New research: Not breastfeeding increases risk of stroke, heart attack

[BellyBelly]

New research shows breastfeeding reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart attack. (From The Examiner).

December 27, 2:45

* Mothers who did not breastfed were five times more likely to have arterial calcifications which can cause stroke and heart attack.
* Researchers believe apparent benefit stems from how the body stores fat and how it is used (or not used) after pregnancy.
* Study looked at breastfeeding duration of three months; WHO and AAP recommend minimum of six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

A study to be published in the January 2010 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that women who do not breastfeed their infants are at increased risk for future cardiovascular disease.

Researchers studied nearly 300 women between the ages of 45-58 years who were part of a nationwide study on heart health and who had given birth at least once. They found that mothers who had never breastfed were much more likely to have calcification or plaque in their coronary artery, aorta and carotid artery. Over time, these deposits can build up and restrict blood flow and cause stroke or heart attack.

The study found that 32% of the women who had not breastfed had coronary artery calcification, compared with 17% of the breastfeeding moms. The researchers found calcifications in 39% of the aortas of women who hadn't breastfed, versus 17% of the women who had. They also found plaque deposits in the carotid artery of 18% of the women who had not breastfed and 10% of those who had. After adjusting for variables such as socioeconomic status, family history, lifestyle factors, risk factors and body mass, researchers concluded that women who had never breastfed were five times more likely to have artery calcifications than were women who had breastfed.

The study's lead author, Dr. Eleanor Schwarz, has said that she believes that the heart health benefits from breastfeeding stem from the way the body stores and utilizes fat deposits after pregnancy. "A woman's body expects to go through pregnancy and then lactation," Schwarz explained. "During pregnancy, a woman's body stores fat that it expects to release during lactation. If women don't breastfeed, then the body has to deal with excessive fat."

Schwarz's team emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding and encourages mothers to try to breastfeed for at least three months, which was the length of time used in her study. Medical organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend a minimum of six months of exclusive breastfeeding for optimal growth and development.

[maz]

that is just scarey as hell!

[Tinks]

Looks like I'm a gonner.

[kirsty_lee]

Looks like I'm a gonner.

:yeahthat:

[Pooley]

Yeah, me 3

[Trillian]

Don't look at it like that. This was a small study but it does give some insight into the benefit of breastfeeding. It doesn't mean that if you didn't do what their recommendation was that you are doomed to die, it is just another way of finding out what potential health benefits there are and what this means in our long term health.

[BellyBelly]

As far as I could read, it did not say 100% of women who don't breastfeed will die. It's information; only you can choose how to react to it and what you get out of it.

[Tinks]

I don't want to offend you Kelly and I don't want to start a debate either. I understand the reasons for you posting this article but I can't pretend it didn't offend or upset me particurlarly since formula feeding wasn't a choice for me, it was either that or my children starved.

[Trillian]

You have to take the emotion out of it when you read stuff like this. I never BF for as long as they suggested either but I'm not concerned one bit by reading this. This information just tells me that I need to do in my life what BF didn't do. Think outside the square for one moment and see this for what it is. We are all for wome being able to access information and to learn from studies like this, but as soon as it makes you feel threatened the hackles go up andall of a sudden someone is offended. What is the point of having this information at our fingertips if as soon as you read something that upsets you, you emotionally put your hands over your ears, close your eyes and start shouting "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA" we cannot block out this stuff simply because it upsets us. We choose the way in which we react to anything. How about looking at it from this perspective. BFing is supposed to reduce the chance of you getting breast cancer. Now I'm sure that gem of a statistic is a real comfort to those women who carry the breast cancer gene. I saw a doco on the ABC last night about 3 sisters who all carry the gene and it focused on one woman who had a double mastectomy and before the op she lamented about her breasts and said how much she loved them and why she loved them. She loved the way they changed during her cycle, she loved that they breastfed her child. In theory her chances of breast cancer should be less according to all the studies, but do you think that she was going to let that small chance battle against a defective cancer gene? No way! she was taking a proactive stance in her life. This study doesn't even mean that women who DID breastfeed for the recommended length of time are protected either, just that their overall risk is reduced, not removed.

ETA - just want to clarify that I don't mean 'you' as in you personally, but 'you' as in the general public.

[lauren22]

You have to take the emotion out of it when you read stuff like this. I never BF for as long as they suggested either but I'm not concerned one bit by reading this. This information just tells me that I need to do in my life what BF didn't do. Think outside the square for one moment and see this for what it is. We are all for wome being able to access information and to learn from studies like this, but as soon as it makes you feel threatened the hackles go up andall of a sudden someone is offended. What is the point of having this information at our fingertips if as soon as you read something that upsets you, you emotionally put your hands over your ears, close your eyes and start shouting "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA" we cannot block out this stuff simply because it upsets us. We choose the way in which we react to anything. How about looking at it from this perspective. BFing is supposed to reduce the chance of you getting breast cancer. Now I'm sure that gem of a statistic is a real comfort to those women who carry the breast cancer gene. I saw a doco on the ABC last night about 3 sisters who all carry the gene and it focused on one woman who had a double mastectomy and before the op she lamented about her breasts and said how much she loved them and why she loved them. She loved the way they changed during her cycle, she loved that they breastfed her child. In theory her chances of breast cancer should be less according to all the studies, but do you think that she was going to let that small chance battle against a defective cancer gene? No way! she was taking a proactive stance in her life. This study doesn't even mean that women who DID breastfeed for the recommended length of time are protected either, just that their overall risk is reduced, not removed.

[Rouge]

Well I'm half a gonner and half not... oh and I smoked and I drink and I do a lot of things... but y'know I want to know.

Let's not be defeatist. Lets be grateful for the knowledge. It's not an attack it's a fact. YOU make it personal. The information is just that information. I don't see anyone's names in there?

[Laranna]

As far as I could read, it did not say 100% of women who don't breastfeed will die. It's information; only you can choose how to react to it and what you get out of it.

Well we are all going to die one day whether we breastfeed or not

Trillian - well said

And besides, what about those women who don't have babies so don't breastfeed, are their risks of stroke/heart attack increased too? Sooo many more variables to consider than what the study covers.

[Amity]

100% of non breastfeeding women will die. 100% of breastfeeding women will die. We will all die of SOMETHING.

Sure I breastfed SOME. Not much, but some. But I'm significantly overweight (BMI >40) and have a family history of stroke and heart attack. I don't exercise. And I most probably have the colon cancer gene (having found out less than a month ago after my grandfather nearly died from malignant colon cancer).

I will die of something. I'm sure of it. And lots of things will have contributed to whatever I die from: breastfeeding (or lack of it) is only one part of it. The above information is just that - something interesting to look at and take from what you wish.