Researchers investigating the foetal origins of chronic disease have discovered that combinations of a mother’s body size and the shape and size of her baby’s placenta can predict heart disease in men in later life. The research is published online today in the European Heart Journal.
Professor David Barker and colleagues studied 6975 men born in Helsinki (Finland) between 1934-1944 – a time when not only was the babies’ size at birth recorded but also the size of the placental surface. Other available information included details of the mothers’ height and weight in late pregnancy, age, parity, and date of last menstrual period.
They found that there were three combinations of mother’s body size and placental shape and size that predicted coronary heart disease in boys when they reached late adulthood (from about aged 40 onwards):
1. An oval-shaped placental surface in short mothers who had not been pregnant before – the narrower the placental surface in relation to its length, the more the risk of heart disease rose, increasing by 14% for each centimetre increase in the difference between the length and breadth of the surface.
2. A small placental surface in tall, heavy women (those with a body mass index (BMI) over 26 kg/m2, the middle value for the women in the study); in these men their risk of heart disease rose by a quarter (25%) per 40cm2 decrease in the surface area.
3. A large placental weight in relation to birthweight in babies born to tall mothers with a BMI below 26 kg/m2; these men had a seven percent increased risk for every one percent larger ratio of placental weight to birthweight. The associations were independent of the social class of the men or the family into which they were born.
Prof Barker, who is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Southampton (UK) and Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University (USA), has already discovered that there is a link between placental weight and heart disease in later live, but placental weight does not indicate the size of the surface that is available for absorbing and delivering nutrients for the growing baby. “Due to the fact that the shape and size as well as the weight of the placenta were routinely measured at the birth of this group of men, we have been able to show for the first time that a combination of the mother’s body size and the shape and size of the placental surface predicts later heart disease,” he said.
For each of the three combinations, the babies that developed heart disease in later life tended to be thinner than average, which indicated that they were undernourished at birth.
Prof Barker said that he thought the explanation for the first combination (oval placental surface in women who have not been pregnant before) is that “an oval placental surface is an indication that the implantation of the placenta was disrupted in early pregnancy, leading to foetal under-nutrition, which, in turn, programmes coronary heart disease in later life”. The mechanisms that may play a role in disrupting the implantation of the placenta are not yet fully understood.
For the second combination (small placental surface in tall, heavy women), Prof Barker said: “Although the mother is tall and has a BMI of over 26 kg/m2, indicating that she was wellnourished at the time of her pregnancy, placental growth depends on the structure and function of the mother’s uterine wall, which is established during her own foetal life. Therefore, her own foetal experience necessarily affects placentation in her offspring. Foetal growth depends on the availability of nutrients. Restricted placental growth may, paradoxically, have a greater effect in babies who are growing rapidly because their mothers are well-nourished. We think that these babies were able to grow rapidly at first, but the small placenta started to restrict their growth mid-gestation, so that by the time they were born, they were undernourished.”
For the third combination (large placental weight in relation to birthweight in babies born to tall women below the average weight), Prof Barker believes the explanation lies in what the mother ate during pregnancy. “Tallness indicates good nutrition before pregnancy, but their low body mass index indicates poor nutrition during pregnancy,” he said.
Prof Barker says that this research is further evidence of the long-term effect of foetal development. “Chronic disease is the product of a mother’s lifetime nutrition and the early growth of her child. It is not simply a consequence of poor lifestyles in later life. Rather it is a result of variations in the normal processes of human development.”
Now the researchers plan to study the diets and body characteristics (body size and shape, fat and lean mass) of pregnant women, the growth patterns of their babies before birth using ultrasound, and the placentas of their offspring. They hope to discover the links between the mother, her baby’s placenta and the development of the baby’s cardiovascular system in ways that lead to poor liver and vascular function – two of the primary culprits for heart disease in later life.
02 June 2011
Fear of dying during a heart attack is linked to increased inflammation
Intense distress and fear of dying, which many people experience when suffering the symptoms of a heart attack, are not only fairly common emotional responses but are also linked to biological changes that occur during the event, according to new research published online today in the European Heart Journal . These changes, in turn, are associated with other biological processes during the following weeks that can predict a worse outcome for patients.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a medical emergency arising from blockage of the coronary arteries, resulting either in a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or unstable angina. The symptoms are varied, but often include pain in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting. ACS patients are at risk of further heart problems and a worse quality of life in the future.
