How did everyone spend Valentine’s Day this year? My husband and I enjoyed Georgian cuisine! While Georgian meat dishes are truly exquisite, their vegetarian menu is also incredibly rich and flavorful, packed with cheese.
But behind these delicious meals lies a topic that might give you pause: heart health. Today, I’d like to share some important knowledge with you all to help protect our bodies.
The former Soviet Union and Eastern European regions, including Georgia, are actually said to have the highest rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the world relative to their populations. The main reasons are high salt intake, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Inadequate management of hypertension also appears to be a factor.
On the other hand, the countries with the overwhelmingly largest number of patients—not just relative to their populations—are China, India, and the United States. While diet is certainly a major factor, the homes we live in may also harbor unexpected causes.
Have you ever heard of the term “organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs)”? These are chemicals used to protect us from fire. Their use increased as a “replacement” for the previously dominant component (PBDEs), which was restricted due to concerns about its tendency to accumulate in the body.
However, recent studies have uncovered mounting evidence that these OPFRs cause oxidative stress and metabolic disorders, increasing the risk of heart disease.
OPFRs are actually hidden all over your home.
- Living room: Sofa, armchair, and office chair cushioning.
- Bedroom: Pillows and mattress toppers.
- Children’s items: Car seats, strollers, and changing pads.
- Electronics: Plastic parts and internal wiring in televisions and computers.
- Building materials: Floor wax, insulation, and adhesives.
These chemicals are merely “mixed into” products, so over time they evaporate into the air or become “dust” through physical wear and tear, accumulating in rooms. Children require particular attention. Children, who spend time close to the floor and are prone to putting their hands in their mouths, are at the highest risk of ingesting these chemicals along with the dust. Furthermore, it is said they are also affected by direct absorption through the skin from fabrics like pajamas and sheets, as well as through food grown in contaminated soil.
When OPFRs enter the body, they cause three harmful effects on the heart.
- Heart “rust” and “cell death”: They attack the energy factories (mitochondria) within heart cells, damaging them. As this progresses, the heart muscle weakens, leaving “scars” on the heart.
- Stiffening of blood vessels: They interfere with the function of “nitric oxide,” which relaxes blood vessels. This causes blood vessels to harden, raising blood pressure and accelerating atherosclerosis.
- Cholesterol Traffic Jam: It blocks receptors (LXR) that should transport excess cholesterol away. Lipids with nowhere to go accumulate in the vessel walls, forming plaque that causes heart attacks and strokes.
The Smart Choice We Can Make
You might feel scared, but there’s a way to avoid it!
If you live in the U.S. or are considering imported furniture, please check the legal label (white tag) found under furniture cushions.
- Look for the notation “Technical Bulletin 117-2013” and choose items where the box next to “NO flame retardants added” is checked.
- Also, consider the following safety marks as a reference:
- CertiPUR-US: Certifies foam made without harmful flame retardants.
- GREENGUARD Gold: Indicates products with low chemical emissions.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100: Confirms textile products have passed testing for harmful substances.
Also frequent vacuuming and wet dusting are important to keep air clean!
Start replacing everyday items with safer alternatives. These small, smart choices will protect your health and that of your loved ones for years to come.
What labels did you find on the furniture and electronics around your home? Be sure to check them out!
Your Body, Your Health, Your Life 