macro

A macro study confirms that early menopause increases the risk of heart attack and stroke

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When we think of the menopausesocial and medical conversation is usually limited to obvious and short-term symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia or the closure of the fertile period. However, this phase in the life of any woman has implications that go much further in terms of health as it involves a great metabolic and, above all, vascular change. A new vision. Now, the largest international study carried out to date has confirmed a reality by pointing out that when menopause comes early, the risk of suffering a myocardial infarction or stroke increases drastically, remaining stable independent of other traditional risk factors. The magnitude of the study. The research, to reach these conclusions with practically unwavering solidity, has resorted to the PURE-based macro-study, closely following a massive cohort of 111,619 women from 26 different countries, recording their clinical evolution for an average of 14.6 years. And the experts already point out that we are facing a methodological turning point in female cardiology. In figures. The findings evident in this study clearly segment the risk based on the age at which the end of menstruation occurs: When menopause occurs before the age of 40, it is called ‘premature menopause’ and carries between 27% and 30% greater risk of suffering major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks. In the case of a menopause between 40 and 45 years of age, it is called ‘early’ and registers a 14% higher risk of presenting cardiac complications. It is a risk factor. The most robust and worrying data provided by the research is that this increase in cardiovascular risk persists practically unchanged even after the researchers statistically adjusted the models to isolate some classic variables such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking or a sedentary lifestyle. This means that early loss of ovarian function is an independent risk factor in itself for these serious problems to occur. Because? The medical explanation behind this phenomenon lies in the abrupt loss of what cardiologists call the “estrogen shield.” It must be kept in mind that during the fertile age, estrogenic hormones exert a fundamental protective role in the circulatory system through various mechanisms, such as keeping cholesterol and triglyceride levels at bay. But estrogens also keep veins and arteries in good condition, promoting vascular relaxation and inhibiting the accumulation of body fat in arterial walls. Additionally, when estrogen levels fall prematurely, the process of forming lipid deposits in the arteries progresses at a much faster rate. The economic gap. One of the most innovative and alarming points of the PURE study is how the geographical context radically alters the impact of early menopause. And its conclusions show how the impact on cardiovascular health is almost double in low-resource countries compared to rich nations. For example, in countries such as Pakistan, Tanzania, Bangladesh, India and Zimbabwe, an overwhelming 43% of postmenopausal women had experienced early menopause. But in rich nations like Canada or Sweden the figure drops to 23%. A nuance. The authors introduce an important warning, since in countries with very precarious economies, chronic malnutrition usually causes what is known as hypothalamic amenorrhea, since the body prioritizes living over maintaining other functions such as reproductive functions. And although this confusion could partially inflate the statistical gap between rich and poor countries, the study clarifies that it does not in any way invalidate the main conclusion of the study: on a global level, without estrogen, the heart suffers. Images | Molly Wichman In Xataka | Nuria Marín, menopause expert: “Women continue to look for answers outside the health system”

