Genders Differences in Heart Disease Reported July 10, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Some women taking high blood pressure medication to prevent heart disease may want to consider another course of action, according to a new study. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Western countries for both men and women, but a woman’s risk of developing the disease is … [Read more...]

Garlic Stinks at Lowering Cholesterol Reported February 28, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Garlic has long been thought to lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and improve heart health, but a new study suggests otherwise. Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif., studied adults … [Read more...]

Fruit Juices Hamper Drugs’ Benefits Reported August 20, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Washing down your medicine with fruit juice may be a bad idea. You may have heard that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of certain drugs and potentially turn normal doses into toxic ones. Now, the scientist who first identified this problem finds grapefruit and other common fruit … [Read more...]

Freezing Heart MurmursReported February 20, 2008 LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than two million people live with heart arrhythmias, or an irregular heart beat. It can leave people exhausted and cause strokes and even heart attacks. Now, a new procedure is using extreme cold to freeze hearts back into rhythm. For the past decade, Peter Nyquist’s heart beat … [Read more...]

Hormone Therapy Doesn't Raise Heart Risk in Study Reported October 01, 2008 Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Women taking hormone replacements didn't have a higher risk of heart attacks as long as they avoided daily doses of both estrogen and progesterone, according to a study of a range of treatments used by almost 700,000 women. Women who only periodically took progesterone or who … [Read more...]

Even France, Haven of Smokers, Is Clearing the Air January 03, 2008 PARIS — Overnight, conviviality has taken on an entirely new meaning in France.Under a sweeping decree that took effect Wednesday, smoking has been banned in every commercial corner of “entertainment and conviviality” — from the toniest Parisian nightclub to the humblest village cafe. … [Read more...]

Death Rates From Cardiovascular Causes Vary Widely Across Europe Reported February 06, 2008 WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6 (HealthDay News) -- There are large variations between and within European countries in the rates of stroke and heart disease-related deaths, new research shows. For example, rates of such deaths in several countries -- particularly in northern … [Read more...]

Curcumin May Prevent Clogged Arteries Reported July 20, 2009 July 20, 2009 -- The compound that gives curry spice powder its yellowish color may protect arteries from fatty buildup, new research in mice shows. Curcumin, the main ingredient in the curry spice turmeric, is a naturally occurring antioxidant known as a polyphenol. Polyphenols are found in plants that have … [Read more...]

Flu Vaccine may Protect Against Heart Attacks   Reported September 28, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Flu can trigger heart attacks and cause cardiovascular death, but the influenza vaccine may offer protection for cardiac patients. Researchers say greater efforts are needed to encourage people with heart disease and diabetes (which increases the risk … [Read more...]

Flu Shot Reduces Blood Clots Reported November 10, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It’s the time of the year get your annual flu shot, and now it could protect you against another danger. In a new study, researchers found receiving an influenza vaccine cut the risk of blood clots forming in veins -- venous thrombotic embolism (VTE) -- by 26 percent. VTE is a dangerous condition … [Read more...]

Flu in Utero Linked to Later Heart Disease   Reported October 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire ) -- Pregnant women have one more reason to be on the alert about the swine flu. Researchers found babies exposed to a similar strain of flu in utero during the 1918 pandemic were more likely to face a future of heart disease. A new study shows 100,000 … [Read more...]

Flavonoids Help Heart HealthReported March 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Eating foods rich in flavonoids -- such as fruits and vegetables -- can help you have a strong, healthy heart. New research from Europe finds a diet filled with flavonoids keeps the heart young longer. The study looked at two kinds of corn -- one without a type of flavonoids known as anthocyanins; … [Read more...]

Fix Your Spine, Lower Your Blood Pressure?Reported January 11, 2008 CHICAGO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- About 72 million adults in the United States are living with high blood pressure. That's one in three people. Statistics show only 35 percent of them have it under control. Now, research shows a spinal adjustment may actually help control blood pressure. Chiropractor Marshall … [Read more...]

Fishing Out Atherosclerosis Prevention Reported July 29, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Health officials have long noted a lower risk of heart disease in Japanese people living in Japan. But why? Investigators from the U.S. and Japan think they've found the answer: the high rate of fish consumption is keeping their arteries from clogging up. They arrived at that conclusion … [Read more...]

