Heart disease risk 'higher in men who skip'

[Cllcanada]

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," reports the Daily Mail, claiming that "skipping it increases your chances of a heart attack."

'The study was carried out by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. It was funded by the US National Institutes of Health and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.'

nhs.uk/news/2013/07July/Pag...

Also the Beeb

bbc.co.uk/news/health-23403744

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin]

Thought provoking article Chris - As someone with heart disease I have recognised eating patterns very probably contributed to it's development (along with other factors). Eating to late was a problem not just what I ate - probably because skipping breakfast and our domestic routine meant that the main meal was eaten too late in the day.

I found the following passage in the NHS choices article interesting:

"It is also difficult to exclude the possibility that eating regular meals such as breakfast is a marker of a conscious effort to lead a healthier lifestyle.

This study is limited by the fact that the men were only asked about their eating habits once, at the start of the study, and their eating habits could have changed during the course of the study. Details about the exact timing or specific composition of meals and snacks were also not collected – in this study, breakfast was defined as any meal eaten before lunch."

This resonates with me as now following a little more education and diagnosis of heart disease I have adjusted my eating pattern, for me having breakfast is a marker of my own conscious effort to lead a healthier lifestyle. Ironically CLL/SLL also could be described in that way - how many since diagnosis of CLL/SLL actually lead a healthier lifestyle than they did before diagnosis.

I am sure we are familiar with the phrase; "you look so well", we seem to be such a healthy looking bunch (perhaps because we make the effort?). Underneath we may not feel this way though.

Recognising that eating patterns are an important part of maintaining good general health especially as we age is important, not just to ward off, live with or aid recovery from he consequences of heart disease - it also aids us better cope with the day to day challenges that CLL/SLL can throw a us. Heart health is important too for treatments have their own impact.

Thanks for the post Chris.

Nick