Researchers in London (UK) set out to discover whether there was an association between the intense emotional responses of patients suffering ACS and levels of a cell-signalling molecule – tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) – that is involved in inducing systemic inflammation. They also wanted to see whether the emotional response and TNF alpha correlated with indicators of worse biological function (and, therefore, worse prognosis) three weeks later.
A total of 208 patients admitted to St George’s Hospital (London, UK) between June 2007 and October 2008, with a diagnosis of ACS were included in the study. The researchers assessed the patients’ level of distress and fear of dying and measured levels of TNF alpha within two to three days of hospital admission. Around three to four weeks after the hospital admission researchers made a home visit to record heart rate variability (HRV) and the stress hormone cortisol. Low levels of cortisol may lead to a failure to control inflammation, while low HRV indicates that the heart is functioning poorly and is a predictor of future cardiac problems.
Professor Andrew Steptoe, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and British Heart Foundation Professor of Psychology at University College London (UK), said: “We found that, first of all, fear of dying is quite common among patients suffering a heart attack; it was experienced by one in five patients. Although survival rates have improved tremendously over the last few decades, many patients remain quite frightened during the experience.
“Secondly, fear of dying is not just an emotional response, but is linked into the biological changes that go on during acute cardiac events. Large inflammatory responses are known to be damaging to the heart, and to increase the risk of longer-term cardiac problems such as having another heart attack. We found that, when compared with a low fear of dying, intense
fear was associated with a four-fold increased risk of showing large inflammatory responses, measured by raised levels of TNF alpha. Interestingly, this was independent of demographic and clinical factors such as the severity of the cardiac event.
“Thirdly, fear of dying and inflammatory responses in turn predicted biological changes in the weeks following an acute cardiac event, namely reduced heart rate variability and alterations in the output of the hormone cortisol. These processes may contribute to poor outcomes in the longer term.”
The level of distress was unrelated to any previous experience of having a heart attack, but the research suggested that intense distress might be stimulated by worse or more painful symptoms during ACS, and then accentuated in patients who are more socially isolated and economically deprived.
Prof Steptoe and his co-authors say that processes underlying the association between the intense emotional responses and higher levels of TNF alpha are not fully understood. However, they may be connected as manifestations of an integrated biological and emotional response to severe injury to the heart.
The findings could suggest new avenues of research to improve the management of ACS patients. “This is an observational study, so we do not know whether helping people overcome their fears would improve the clinical outlook, or whether reducing the levels of acute inflammation would have beneficial emotional effects, but these are possibilities,” said Prof Steptoe. “At the immediate clinical level, we would recommend that doctors talk to patients more about their emotional experience when having a heart attack, rather than just concentrating on the physical outcomes. The two are closely linked, and better information and reassurance could be of great benefit.
“Care for patients with acute heart disease has improved greatly over recent decades, but we are still concerned about people who recover in the short-term, but remain at risk for repeat heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. This research is an illustration of how closely emotional, behavioural and biological responses are integrated. Patients' emotional responses are relevant to how they react biologically, and vice versa.”
In an accompanying editorial, Susanne Pedersen, Professor of Cardiac Psychology at the University of Tilburg (Tilburg, The Netherlands), and colleagues describe Prof Steptoe’s findings as “seminal” and write that they “point towards an avenue worthwhile pursuing for the fields of translational cardiovascular medicine and behavioural cardiology”.
They conclude: “In order to optimize the management and care of CHD [coronary heart disease] patients, we need to acknowledge that emotions carry independent additional risk, with particular subsets of patients dying prematurely due to their psychological vulnerability. Physiological mechanisms may provide part of the answer to the vicious cycle linking emotions
to incident CHD and its progression. Behavioural mechanisms should not be forgotten, as there is an urgent need for more effective lifestyle management in these patients, due to increases in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and no change in the proportion of patients who smoke, despite an increase in the prescription of cardioprotective drugs. The issue of inadequate lifestyle management is unlikely to be resolved without attending to the emotions of our patients, as emotions such as depression play a pivotal role in compliance and adherence. This suggests that the ‘one size fits all approach’ to intervention in CHD patients is unlikely to work and that a personalized medicine approach is warranted.”
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a medical emergency arising from blockage of the coronary arteries, resulting either in a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or unstable angina. The symptoms are varied, but often include pain in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting. ACS patients are at risk of further heart problems and a worse quality of life in the future.