Fish oil not Good for Abnormal Heart Rhythms Reported June 16, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Fish oil may be good for the heart overall, but it’s not so good for people with abnormal heart rhythms. According to a new study, fish oil -- and the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids it contains -- may actually … [Read more...]

Faulty Batteries in Defibrillators Reported January 21, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) --The medical device maker Medtronic, Inc., has begun warning physicians about faulty batteries in a line of its implantable defibrillators.Batteries in the Marquis line of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) made before … [Read more...]

Fat Cell Protein Boosts Heart Attack Risk in Elderly Reported August 08, 2008 FRIDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A protein produced by fat cells may play a pivotal role in increasing an older American's risk for a heart attack even if they are losing weight, a new report says. Levels of adiponectin increase in the bloodstream when people lose weight and appear to endanger … [Read more...]

Fat Causing Diseases Reported September 01, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Doctors know obese patients are at an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. But researchers now say the fat itself could be causing these diseases. Fat biopsies from the upper thighs of lean and obese patients revealed to researchers that the fat tissues in obese … [Read more...]

Fasting Not Necessary for Some Vascular Disease Tests Reported November 16, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers say it's now possible to simplify blood tests done to detect whether patients have vascular disease. Vascular disease is a group of conditions that affect the circulatory system, including the arteries, veins, lymph vessels, etc. Peripheral … [Read more...]

A few extra pounds may actually be good for people with type 1 diabetes. According to researchers who measured a key marker of heart health in people with this form of the disease, which is most often diagnosed in childhood, those who were heavier came out with better results. Specifically, they had less evidence of coronary artery calcification -- a primary factor in … [Read more...]

Experts Take Step Toward National Heart Disease SurveillanceReported March 24, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has started establishing a unit to systematically track cardiovascular disease and stroke in the United States, the first step toward an organized national surveillance system for the two conditions. … [Read more...]

Exercise to Reduce Risk of Stroke Reported November 24, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Jogging, playing tennis or swimming may be the key to preventing stroke in men. A new study suggests men who regularly exercise at a level that is moderate-to-heavy intensity may be less likely to suffer stroke than men who are not active. The study examined 3,298 … [Read more...]

Exercise to Prevent Severe Strokes Reported October 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People who are physically active before suffering a stroke may recover better and experience fewer problems compared to non-exercisers, according to a new study. Researchers asked 265 stroke survivors with an average age of 68 about their exercise habits. They found those who exercised the … [Read more...]

Exercise Reduces Hunger for Some Women Reported June 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Can exercise keep you from being hungry? A new report finds exercise reduces hunger in lean women, but not in obese women, which may lead to them eating more after a workout. Researchers from the University of Michigan wanted to better understand how changes in body fat level affect both … [Read more...]

Exercise Capacity Affects Heart Disease Risk Reported January 25, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows low aerobic exercise capacity is associated with greater risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Scientists from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Medical College of … [Read more...]

Erectile Dysfunction a Sign of a Broken HeartReported May 20, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Erectile dysfunction is more than just an embarrassing bedroom problem. Two new studies show that it’s a serious early warning sign of life threatening heart disease and stroke for men with type 2 diabetes. Not reporting those early signs to a physician can be a fatal mistake. The … [Read more...]

Embryonic Hearts Heal Themselves Reported October 14, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Embryonic hearts appear to have a surprising ability to generate new, healthy tissue when faced with a significant amount of diseased tissue. In a new study conducted in mice, researchers found animals that were bred to have “mosaic hearts” featuring mixed cells -- about half normal and half … [Read more...]

Electronic Follow-Up Helps Cardiac Patients   Reported August 11, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – An innovative program cut cardiac deaths by 73 percent by linking coronary artery disease patients to full-spectrum teams of care givers with an electronic health record (EHR), according to a new study by Kaiser Permanente. This is the first randomized … [Read more...]

EKG Readings Can be Wrong Reported November 19, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Measurements on the electrocardiogram (EKG) can often mislead physicians into diagnosing the heart condition left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), requiring further screening tests before a definitive conclusion can be reached. A study of 500 patients found a false positive reading … [Read more...]

Effects of Statins Reported January 6, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Two new studies focus on the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins and their impact on cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels. C-reactive protein is a protein produced by the liver that predicts inflammation in the arteries. One study shows C-reactive … [Read more...]