AAcckk! Off-topic bad science (RJV)

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RJV
Another recent study suggests that regular blood loss decreases your
chance of heart attacks.  The study pointed out the lower incidence of
heart attacks in pre-menopausal women compared with similar-risk factor
males and then noted that post-menopausal women have the same risk of
heart attack as men in the same age group.  The study suggested more
research, but implied that regular blood loss such as donation could
reduce the risk of a heart attack.  Unfortunately, I cannot find the
article in which I read this in, but perhaps someone else has heard of
this and could give me a reference...

PHIPPS
Pee-u !  What a stinker.  (Not you, Jason.  The study)  It's way
of-topic, but I've *gotta* respond.
Maybe there's more to the study than this, and if so I'm happy to
retract.  But there are just so many other differences in the
physiologies (and statistically in the lifestyles) of the genders, that
to say the heart attack risk is related to the relatively minor amount
of blood loss seems wildly speculative.  

A better study would be to look at regular blood donors of the same
gender.  The first objection would be that maybe people who give blood
frequently tend to be better-educated, wealthier, etc -- but that's why
you match your populations in such a study: to cancel out such
differences as lifestyle and pre-existing illness.

No sir, I don't like it! 

All that said with the proviso that I believe the underlying fact may be
true:  occasional blood loss can have beneficial effects.  I am thinking
mainly of the proliferation of specific clones of immune effector cells
(particularly memory cells) after blood loss.  

peace,
jp

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