Dementia Requires Multi-Pronged Attack Reported November 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The growing problem of dementia in aging societies requires a combination of therapies to treat multiple changes in the brain. Drugs currently in development to treat individual brain pathologies may be inadequate to deal with the overall burden of dementia in the … [Read more...]

Defibrillator Therapy has Good Results Reported September 05, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A device that shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm appears to work without significantly altering a person’s quality of life. According to a new study out of Duke University Medical Center, after about a year of living with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), … [Read more...]

Defibrillation Doesn’t Always Come Soon Enough   Reported July 31, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The American Heart Association recommends that defibrillation be performed within two minutes of cardiac arrest. Wait any longer, and survival rates plummet. Previous studies have found factors associated with individual patients, such as being admitted to … [Read more...]

Deadly Type of Stroke Targets Mexican Americans and Women Reported June 13, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) It often begins as a “thunderclap” headache. It’s been described as the “the worst headache of a person’s life.” In many cases it’s also the last one. The “thunderclap” is a symptom of a deadly type of stroke that involves bleeding around the brain usually caused by a … [Read more...]

Deadly Disorder: HES Reported March 21, 2005 CINCINNATI (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Researchers hope a new drug can fight a blood disorder that shuts down vital organs. The study couldn't come sooner for one young boy and his mom who are both battling this disease. These days, Kody's hospital room is his home. Complete … [Read more...]

Cyclists' hearts can be 40% bigger than normalReported September 03, 2007 VIENNA, Austria — Riding the grueling Tour de France bike race takes strength, stamina — and perhaps a heart nearly 40 percent bigger than normal. Researchers who examined the hearts of former Tour bikers found that the athletes' hearts were from 20 to 40 percent larger than average, said Dr. Francois … [Read more...]

CPR Minus Mouth-to-Mouth Boosts Survival Reported November 18, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Knowing CPR and when to use it saves countless lives, and new research shows eliminating the mouth-to-mouth could double survival rates. In a new study reported by the University of Arizona, a person's chance of surviving a cardiac arrest outside a hospital was … [Read more...]

Corticosteroids Linked to Pneumonia Reported December 01, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Inhaling corticosteroids to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may cause pneumonia, a new study shows. The lung disease COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, affecting up to 15 million people. Its prevalence is on the rise, but no medicine or … [Read more...]

Controlling Your Anger Could Save Your Life Reported February 26, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Have you ever been so angry that you felt like your heart may burst? Your body may have been sending you a warning sign. New research finds that electrical changes in the heart brought on by anger can predict future arrhythmias and it may link mental stress to sudden cardiac … [Read more...]

Contraceptives Safe, But Questions Remain Reported January 26, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Oral contraceptives are used by 80 percent of women at some point in their lives. The pills are generally safe, but experts warn some risks and benefits have yet to be examined. A recent journal article by experts at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute provides insight into hormonal … [Read more...]

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Studies show the average lifespan of a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is between three and nine years, but new research shows having diabetes or high blood pressure may subtract years from that time frame. Study results show after they were diagnosed with Alzheimer's, patients with diabetes were twice as likely to die sooner than those … [Read more...]

Computer Learns How to Diagnose Patients   Reported September 14, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Mayo Clinic researchers say their new "teachable" software system mimics the human brain and may help diagnose cardiac infections without an invasive exam. Developers call their program “artificial neural network" (ANN) because it mimics the brain's … [Read more...]

Common Virus Could Cause High Blood PressureReported May 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One in three United States adults has high blood pressure, a condition without any known symptoms. A new study suggests that a common virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), is a cause of high blood pressure and may also lead to hardening in the arteries. Between 60 and 99 percent … [Read more...]

Common ECG Finding May Signal Serious Problems Reported June 29, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A common electrocardiogram (ECG) finding that has largely been considered insignificant may actually pose significant danger to the patient. In their report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital … [Read more...]

Comeback Cholesterol Drug?Reported April 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Niacin is known to help lower levels of “bad” cholesterol and raise levels of “good” cholesterol, and it gets the job down at a significantly lower cost than other cholesterol lowering medications on the market today. Unfortunately, the drug, also known as nicotinic acid, is rarely used … [Read more...]