Researchers in London (UK) set out to discover whether there was an association between the intense emotional responses of patients suffering ACS and levels of a cell-signalling molecule – tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) – that is involved in inducing systemic inflammation. They also wanted to see whether the emotional response and TNF alpha correlated with indicators of worse biological function (and, therefore, worse prognosis) three weeks later.
A total of 208 patients admitted to St George’s Hospital (London, UK) between June 2007 and October 2008, with a diagnosis of ACS were included in the study. The researchers assessed the patients’ level of distress and fear of dying and measured levels of TNF alpha within two to three days of hospital admission. Around three to four weeks after the hospital admission researchers made a home visit to record heart rate variability (HRV) and the stress hormone cortisol. Low levels of cortisol may lead to a failure to control inflammation, while low HRV indicates that the heart is functioning poorly and is a predictor of future cardiac problems.
Professor Andrew Steptoe, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and British Heart Foundation Professor of Psychology at University College London (UK), said: “We found that, first of all, fear of dying is quite common among patients suffering a heart attack; it was experienced by one in five patients. Although survival rates have improved tremendously over the last few decades, many patients remain quite frightened during the experience.
“Secondly, fear of dying is not just an emotional response, but is linked into the biological changes that go on during acute cardiac events. Large inflammatory responses are known to be damaging to the heart, and to increase the risk of longer-term cardiac problems such as having another heart attack. We found that, when compared with a low fear of dying, intense
fear was associated with a four-fold increased risk of showing large inflammatory responses, measured by raised levels of TNF alpha. Interestingly, this was independent of demographic and clinical factors such as the severity of the cardiac event.
“Thirdly, fear of dying and inflammatory responses in turn predicted biological changes in the weeks following an acute cardiac event, namely reduced heart rate variability and alterations in the output of the hormone cortisol. These processes may contribute to poor outcomes in the longer term.”
The level of distress was unrelated to any previous experience of having a heart attack, but the research suggested that intense distress might be stimulated by worse or more painful symptoms during ACS, and then accentuated in patients who are more socially isolated and economically deprived.
Prof Steptoe and his co-authors say that processes underlying the association between the intense emotional responses and higher levels of TNF alpha are not fully understood. However, they may be connected as manifestations of an integrated biological and emotional response to severe injury to the heart.
The findings could suggest new avenues of research to improve the management of ACS patients. “This is an observational study, so we do not know whether helping people overcome their fears would improve the clinical outlook, or whether reducing the levels of acute inflammation would have beneficial emotional effects, but these are possibilities,” said Prof Steptoe. “At the immediate clinical level, we would recommend that doctors talk to patients more about their emotional experience when having a heart attack, rather than just concentrating on the physical outcomes. The two are closely linked, and better information and reassurance could be of great benefit.
“Care for patients with acute heart disease has improved greatly over recent decades, but we are still concerned about people who recover in the short-term, but remain at risk for repeat heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. This research is an illustration of how closely emotional, behavioural and biological responses are integrated. Patients' emotional responses are relevant to how they react biologically, and vice versa.”
In an accompanying editorial, Susanne Pedersen, Professor of Cardiac Psychology at the University of Tilburg (Tilburg, The Netherlands), and colleagues describe Prof Steptoe’s findings as “seminal” and write that they “point towards an avenue worthwhile pursuing for the fields of translational cardiovascular medicine and behavioural cardiology”.
They conclude: “In order to optimize the management and care of CHD [coronary heart disease] patients, we need to acknowledge that emotions carry independent additional risk, with particular subsets of patients dying prematurely due to their psychological vulnerability. Physiological mechanisms may provide part of the answer to the vicious cycle linking emotions
to incident CHD and its progression. Behavioural mechanisms should not be forgotten, as there is an urgent need for more effective lifestyle management in these patients, due to increases in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and no change in the proportion of patients who smoke, despite an increase in the prescription of cardioprotective drugs. The issue of inadequate lifestyle management is unlikely to be resolved without attending to the emotions of our patients, as emotions such as depression play a pivotal role in compliance and adherence. This suggests that the ‘one size fits all approach’ to intervention in CHD patients is unlikely to work and that a personalized medicine approach is warranted.”
