Eating a heavy meal can trigger a heart attack in much the same way as extreme physical exertion might - particularly in someone with heart disease. Researchers reported at the American Heart Association meeting in November that an unusually heavy meal may increase the risk of heart attack by about 4 times within 2 hours after eating. In a study of nearly 2000 people who had had a heart attack, about 8% had consumed a heavy meal within 26 hours preceding the heart attack. Researchers said the most critical time period was the 2 hours immediately before the heart attack. It didn't matter what time of day the heavy meal was eaten.

Heavy meals can adversely affect the heart in a number of ways. Eating and digesting food releases hormones into the bloodstream. These substances increase the heart rate and blood pressure and may also increase the substances that help form clots. The temporary rise in blood pressure increases oxygen requirements and creates an extra burden on the heart. High blood pressure may also rupture cholesterol plaques in the arterial wall, triggering the formation of a clot that can block a blood vessel, causing a heart attack or stroke.

We've always known that overindulging isn't a good idea - and now here's another good reason to eat reasonably.

Source:  Lopez-Jimenez F, report at American Heart Association meeting, Nov. 14, 2000.