN THE ONE TO TWO HOUR PERIOD FOLLOWING EATING A HEAVY MEAL, COMPARED TO OTHER TIMES OF THE DAY."
While obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure over a lifetime increase the risk of heart disease, a big meal immediately "stuffs" more ingredients into the mix that can actually trigger the heart attack.
As we eat and digest food, hormones stimulate heart rate, blood pressure and substances which help form clots.
The rising blood pressure demands more oxygen - placing an extra burden on the heart. It may dislodge accumulated plaque attached to artery walls.
A big meal high in fat also affects the inner lining of blood vessels. And the insulin needed to burn off energy decreases the normal relaxation of arteries.
At Salt Lake's V.A. Hospital, dietician Ellen Nishi helps heart patients deal with food and diets. She also has advice for people who eat too fast.
ELLEN NISHI, REGISTERED DIETICIAN, V.A. HOSPITAL: "IT TAKES YOUR STOMACH ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO SIGNAL YOUR BRAIN THAT IT'S GETTING FULL. AND SO WHAT PEOPLE DO IS THEY EAT VERY QUICKLY - GET A SECOND HELPING - EAT VERY QUICKLY AND GET ANOTHER HELPING - AND THEN THEY'RE JUST STUFFED."
So - don't eat your heart out - literally!
Ellen Nishi says usually if you take your time - 15 to 20 minutes to eat just a single plate of food - the second helping will never happen.