HEFAME, PREMIADA POR SU CALIDAD EN EL EMPLEO Y RESPONSABILIDAD EMPRESARIAL
El Presidente de Grupo Hermandad Farmacéutica del Mediterráneo (HEFAME), Antonio Abril, ha recibido el premio Institucional de Calidad en el Empleo y Responsabilidad Social Empresarial de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia.El Consejero de Educación, Formación y Empleo de la región de Murcia, Constantino Sotoca, fue el encargado de hacer entrega del premio que celebra este año su III edición. Este galardón de buenas prácticas corporativas fue otorgado a la empresa distinguida por la optimización de sus recursos humanos y su flexibilidad en el empleo que se traducen en una mayor rentabilidad.
Para Antonio Abril, "es una profunda satisfacción esta distinción que como reconocimiento a las políticas de recursos humanos, porque estamos convencidos de que hay elementos claves para que el trabajador se identifique plenamente con su empresa: estabilidad en el empleo, seguridad en el mismo, y por último, flexibilidad en la organización". El Grupo HEFAME recibió varios premios durante los últimos meses de buenas prácticas empresariales en los que la óptima gestión de la parte social de la empresa coadyuva a la mejora de los resultados empresariales por la eficacia que traslada a través de su estructura orgánica. Entre los galardones recibidos destacan el premio nacional y regional de "Empresa Flexible" y el premio "8 de Marzo".
A juicio del Presidente de Grupo HEFAME, "un trabajador es más productivo, cuando sabe que el criterio rector de la organización es el mantenimiento de todos sus puestos de trabajo hasta sus últimas consecuencias. Se identifica más con su empresa y está más motivado. Otros aspectos que le incentivan en labor diaria hacen referencia a la prevención de riesgos laborales y la adopción de medidas que mejoren las condiciones de seguridad y salud".
Fruto de la aplicación de dichas actuaciones, en HEFAME se consiguió reducir el nivel de absentismo en cuatro años, de un 16 a tan solo un 2 por ciento. Estas son cifras tan significativas por sí mismas que demuestran la implicación de los trabajadores en la buena marcha empresarial. Pero además, Antonio Abril, remarcó durante el acto de entrega del galardón que se sigue trabajando en la vía de mejorar las condiciones laborales que mejoran la implicación de los trabajadores en el proceso productivo y por ello, "no es menos importante, el reconocimiento de las medidas de conciliación y flexibilidad de la vida familiar y laboral, para conseguir en definitiva una alta productividad".
El análisis de las células tumorales circulantes en la sangre predice la respuesta al tratamiento del cáncer de colon
“El estudio de las células tumorales circulantes en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal representa un marcador predictivo de primer orden en la evolución de la enfermedad. Por lo tanto nos ayuda a identificar cuál es el tratamiento más eficaz para los afectados”. Así lo ha señalado el profesor Eduardo Díaz-Rubio, jefe del Servicio de Oncología Médica del Hospital Clínico San Carlos de Madrid, durante la conferencia ‘Células tumorales circulantes y cáncer colorrectal avanzado: un nuevo marcador de eficacia’ que ha tenido lugar recientemente en la de la Real Academia Nacional de Medicina (RANM). Ésta es la principal conclusión de un estudio coordinado por el Hospital Clínico San Carlos de Madrid, en el que han participado oncólogos de toda España, y cuyo objetivo ha sido estudiar el comportamiento biológico del tumor colorrectal y su capacidad de respuesta a través del estudio de células tumorales circulantes (CTC) en sangre periférica.