Combined Testing Better at Detecting Heart Risks Reported November 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Doctors may be dismissing chest-pain patients prematurely. Experts say physicians relying on simply one test to assess heart health may be missing vital diagnostic information. Experts suggest adding coronary artery calcium score (CACS) testing to … [Read more...]

Cold Weather Bad for Blood Pressure Reported January 16, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Chilly weather may give you more than just the shivers. New research suggests it may be responsible for increased blood pressure in a certain demographic. Outdoor temperate and blood pressure appear to be correlated in the elderly, according to a new study from the Institut National de la … [Read more...]

Coffee Could Lower Death Risk Reported June 23, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Having that morning cup of coffee every day could help protect you from heart disease. New research finds drinking coffee regularly – up to six cups a day – actually reduces your risk of dying from heart disease. The study analyzed data of 84,214 women who were in the Nurses’ Health Study and 41,736 … [Read more...]

Coffee, Cigarettes and AA Reported July 22, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A recent study reveals coffee and cigarette use among Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members is greater than among the U.S. population. Researchers want to find out what type of impact these two items have on recovering alcoholics. "Drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes are part of the culture of AA, but … [Read more...]

Clot-Busting Drug may Help Diagnose Leg Clots Reported February 18, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Clot-dissolving drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), used to treat heart attacks and strokes, may also improve the accuracy of a test used to help … [Read more...]

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Gateway to Other Illnesses Reported September 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- You are not in the clear if you suffer from rhinosinusitis (CRS), an inflammatory condition involving the paranasal sinuses. Those who are affected by CRS are more likely to suffer from other chronic illnesses. A new study suggests patients who suffer from … [Read more...]

Chronic Heart Failure Gene   Reported July 20, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers discovered a gene responsible for heart muscle disease and chronic heart failure in some patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is the most common cause of chronic heart failure in young people and the most common reason for heart transplant. Researchers … [Read more...]

Cholesterol's Link to Artery Damage UncoveredReported September 20, 2007(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers from Saint Louis University have uncovered how cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis -- a condition that significantly raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It's no secret high cholesterol can equal bad news for the heart by damaging arteries as they become … [Read more...]

Cholesterol: Size Counts!Reported April 17, 2008 MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Most American adults have had their cholesterol level checked, and most people know that number needs to be below 200; but that only tells part of the story. Some doctors say measuring how big or small your cholesterol particles are is just as important. Alan Scharf used to have high … [Read more...]

Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy Shows Big Gains Reported June 26, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The percentage of patients who lowered their elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad" cholesterol to within target levels has nearly doubled in the last decade, according to a recent survey. The Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) surveyed nearly 10,000 … [Read more...]

Cholesterol Lowering Power FoodsReported December 13, 2007 TORONTO, Ontario (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's common practice among doctors and patients to reduce high cholesterol levels with a quick fix. Statins, those powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs we hear so much about are so popular because they work so well. But popping a pill isn't the only option. "Heart attack is … [Read more...]

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Harm Muscles? Reported September 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Taking higher doses of the cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may cause dangerous side effects. New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham finds high doses of statins may hinder how the skeletal muscles repair and regenerate themselves. Statins have been known to … [Read more...]

Cholesterol Levels Linked to Cancer Reported August 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The risk of cancer in diabetics may be connected to cholesterol levels. Researchers from Hong Kong looked at 6,107 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. They found LDL cholesterol levels below 2.80 mmol/L and at levels of at least 3.90 mmol/L were both associated with a much higher risk of … [Read more...]

Cholesterol Guidelines for Kids Need a Second Look   Reported August 07, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- With an obesity epidemic brewing among U.S. children, there is concern that overweight and obese children need to be screened for chronic medical conditions including high cholesterol levels. University of Michigan researchers have determined, … [Read more...]

Cholesterol Drugs May Protect Memory Reported July 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Drugs commonly used to fight cholesterol may also ward off dementia and memory loss. A new study shows those who take statins are half as likely to develop dementia as those who don't take them. For five years, researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, … [Read more...]