Like chocolate milk and hot cocoa? You could be just two glasses a day away from a healthier heart. New information indicates that drinking chocolate milk containing cocoa could help improve abnormal blood lipid and cholesterol levels, which puts people at risk for  atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Dr. Ramón Estruch of the University of Barcelona’s Department of Internal Medicine was the study’s senior author. Estruch and his team asked 42 high-risk men and women age 55 or older to take part in an experiment examining the effects of cocoa on heart disease.

“Cocoa and its derived products, such as chocolate, represent a very rich source of dietary flavonoids, which contain a higher content per serving than tea or red wine,” authors write. “The health benefits associated with cocoa consumption have been related to their capacity to improve the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity, diminish blood pressure, reduce platelet activity and function, and ameliorate endothelial dysfunction.”

Participants were given two sachets of non-fat, sugar-free Cola Cao, a popular Spanish cocoa powder mix similar to Nesquik. They were to mix 20 g (about 1 ½ Tbs.) with 250 ml (~8.5 oz) of skim milk and drink twice daily—once with breakfast, and again with dinner or an afternoon snack. All participants followed a Mediterranean-style diet, but were asked to exclude foods with cocoa, olive oil, red wine, tea, or fruits and vegetables with high polyphenol levels.

Participants did have a slight weight gain of about 1 pound. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were slightly (although not significantly) lower.  Cocoa did, however, show anti-inflammatory effects. These were modest compared to those of red wine, but significant nonetheless.

HDL (good cholesterol) levels were also significantly higher after drinking chocolate milk.

“Our results suggest that regular consumption of nutritional doses of cocoa may have an effect on all initial phases of the atherosclerotic process in subjects at high risk of coronary heart disease,” authors wrote. “These anti-inflammatory effects, together with other previously reported effects, including those of antioxidant, anti-platelelet, and positive vascular effects, may contribute to the overall benefits of cocoa consumption against atherosclerosis.”

The study appears in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Communities are finally starting to see payoff from bans on public smoking. The bans, which prohibit smoking in restaurants, health facilities, and businesses, correspond with a decline in the rate of heart attacks.

Information comes from a recent study published in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association. The study is a compilation of nine previously published research articles on the topic. The study notes a decrease in the risk of AMI (acute myocardial infarction), another name for a heart attack.

“The risk of AMI falls rapidly after smoking cessation,” wrote study authors James M. Lightwood, Ph. D, and Stanton A. Glantz, Ph.D. And even those who never light up themselves benefit. “The effects of secondhand smoke (SHS) on many biological mediators that lead to heart disease occur rapidly and are nearly as large as those of smoking.”

Research showed an estimated 15 percent decline in the incidence of heart attacks in the first year of smoking bans alone. Three years following enforcement of the laws saw an even greater decline, roughly 36 percent, with a 40 percent drop in Montana.

Research from five European countries that have adopted similar policies was also examined in this study. Heart attack rates fell a full 11 percent in just two months following a ban on smoking in Italy. Similar statistics were found in Ireland.    

“Secondhand smoke (SHS) increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by 25% to 31% (1–5),” researchers^* from the Kansas University School of Medicine’s Division of Cardiovascular Diseases write. “In countries where smoking prevalence is high, for example, Britain 50%, Europe 62%, and Greece 156%, versus 22% in the U.S., AMI in nonsmokers is particularly increased.”

Individuals who ceased smoking after the laws went into effect were not accounted for, and most of the statistics come from restaurant workers. Although this somewhat limits the data, researchers believe rates are underestimated and expect this trend to continue exponentially as more legislation goes into effect.

Authors of the study write, “Passage of strong smoke-free legislation produces rapid and substantial benefits in terms of reduced AMIs and that these benefits grow with time.”

*David G. Meyers, M.D, M.Ph.; John S. Neuberger, DRPH, M.Ph.; M.B.A., and Jianghua He, Ph.D

Many people are unaware of the dangers of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Unless screened and found early, an abdominal aortic aneurysm can rupture, producing catastrophic bleeding. Less than 40% of patients survive a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.

An aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel becomes abnormally large or balloons outward. The abdominal aorta is a large blood vessel that supplies blood to your abdomen, pelvis, and legs. The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to rupture. It is a medical emergency when an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures.

The cause of abdominal aortic aneurysms is unknown. However, they have been linked to risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, male gender, emphysema, genetic factors, and high cholesterol.

Aneurysms develop slowly over many years and often have no symptoms at all. Your physician may recommend periodic evaluations if an aneurysm is small and there are no symptoms. However, surgery may be recommended for patients with aneurysms larger than 5.5 cm in diameter and aneurysms that rapidly increase in size.

If you have any of the risk factors mentioned, you should consult with your doctor about an abdominal aortic ultrasound screening. To find additional information about abdominal aortic aneurysms, search healia.com.

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Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather, and illness - this is why the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) has designated January as National Blood Donor Month (NBDM).

The AABB, in conjunction with America's Blood Centers and the American Red Cross, is celebrating NBDM 2008 to encourage donors to give or pledge to give blood. Each day in the United States, approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims.

There are three components of blood, the first being red blood cells, which are extracted for use in trauma or surgical patients. Plasma (the liquid part of blood) is administered to patients with clotting problems. The third component of blood (platelets) help form blood clots when cuts or other open wounds occur, and are often used in transplant and cancer patients.

You may be eligible to donate blood if you are at least 17 years of age (some states permit younger people to donate with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, and meet other donor requirements. To find out where you can donate blood, you can use the AABB’s Blood Bank Locator. For more information on blood donation, visit healia.com.

  blood donation National Blood Donor Month (NBDM) American Association of Blood Banks