a macro study reveals the exact heart rate to minimize the risk of stroke

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Nowadays we monitor our vital signs, such as heart rateon the wrist itself thanks to smartwatches and activity bracelets that constantly tell us how many beats per minute our heart beats at rest. This information is vital, since traditionally it is believed that having an excessively high number is an indication that something bad is happening in the heart. The middle point is the best. In medicine, both due to excess and scarcity, we can find a scenario that is pathological, and that is why, although we relate high heart rate as something very negative, we must keep in mind that having them excessively low It is not always positive. This is the main conclusion of a pioneering research presented at the European Stroke Organization Conference, and although it has yet to undergo review, its foundations are extraordinarily solid, based on the analysis of 460,000 participants over 14 years. Crossing data. Of all these people analyzed, the researchers were especially interested in their medical histories and the diseases they presented, highlighting the registration of a total of 12,290 cases of stroke during the decade and a half of follow-up. But what is truly important here is when these records were crossed with the resting heart rate data of the participants, discovering a very clear pattern by showing a risk graph in the shape of a ‘U’ and not a straight line. Its meaning. The fact that a graph with this shape has been generated tells us that the optimal heart rate level is between 60 and 69 beats per minute, since these people were the ones with the lowest risk of suffering from a stroke. The problem is that, when the heart rate at rest exceeds 90 bpm, the risk of suffering a stroke increases by up to 45%, both ischemic and hemorrhagic. But in the case of having excessively low heart rate, the risk also increases, so we cannot be completely calm if we have 50 bpm at rest. Atrial fibrillation. Until now, medicine was very clear that severe arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation They were determining risk factors for suffering a stroke. But now this study adjusted the data specifically to separate people with and without atrial fibrillation, showing that resting heart rate is, on its own, an independent prognostic marker. Because? Although this study gives us a lot of information, the reality is that previous medical literature already offered a fairly rigorous explanation as to why a low or high heart rate had implications for strokes. In this case, an excessively low frequency can alter cerebral hemodynamics, causing blood to pass too slowly through the brain, and facilitating the formation of thrombi in certain contexts, especially when there are more risk factors. On the other side of the scale, when the frequency is chronically high, we have the layer of our blood vessels exposed to blood flow, exposed to constant mechanical stress that favors inflammation, hypertension and vascular damage, as has been shown in previous studies. Preventive medicine. These findings are good news for patients, especially older patients, since it is a new parameter that can predict the possibility of something as serious as a stroke occurring. This allows, especially in primary care, to better control the heart rate and not miss when it goes too fast or too slow, since the consequences can be fatal. Images | freepik In Xataka | We cannot predict a stroke, but we can avoid its main risk factors: reducing the danger is in our power

The Seville Fair is growing so much that it is no longer just the great macro event in Andalusia: it is the ‘Coachella castiza’

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The Seville Fair wants to grow. And it is understandable. A year ago, when he announced his plans to tug to the fairgrounds, the mayor of Seville already warned that although right now the quote adds up to around a thousand booths There are many other applications waiting. Added to this enormous demand is the tourist success of the event, its ability to attract thousands and thousands of visitors and its economic potential, which translates into a trickle of million euros. There is, however, an even greater merit than Seville can boast: its fair is emerging as the largest macro event of Andalusia, a sort of traditional Coachella that grows while other fairs in the region stagnate or even decay. A ‘pure Coachella’? Yeah. The expression may seem shocking, but saving the obvious distances between the Californian event and the one in Seville, the truth is that both events share some parallels. The first and most obvious are the dates. The second. that both one and the other have become macro events referential, capable of attracting thousands of visitorsgenerate a millionaire business and above all overshadow other quotes of a similar nature. In a way, it also confirms a trend that has been taking shape in a more or less diffuse way in recent years: the festival calendar is polarizing between massive events, such as the April Fair in Seville, capable of attracting crowds and, above all, being promoted thanks to the tourismand others micro events with a much more modest, specialized and local approach. Between both categories there is an increasingly eclipsed dating ‘middle class’. Question of fairs and magnetism. Andalusia leaves a good example of the above. Although many more fairs are held in the region, such as Our Lady of Health in Córdoba (May), the Sherry horse (May), the Corpus Christi of Granada (June), the Malaga fair (August) or Saint Luke of Jaén (October), the one in Seville is probably the one that has achieved the greatest impact. And that is something that can be measured in two ways: through social networks, where it has become an viral phenomenonand in figures of both attendance and business generated. To confirm the first comes with taking a walk through Instagram or TikTok, where the fair has been gaining weight converted into a unifying and touristic event. Beyond the party, for Sevillians it is an opportunity to show their national pride. For those who live far from their cultural code, especially for visitors, it is an exotic event. Question of figures. Regarding the second, the figures are overwhelming. Last year the Seville City Council estimated in 2 billion of euros the economic impact of the fair, a figure largely justified by the high hotel occupancy (and the average price of accommodation) that Seville reaches on those days. Some sources slide This calculation also includes Holy Week, which is celebrated shortly before, but even so the figure is more than considerable. Regarding the volume of visitors, in the last few years The influx at Real de Los Remedios, the place where the fair is held, has been estimated at three million of people. As a reference, in Malaga they calculate that the shows at their fair attracted around 966,000 visitors. The event is in fact so attractive that in Madrid they have already promoted an initiative to organize its own April Fair, a macro event which aims to attract around 800,000 visitors. Fairs that grow… and fall. Aside from the visitor balances, hotel occupancy or business estimates, there is an interesting fact to understand the thrust of the Sevillian fair. Last year the City Council confirmed his plans to give it a ‘growth spurt’, providing the Real de la Feria with new streets and 220 extra booths. The reason? “Currently there are almost a thousand booths and there are another thousand applications from people waiting,” explained the first mayor, José Luis Sanz. The Seville City Council is so determined to undertake the expansion that the project has even caused a little crisis with the Government, owner of the land. The scenario contrasts with that experienced, for example, by the Córdoba Fair, which this year will feature 82 booths. This is relevant information because, as remember theDiaryare four less than in 2025 and mark a historical minimum for the event. New proof that the calendar is increasingly divided between celebrations supported by tourism and others with a more local focus. Images | Laura Liñán Jaén (Flickr) 1 and 2 In Xataka | Recording drunk people at the April Fair has become a tradition. The fines for doing so are not so fun.