“Extrayendo una pequeña muestra de sangre a los pacientes podemos analizar en apenas 72 horas la cantidad de marcadores tumorales existentes. Estas CTC se relacionan con la respuesta que los pacientes tienen a la quimioterapia y, por tanto, suponen un factor pronóstico y predictivo de la evolución de la enfermedad”. Según explica Díaz-Rubio, “esta prueba es muy útil como factor pronóstico en estos grupos tumorales, ya que los pacientes que tienen mayor número de células tumorales en sangre periférica también presentan peor pronóstico, por lo que en cierta medida determina la actitud terapéutica"
**Publicado en "EL MEDICO INTERACTIVO"
“Extrayendo una pequeña muestra de sangre a los pacientes podemos analizar en apenas 72 horas la cantidad de marcadores tumorales existentes. Estas CTC se relacionan con la respuesta que los pacientes tienen a la quimioterapia y, por tanto, suponen un factor pronóstico y predictivo de la evolución de la enfermedad”. Según explica Díaz-Rubio, “esta prueba es muy útil como factor pronóstico en estos grupos tumorales, ya que los pacientes que tienen mayor número de células tumorales en sangre periférica también presentan peor pronóstico, por lo que en cierta medida determina la actitud terapéutica"
**Publicado en "EL MEDICO INTERACTIVO"
La SEOM insiste "que no hay estudios suficientes" en la relación móvil-cáncer cerebral
El presidente de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM), Emilio Alba, ha afirmado que "no hay estudios suficientes" que certifiquen que utilizar el teléfono móvil podría incrementar el riesgo a desarrollar ciertos tipos de tumores cerebrales, tal y como alertaba la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) el pasado martes, 31 de mayo. A su juicio, el estudio no aporta nada nuevo, ya que el nivel de asociación '2D' de riesgo, que ha sido la calificación de la OMS, "es riesgo potencial asociado a animales", y, por tanto, la actitud de la población debe ser de "tranquilidad". "El estudio implica un nivel de desconocimiento alto", advierte Alba, para quien la alerta de la OMS debe ser un incentivo para seguir investigando, ya que, por el momento, "no aporta ninguna información nueva sobre algo que no hubiera hace 48 horas o hace un año".
Tras dejar claro que desconocer los efectos del uso del móvil no implica que no existan, Alba afirma que, actualmente, "en humanos no hay la más mínima evidencia, no sólo de eso, sino de cuál es el mecanismo de acción por el que ocurriría, ni hay una valoración cuantitativa de, si esto es malo, cuántas horas son negativas o cuánto tiempo pasa hasta que se produce". Por tanto, para el presidente de la SEOM, la investigación presentada por 31 científicos de 14 países reunidos en la Agencia Internacional para la Investigación del Cáncer de la OMS (IARC, siglas en inglés), "no aporta información escrupulosa, ni nueva, ni relevante". Sobre la clasificación, que pone al uso de los teléfonos móviles en el mismo nivel de categoría de riesgo de cáncer de la IARC que el plomo, el cloroformo, la sacarina y el café, ha explicado que no implica una actitud de precaución mayor que la que se sigue con estos productos y "el sentido común indica". No obstante, añade que "los campos electromagnéticos y el cáncer se están estudiando desde hace un tiempo relativamente corto con respecto a otros factores de riesgo porque lleva poco tiempo de uso masivo", y, recuerda, poniendo como ejemplo la relación entre el tabaco y el cáncer de pulmón, que hasta dentro de unos años no se conocerán las implicaciones negativas que puede conllevar el uso de los móviles."En el hipotético caso de que hubiera una relación se tardaría menos tiempo en demostrar que con el tabaco, gracias a la rapidez con la que avanzan las investigaciones epidemiológicas; aunque aún se tardará un tiempo", concluye.
01 June 2011
La hidratación y la glucosa influyen en el rendimiento mental de los estudiantes
Hoy empiezan los exámenes universitarios de junio y a partir de entonces millones de estudiantes se van a enfrentar durante varias semanas a los controles del segundo cuatrimestre. También comienza la cuenta atrás para las pruebas de Selectividad, que inauguran hoy los alumnos de Asturias.
El periodo de exámenes es un momento de gran esfuerzo intelectual que exige estar en un estado óptimo, tanto físico como mental. Si embargo el estrés, la ansiedad y las pocas horas de sueño hacen que la mayoría de los estudiantes descuiden su alimentación y, principalmente, su hidratación.
Lo que la mayoría de los estudiantes desconoce es que la hidratación influye en el rendimiento mental. Esto supone que si no beben lo necesario disminuye su capacidad de memoria a corto plazo, las habilidades aritméticas, la concentración, la capacidad visual, etc. Además, la deshidratación provoca cansancio, dolor de cabeza, dificultad de concentración y malestar general, síntomas que también perjudican las funciones mentales. "En los estudios de investigación que se han realizado se ve que si la hidratación es insuficiente, al igual que ocurre en cualquier otra célula del organismo, también afecta al funcionamiento del cerebro y empeora el rendimiento intelectual en funciones de atención, repetición, matemáticas, etc." explica la doctora Carmen Gómez Candela, Jefa de la Unidad de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética del Hospital La Paz, de Madrid.
