The Powerful Legacy of 280,000 Nurses
In 1976, researchers needed a group of women to participate in a study on the long-term effects of birth control pills— and other diseases affecting women. The NIH-funded Nurses’ Health Studies (NHS) chose nurses for their knowledge of health and disease processes, their ability to complete technically worded questionnaires accurately, and their anticipated long-term motivation. (1)
Initially,122,000 answered the call to participate. Amazingly, 90% of them are still enrolled over 40 years later! (2)
What Are the Nurses’ Health Studies?
Now in Phase Three, the NHS’s scope of inquiry has expanded to include lifestyle factors, genetics, neuropsychology, cognitive decline, and many various disease processes. And… male nurses are now included!
A total of 280,000 dedicated nurses have completed long questionnaires, undergone repeated exams, submitted blood and urine specimens, toenail clippings and cheek swabs — all for the sake of helping people live longer, healthier lives! I find that inspiring.
The Nurses’ Health Studies have published groundbreaking discoveries in almost every health-related magazine and medical journal throughout the years. Around 1200 in all!
“The NHS has been a milestone because it is providing the most detailed information anywhere in the world on diet and many other factors, operating across the lifespan, in relation to almost all major diseases in women. It has influenced public health policy and practice both locally and globally to improve women’s health,” NHS Investigator Walter Willett, MD, MPH, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, said in a statement. (3)
Impact of the NHS Findings
Here are a few examples of changes that were made in public health policies and practices as a direct result of NHS findings:
Regulated hormone therapy: Over 20 years of data showed that breast cancer risk increases with long-term use of postmenopausal hormone therapy. Once established, this fact changed the widespread practice of prescribing hormone replacement to most postmenopausal women — and instead encouraged risk-benefit discussions and limited duration use. (4)
Safer birth control pills: Discovery of the correlation between oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease caused two changes: healthcare providers changed their prescribing practices, and pharmaceutical companies reformulated the birth control pills. (3)
Dangerous Fat Labeling: New evidence linking trans fats with cardiovascular disease and diabetes compelled both the U.S. and Canada to require the listing of trans fats on all food labels in 2003. At the same time, “partially hydrogenated oils” were labeled as not GRAS (Generally recognized as safe) by the FDA. These actions alone are estimated to have resulted in significant decreases of both diseases. (4)
Not only have their findings pushed for tangible change in healthcare, evidence from the Nurses’ Health Studies’ also revealed these lifestyle insights: (4)
Moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days correlates with a decrease in risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Approximately 90% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented by diet and lifestyle modifications alone.
Obesity contributes significantly to the risk of heart disease, stroke, breast and colon cancers, type 2 diabetes, and serious eye diseases.
80% of coronary heart disease could be prevented by avoiding smoking, following a healthy diet (high in fiber, low in “bad” fats), and moderate daily exercise.
Breast cancer risk is increased with red meat and alcohol intake, even at low levels. Risk goes down with higher intake of fiber, fruits, and vegetables.
Eating a Mediterranean diet (high in antioxidants, nuts) correlates with higher cognitive function.
The strongest risk factor for type 2 diabetes is excess body fat.
But these are not just interesting data points to ponder. Knowledge is powerful — if applied.
When I worked as an RN in the Coronary Care Unit of a large hospital, I observed a revolving door of heart patients— in and out for various heart events, with patch-ups in between. That’s when I became interested in helping people learn how to prevent and avoid disease by choosing a healthy lifestyle. And it has become my passion.
Many of my clients and class participants, motivated by these (and other) research findings, have made transforming life changes, with near-miraculous health results!
We owe a debt of gratitude to the 208,000 committed nurses for their important contributions to NHS’ life-saving gold mine of wisdom. It is a powerful legacy.
But let’s not stop there. Let’s resolve to extend that legacy — by giving life to the data through our own healthy choices and actions — and then share it with others.
What steps can you take today to safeguard your most valuable asset — your health? After all, we can’t take care of our business, or anyone else, without it!
To learn how you can be a part of the current Nurses’ Health Studies, go to www.nhs3.org.
Sources:
Nurses Health Studies.org. https://nurseshealthstudy.org/about-nhs/key-contributions-scientific-knowledge
The Nurses’ Health Study: Celebrating 40 Years of Vital Contributions to Public Health. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 2016 Aug. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2016/08/16/nurses-health-study-40-year-anniversary-ajph/
Krisberg, K. Findings from Nurses’ Health Study Benefit Women’s Health, The Nations Health, 2013 Nov/Dec;4 (9):1-12.
Key research findings from the Nurses’ Health Studies. Nurses’ Health Study.
Colditz GA, Philpott SE, Hankinson SE. The Impact of the Nurses' Health Study on Population Health: Prevention, Translation, and Control. Am J Public Health, 2016 Sep;106(9):1540-1545.
