Cardiovascular Health

Blood pressure control up but many still suffer Reported May 26, 2010 (Reuters) - About half of the 65 million people in the United States who have high blood pressure now have it under control, up from 27 percent two decades ago, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. But the overall rate of Americans who have high blood pressure has not changed in recent years, reflecting the … [Read more...]

Value of B vitamins in cutting heart disease risk challenged Reported April 23, 2010 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Two studies released this week reach contradictory conclusions on the value of B vitamins and folic acid (or folate in its naturally occurring form) in reducing the risks of heart disease. What are doctors and their patients to make of this? … [Read more...]

When snoring can be a stroke risk   Reported April 09, 2010 No matter how often we may joke about it in public, snoring is no laughing matter. If your – or your partner’s - snoring is actually sleep apnoea, it could be a matter of life and death. Lesley Dobson reports   Most of us rely on a good night’s sleep to recharge our batteries. But for … [Read more...]

Stroke steals 2 years of healthy lifeReported December 11, 2010 Complications shortly after a stroke deprive patients of about two years of healthy life, according to new research. In a study of more than 1,200 patients suffering from ischemic stroke, the researchers gauged the impact of stroke and its complications using disability-adjusted life years (DALY) measures … [Read more...]

Antioxidants keep arteries healthy   Reported August 17, 2010 Antioxidants can have beneficial effects on sugar and fat metabolism, blood pressure and arterial flexibility in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. "Antioxidant supplementation significantly increased large and small artery elasticity in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. This … [Read more...]

Cocoa flavanols benefit cardiovascular patientsReported August 17, 2010 Cocoa flavanols may be an important part of a healthy diet for people with cardiovascular disease, according to new research. Poor blood vessel function is recognized as an early stage in the development process of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including coronary artery disease. Daily cocoa flavanol … [Read more...]

Here's another way to get rid of cholesterolReported August 17, 2010 Good news for cholesterol fearing people— there is more than one way to get rid of it. Mark Brown of Wake Forest University School of Medicine said that "cholesterol really can't be broken down.” To get rid of it, it must be excreted, and now Brown and his colleagues have new evidence for an alternate way … [Read more...]

Heavy exercise can help you live longer   Reported July 24, 2010 Heavy exercise could be the secret to living longer, scientists claim. A study found that strenuous physical activity - like running a marathon can stop cells dying and keep bodies healthy till old age, reports express.co.uk . Scientists hope that finding a drug to slow cell death - a process called apoptosis … [Read more...]

After Heatstroke, When Is It Safe to Exercise?   Reported July 24, 2010 It was 90 degrees in Buffalo when Douglas Casa stood on the starting line of a track, ready to run 25 laps in a race that was part of the Empire Games, a championship event for high school students. The race began well for him — it was one of the best races of his life. Then, with half a lap to go, he … [Read more...]

Recalibrated Formula Eases Women’s Workouts   Reported July 20, 2010 If you are a woman who exercises, get ready to do some math. Last week, researchers at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago announced a new formula for calculating a woman’s maximum heart rate, a measure commonly used by athletes to pace themselves and monitor their progress. In a study of nearly 5,500 … [Read more...]

Lack of Fitness, Inactivity Linked to Walking Falls Reported June 23, 2010 Fitness and physical activity may protect against walking-related falls Poor physical fitness and physical inactivity may increase the risk of falls while walking, according to research published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Kristen J. Mertz, M.D., of the … [Read more...]

Technique is key to working out with dumbbells   Reported June 23, 2010 Working with light dumbbells can be quite effective if you perform the moves with correct technique and alignment. In this exercise, maintain a straight spine throughout the move for maximum benefit. Grasp a 3- to 5-pound dummbell in each hand and stand with your feet hip-width apart, toes facing … [Read more...]

Interval Training Workout Cuts Exercise Time Reported June 04, 2010 If you have trouble finding the time to exercise, there might be a solution for you according to experts – interval training workout sessions can help you squeeze a whole week’s exercise quota into less than an hour. This type of workout was first developed for Olympic athletes and believed to be too tough … [Read more...]

Overweight mothers linked to infant heart defectsReported May 19, 2010 WASHINGTON - Women who are overweight or obese when they get pregnant are more likely to give birth to children with congenital heart defects, according to a U.S. government study released on Thursday. The study, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concluded that … [Read more...]

