William Atkins
Saturday, 27 June 2009 19:04
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
The results of the NFL/CARDIA medical study showed the following major conclusions:
SMOKING: The NFL players were less likely to smoke when compared to the CARDIA men. Ony 0.1% of the NFL players smoked, while 30.5% of the CARDIA men smoked.
GLUCOSE: The NFL players had significantly lower prevalence of impaired fasting glucose, 6.7% versus 15.5%, then the other men.
CHOLESTEROL: Both groups had the same prevalence of high total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), or high triglycerides. Thus, the NFL players and the CARDIA men have similar levels of dyslipidemia, which is an elevation in the amount of lipids in the blood (that is often due to lifestyle and diet).
HYPERTENSION: The NFL players had more hypertension, 13.7% versus 5.5%, than the CARDIA men. Fourteen percent of the NFL players had high blood pressure of at least 140 over 90, compared with less than 6% of the CARDIA men.
In addition, 65% of the football players but only 24% of the CARDIA control group had higher than the average blood pressure, which for men in their late 20s is 120 over 80.
Dr. Tucker stated, “The size differential doesn’t account for the difference in blood pressure. There’s something about being an NFL player that accounts for it.” [Science News:
"NFL heart profile good, with a caveat”] The Science News article stated, “
He [Tucker] hypothesizes the extensive weightlifting might have an effect.”
Page three concludes.
