There's a new study out that says higher levels of the hormone estrogen are associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death in both men and women. Sudden cardiac death can occur when the heart suddenly and expectedly stops beating. Each year in the United States more than 350,000 people die of sudden cardiac death.

Researchers examined data from people in the Portland, Oregon area who suffered sudden cardiac death or had coronary artery disease. Test of plasma taken at the time of death or during a doctor's visit indicated that both groups had a similar proportion of common heart risk factors like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Researchers found that estrogen levels were much higher and the testosterone to estrogen ratio was lower in both men and women who suffered sudden cardiac death. But this didn't prove a cause and effect link between higher estrogen levels and sudden cardiac death.

However, the findings could help identify patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest and death.

We all know there are many health threats associated with obesity. They range from diabetes to heart disease and more. But a new study says the widening American waistline may be feeding an epidemic of sleep apnea, potentially robbing millions of Americans a good night's sleep.

They haven't established a definitive link between obesity and sleep apnea, but study author Paul Peppard believes the findings show a big spike in sleep apnea cases over the past two decades - as much as 55% - may translate to the entire United States.

Peppard estimates there are probably 4 million to 5 million people who are more likely to have sleep apnea due to the obesity epidemic. At the very least, he calls it an uncalculated cost of the obesity epidemic, an epidemic of its own.

Sleep apnea is the main cause of breathing problems during sleep. People with the condition often have trouble staying in deep sleep because their throats close, blocking their airways and requiring them to partially awaken to start breathing properly. They don't realize this is happening and may become very sleepy during the day.

Sleep apnea has also been tied to being tired being the wheel of a car and heart problems.

We hear so much about what can affect the heart, both good and bad. Exercise, especially cardio, is said to be good for the heart because it's a muscle and that only strengthens that muscle. Bacon, red meat and other fatty foods are basically bad for the heart. But have you ever heard that noise can be bad for the heart? Check this out.

A new smaller study says minor noise that fills everyday life, from the ring of a cellphone to the conversation that follows, may have short term effects on heart function.

110 adults were equipped with portable heart monitors. Researchers found that heart rates tended to climb as their noise exposure increased. That's even when the noise remained below 65 decibels. That's about as loud as a normal conversation or laughter. The good news is there was no negative impact on their heart rate variability. That's the interval between heartbeats.

So no real need to wear earplugs to protect your heart. For any one person, the effect of noise on the heart rate may be small. But the louder the noise, the more impact they found. They found a link between loud workplaces and an increased risk of heart disease. The evidence is more mixed when it comes to community sounds, like traffic noise.

The other reason why it may affect some more than others is that they could be more sensitive to noise.