Study suggests link between diet soda and heart disease / Исследование предполагает, что есть связь между употреблением газированной воды без сахара и сердечными нарушениями

   Holt: we´re back with health news and a study that came out this weekend, suggesting a correlation between heart disease and consuming diet drinks. The research was presented at a meeting of the American college of cardiology in Washington. We get more tonight from NBC´s Kristen Dahlgren.
   Dahlgren: for many americans...
   Woman: actually, that´s all I drink.
   Dahlgren: ... diet drinks...
   Woman: I drink at least two or three a day.
   Dahlgren: ... are a daily staple.
   Woman: I drink it because it has less calories, and I´m always watching my weight.
   Dahlgren: but a new study says older women who drink more diet drinks may have a higher risk of heart disease.
   Vyas: women who consume two or more diet drinks had higher rates of cardiovascular events.
   Dahlgren: the women´s health initiative study looked at 60,000 postmenopausal women over a 9-year span. The women who consumed two or more diet drinks per day were 30% more likely to experience a cardiovascular event and 50% more likely to die from related heart disease than women who never or rarely drank diet drinks. Researchers caution, it may not be a direct cause and effect. The women may be choosing diet drinks to compensate for other unhealthy habits. The researchers did note that the women drinking more diet drinks often did have more risk factors.
   Vyas: a higher proportion of women with a history of diabetes, a higher proportion of women with a history of high blood pressure. They also, on average, consumed higher calories.
   Dahlgren: in a statement, the american beverage association said, because of other factors, it is impossible to attribute their cardiovascular-health issues to their diet-beverage intake. But for researchers looking into the science of heart disease, it is at least cracking the surface.
   Vyas: it raises a challenge to the scientific community to look at this further. And, hopefully, in the near future, we will have a definitive answer to this question.
   Dahlgren: a question that has many wondering whether their favorite drink could have bitter consequences.

Kristen Dahlgren, NBC news, New York.