Los expertos recomiendan de forma general ingerir entre 2 y 2,5 litros diarios a través de las diferentes bebidas. En época de gran esfuerzo intelectual, como es el caso de los exámenes, además de mantener una buena hidratación que permita desarrollar las habilidades mentales es necesario mantener un nivel óptimo de glucosa, la energía del cerebro.
Las bebidas que contienen azúcares cumplen un importante papel a la hora de aportar glucosa a la mente, ya que mantienen los niveles de atención y mejoran diversos aspectos como la capacidad de reacción, la memoria o el rendimiento intelectual. "No es conveniente que al cerebro le falte glucosa porque es imprescindible para el normal funcionamiento neuronal", indica la doctora Carmen Gómez Candela.
También los alimentos contribuyen a aportar carbohidratos al organismo, como el pan, los cereales, el azúcar o la fruta, por lo que es importante incluirlos en la dieta, especialmente en temporadas de gran esfuerzo mental.
Para maximizar el rendimiento los expertos aconsejan seguir ciertas pautas saludables a la hora de estudiar. Es importante descansar cada cierto tiempo para despejarse y tomar un café o un refresco. "Hay que hacer descansos cada dos horas porque está demostrado que después de ese tiempo el rendimiento intelectual disminuye. Es recomendable también aprovechar esos paréntesis para levantarse, estirar las piernas y beber algo que hidrate y dé energía", aconseja la Jefa de la Unidad de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética del Hospital La Paz. También es importante dormir un mínimo de 8 horas diarias y mantener una alimentación equilibrada que aporte todos los nutrientes que el organismo y el cerebro necesitan para funcionar perfectamente.
El periodo de exámenes es un momento de gran esfuerzo intelectual que exige estar en un estado óptimo, tanto físico como mental. Si embargo el estrés, la ansiedad y las pocas horas de sueño hacen que la mayoría de los estudiantes descuiden su alimentación y, principalmente, su hidratación.
Lo que la mayoría de los estudiantes desconoce es que la hidratación influye en el rendimiento mental. Esto supone que si no beben lo necesario disminuye su capacidad de memoria a corto plazo, las habilidades aritméticas, la concentración, la capacidad visual, etc. Además, la deshidratación provoca cansancio, dolor de cabeza, dificultad de concentración y malestar general, síntomas que también perjudican las funciones mentales. "En los estudios de investigación que se han realizado se ve que si la hidratación es insuficiente, al igual que ocurre en cualquier otra célula del organismo, también afecta al funcionamiento del cerebro y empeora el rendimiento intelectual en funciones de atención, repetición, matemáticas, etc." explica la doctora Carmen Gómez Candela, Jefa de la Unidad de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética del Hospital La Paz, de Madrid.
Los expertos recomiendan de forma general ingerir entre 2 y 2,5 litros diarios a través de las diferentes bebidas. En época de gran esfuerzo intelectual, como es el caso de los exámenes, además de mantener una buena hidratación que permita desarrollar las habilidades mentales es necesario mantener un nivel óptimo de glucosa, la energía del cerebro.
Las bebidas que contienen azúcares cumplen un importante papel a la hora de aportar glucosa a la mente, ya que mantienen los niveles de atención y mejoran diversos aspectos como la capacidad de reacción, la memoria o el rendimiento intelectual. "No es conveniente que al cerebro le falte glucosa porque es imprescindible para el normal funcionamiento neuronal", indica la doctora Carmen Gómez Candela.
También los alimentos contribuyen a aportar carbohidratos al organismo, como el pan, los cereales, el azúcar o la fruta, por lo que es importante incluirlos en la dieta, especialmente en temporadas de gran esfuerzo mental.
Para maximizar el rendimiento los expertos aconsejan seguir ciertas pautas saludables a la hora de estudiar. Es importante descansar cada cierto tiempo para despejarse y tomar un café o un refresco. "Hay que hacer descansos cada dos horas porque está demostrado que después de ese tiempo el rendimiento intelectual disminuye. Es recomendable también aprovechar esos paréntesis para levantarse, estirar las piernas y beber algo que hidrate y dé energía", aconseja la Jefa de la Unidad de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética del Hospital La Paz. También es importante dormir un mínimo de 8 horas diarias y mantener una alimentación equilibrada que aporte todos los nutrientes que el organismo y el cerebro necesitan para funcionar perfectamente.
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