A macro study warns that well-being plummets if you have not had a partner at 25

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There was a time when being single at 20 was something seen as a style of independence and self-discovery. However, science has put a figure on a table that changes this concept that we could have in our minds: from the age of 25, the emotional well-being of those who have never had a relationship begins to suffer. A change of vision. It was the University of Zurich which has decided to take the step of investigating the “social clock” of the youngest in society, which has given an article published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Right now, many studies were focused on the impact of dating apps and how the flirting paradigm has changed today. But they have taken a turn to investigate 17,390 young people from Germany and the United Kingdom, tracking their lives from ages 16 to 29 with the aim of correlating their emotional life with their romantic situation. A “single” profile. One of the conclusions most striking of the research of Michael Kremer and his team are the ones who stay single the longest. Against the stereotype that being single is a purely bohemian choice, data shows clear patterns. First of all, men are more likely to remain single for a long timeThat is, they have never had a romantic relationship. But in addition, there is a direct correlation with a high academic training, since young people with higher educational levels They tend to delay their first relationship. The environment. But a great paradigm shift in recent years is undoubtedly in poor access to housing. The fact that many young people continue to live with their parents is undoubtedly a great determining factor in this love trajectory for young people. The turning point. Until age 23 or 24, there are no critical differences in life satisfaction between those who have had a partner and those who have not. However, upon crossing the 25-year threshold, the gap widens. In this case, the researchers detected that young people who have never been in a relationship show significantly higher levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms as they approach 30. According to the authors, this is because the social environment begins to put pressure implicitly, and the comparison with peers (who already establish long-term commitments) generates a feeling of exclusion. The healing power. But beyond the negative part for all those who have spent 25 years without a partner, the reality is that they have also seen that the first relationship It has incredible healing power. Especially when we talk about these long-term singles who find a partner. The transition to the first relationship brings an immediate increase in life satisfaction and a drastic drop in feelings of loneliness. Interestingly, although loneliness decreases, depressive symptoms take longer to stabilize, suggesting that the lack of previous experience leaves an emotional imprint that is not instantly erased with the first “I love you.” Social pressure. This work opens an interesting debate about mental health in the era of dating apps and job insecurity. Although society increasingly values ​​autonomy, the human brain appears to still respond to traditional social milestones. For Michael Krämer and his team, the problem is not singleness itself, but the mismatch between the desire for connection and the reality of a solitary life that extends beyond what the individual, or his or her environment, considers “normal.” And today there is above all pressure from the family that does not stop asking classic questions about when someone is going to have a partner to take them to family events. This is nothing more than a big problem for young people who see how they are arriving late to something that for many people is normal, especially if we look at the past where relationships and marriages increasingly emerged much earlier. Images | Vitaly Gariev In Xataka | Traditional couples have always aspired to live under the same roof. The LAT believes it is a huge mistake

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