Congenital Heart Disease: New Surgery Reported May 27, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A newer surgical technique may increase the odds babies born with a severely underdeveloped heart will survive. Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, which affects 1 percent of babies born every year. A normal heart has two pumping chambers, or ventricles. The … [Read more...]

Blood Vessels "Spit" To Survive Reported May 27, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Scientists have discovered a unique way blood vessels expel debris like blood clots, cholesterol and calcium plaque: they spit. The study was conducted at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. After analyzing mice, researchers found capillaries spit out blockages … [Read more...]

Stress can trigger more heart attacksReported May 15, 2010 A heart attack can leave people as psychologically traumatized as victims of violence, Canadian research shows. Reporting in the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, the Montreal researchers say post-traumatic stress disorder following a heart attack is an underdiagnosed and … [Read more...]

First Common Gene ID'd for Congenital Heart Disease Reported May 28, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- In a move that may tame the so-called "Wild West" of genetics, researchers have discovered a genetic variant that boosts the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD). The variant lies on chromosome 5, with the gene identified as ISL1, according to study author Peter J. … [Read more...]

Hot-Wiring Failing Hearts Reported May 24, 2010 TAMPA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- If you’re one of the 5 million Americans living with heart failure, you know that simply waking up is tiring enough to send you back to bed. Now doctors are testing out a new device for heart failure that's already been successful in lowering blood pressure. … [Read more...]

Heart Attack Survivors: Listen Up For More Sex Reported May 24, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) - Heart attack patients looking to get things cooking in the bedroom again need to have a long talk with their doctors. If they don't - they face a whole lot fewer late-night encounters.   An American Heart Association report shows sexual activity … [Read more...]

Gene Therapy May Treat Pulmonary Hypertension Reported May 20, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Gene therapy has been shown to have positive effects in rat models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a life-threatening disease in which pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs increases, causing a back-pressure strain on the heart.   … [Read more...]

City Dwellers have Higher Blood Pressure Reported May 18, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) — People who live in urban areas where air pollution is high tend to have higher blood pressure than those who live in less polluted areas.   Researchers from the University of Dusiburg-Essen in Germany used data from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, a … [Read more...]

Statins Prevent Clot-Related Diseases Reported May 17, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Statins, common cholesterol-lowering drugs, may help prevent people from developing clot-related diseases. "Previous clinical studies have indicated statins may play a role in lowering the risk of these conditions, but these studies have yielded … [Read more...]

Blood Pressure Danger: Fluctuating Levels Reported May 13, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- We all know that high blood pressure is dangerous, but a new study reveals having blood pressure that fluctuates can be an even more serious problem. Researchers found the risk of cerebrovascular disease is higher among those who have fluctuating … [Read more...]

Go Nuts to Lower Cholesterol Reported May 13, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Want to lower your cholesterol? New research shows that may be as simple as consuming more nuts. Researchers from Loma Linda University in Calif. analyzed data from 25 nut consumption trials that were conducted in seven countries. These studies included 583 women … [Read more...]

Pneumonia Vaccine: No Protection for Heart Attacks Reported May 06, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Despite previous studies to the contrary, a recent study has found that the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine is not associated with a reduced risk of heart attacks or strokes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends the … [Read more...]

Young Women's Heart Disease Risk Tied to Stressful JobsReported May 06, 2009 Stressful jobs increase young women's risk of heart disease, concludes a new study. In the study, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the research team assessed the impact of work pressure and degree of personal influence in the workplace on the heart health of 12,116 … [Read more...]

Folate and Vitamin B6 Lower Cardiovascular Risk Reported April 22, 2010 April 22, 2010 — Dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B6 reduce the risk for mortality from stroke and any cardiovascular disease in women and may reduce the risk for heart failure in men, according to a study conducted in Japan. The … [Read more...]

Common Heart Defect Linked To Brain Aneurysms Reported May 04, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with a common heart defect may also be more likely to have brain aneurysms. Up to 2 percent of the population is born with the heart defect called a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). In a healthy heart, the aortic valve allows blood to flow … [Read more...]

Heart Failure: Lower Readmissions When Hospitals Follow Up Reported May 05, 2010 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A simple follow-up evaluation may be the key to efficient and high quality hospital care for those with heart failure. A new study finds hospitals that follow up with heart failure patients within one week of being discharged have … [Read more...]