Blood pressure and alcohol intake in heart patients.

The association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure has been studied in 2025 male and 282 female patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. The increase in amount of alcohol consumed correlated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure; this effect was especially pronounced in men over 50 years of age. The association was less marked in male patients under 50 years old, in women, and in patients on antihypertensive medication. Readings in the range of definitive hypertension were more prevalent among older patients consuming six or more drinks daily than in abstainers of the same age group.

Smoking, coronary artery occlusion, and nonfatal myocardial infarction.

The association of smoking with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) was studied in 3,997 men who had coronary arteriography. The patients were subdivided into groups based on coronary occlusion (minimal, moderate, or severe) and plasma cholesterol level (low, moderate, or high). For men older than 50 years, smoking was significantly associated with MI in each occlusion group. For men younger that 50 years, the association was significant for men with moderate or severe occlusion. In the presence of higher cholesterol levels there was a stronger association of smoking with MI, but weaker association association of smoking with coronary occlusion. These results suggest that the association of smoking with MI does not depend primarily on the atherogenic effect of smoking. The association seems to be enhanced by high levels of coronary occlusion and cholesterol.

The association of obesity with infertility and related menstural abnormalities in women.

Historical data from 26 638 20-to 40-year women were used to study the association between obesity and menstrual abnormalities including evidence of infertility. It was found that women with evidence of anovulatory cycles, ie, irregular cycles greater than 36 days, and hirsutism, were more than 30 lb (13.6 kg) heavier than women with no menstrual abnormalities after adjusting for height and age. The percentage of women with evidence of anovulatory cycles was 2.6 per cent for women less than 20 per cent overweight, 4.0 per cent for women 20-49 per cent overweight, 5.8 per cent for women 50-74 per cent overweight., and 8.4 per cent for women more than 74 per cent overweight Women with a single menstrual abnormality including cycles greater than 36 days, irregular cycles, virile hair growth with facial hair, or heavy flow were also significantly heavier than women with normal values for these factors. A longer duration of obesity was associated with facial hair. Another analysis found that teenage obesity was greater for never-pregnant married women than for previously pregnant married women and for women having ovarian surgery for polycystic ovaries than for women having ovarian surgery for other reasons. This also supports an association of obesity with anovulatory cycles. These findings showing evidence of abnormal ovulation, menstrual abnormalities and excess hair growth in obese women may be explained by the recent studies of others demonstrating an association between obesity and hormonal imbalances.