Cardiovascular Health

How to Kick the Smoking Habit Reported August 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows statewide tobacco control programs may be the most effective option to reduce the financial and health burden of smoking. Results of a University of California, San Diego, study show California saved $86 billion on personal health care costs between the start of its statewide … [Read more...]

Smoking major cause of rise in sudden cardiac deathsReported June 01, 2009 New Delhi (PTI): As cardiovascular diseases pose one of the biggest health threats in the country, experts believe tobacco consumption is emerging as a major "preventable" risk factor in making the population prone to heart disorders and lowering the age of vulnerability. Tobacco intake, especially … [Read more...]

Treadmill tests could help predict heart disease risk, review suggests Reported May 19, 2009 Being physically fit may help people to live longer, say researchers who suggest exercise stress tests could be useful for doctors in predicting heart disease risk. People with high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness had a lower … [Read more...]

Link Between Urine Protein and Blood ClotsReported May 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – People who have higher levels of a certain protein in their urine may be more likely to experience dangerous blood clots in their legs or lungs. That’s the take home message from Dutch researchers who followed more than 8,500 people over about an 8-year period. Those with … [Read more...]

Caffeine may increase blood pressure Reported August 12, 2007 That extra cup of joe in the morning may help you feel more alert, but depending on your tolerance to caffeine, it could also cause a spike in your blood pressure. Led by Dr. Noha H. Farag, a team of researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City set out to determine … [Read more...]

Low Carb Diet May Harm Heart   Reported August 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Going low carb to lose weight? New research shows you may be jeopardizing your heart health by trading in carbohydrates for protein. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have come across a significant link between low-carbohydrate/high protein … [Read more...]

Midlife Cholesterol Tied to Alzheimer’sReported April 18, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Heart disease is the most well known complication of high cholesterol, motivating many to cut the fat, exercise and take cholesterol-lowering drugs. But results of a new study showing high cholesterol in your 40s is a risk factor for another troubling disease could prompt more people to … [Read more...]

No Pain Heart Health   Reported September 11, 2009 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than 1.5 million surgeries are performed each year where doctors place catheters in the groin to get to the heart. It gives surgeons precise access, but removing the catheter can be a painful process, requiring days of recovery. Something as simple as a … [Read more...]

Pacemakers for Breathing Reported November 04, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breathing may seem like a mindless bodily function, but new research shows the mind is actually more involved in breathing than previously thought. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered two pacemakers in the brain work together in harmony to ensure that … [Read more...]

Robot Lends Hand to Heart Surgery Reported December 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The day when computers actually start performing surgery may soon be upon us. A French team has developed a computerized 3D model that allows surgeons to use robotics to operate on a beating heart. The robotic technology predicts the movement of the heart as it beats, enabling the surgical … [Read more...]

Second Stroke Risk Reported June 02, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – After a stroke, time is of the essence. A new study on second strokes reveals they tend to occur within 24 hours of the initial event. "Our study highlights the need for someone who is experiencing the symptoms of a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) to get to an emergency room fast," Peter … [Read more...]

Snoring Linked to Childhood Reported August 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Your childhood environment may determine whether you will snore when you are an adult. A new report from Sweden shows childhood risk factors such as having pets, early respiratory or ear infections and growing up in a large family can all play a role on adult snoring. Researchers asked more than … [Read more...]

Superficial Vein Thrombosis May Signal Deeper Problem   Reported July 22, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with superficial vein thrombosis may have an increased risk of developing vein thrombosis, a life-threatening condition. In a new study, researchers found 24 percent of participants with superficial vein thrombosis -- a condition that … [Read more...]

The ABCs of Acute Coronary Treatment Reported January 19, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A recent change to the once complex way of managing acute coronary syndrome may be as easy as learning the ABCs, literally. In the past, acute coronary syndrome, which is chest pain at rest or mild exertion, was managed by a system doctors … [Read more...]

Treating Hepatitis C Reported July 17, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – It may soon be easier to come up with new treatments for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). A researcher at the University of California, San Diego, has developed the first tissue culture of normal, human liver cells that can model HCV infections. It gives scientists a realistic environment to test potential new … [Read more...]

Unnecessary Testing? Reported September 15, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Hospitals that perform nuclear stress tests on the heart may be wasting time and money. A new study looked at 375 patients who underwent nuclear stress testing at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. It showed 21 of the patients should not have received the test because their patient profile and … [Read more...]

Washing Away Varicose Veins   Reported August 21, 2009 PHOENIX (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Experts estimate 50 percent of Americans over age 50 have varicose veins. For women -- and men -- they can be embarrassing, ugly, and even so painful it's hard to walk. Now, there's a new treatment option that uses foam to wash away problem veins. Bulging and … [Read more...]

Diet key to slowing cardiovascular disease progression in womenReported June 16, 2009 Washington, June 16: Researchers at Tufts University and Wake Forest University have found that following adherence to recommendations for whole-grain, total fat, and cholesterol intake leads to a decrease in atherosclerotic progression. The researchers say that their most important … [Read more...]

Young, Healthy Still at Risk for Heart Disease Reported January 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows even young and healthy adults may still be at risk for heart disease, the number one killer in the United States. According to current 10-year risk assessment data, more than 90 percent of patients 50 years old or younger have a low risk of heart disease; … [Read more...]

Abnormal EKG Predicts Death in Stroke PatientsReported March 24, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Stroke victims who also have abnormal electrical activity in their hearts are at a higher risk of dying within 90 days, compared to those with normal EKGs at the time of emergency treatment, according to a new study. An EKG records the waves of activity in the heart … [Read more...]

LIFE SAVING COFFEE 20 Sept 2005 Your daily morning heart starter has been found to do much more than wake you up... it could save your life. Scientists have found a simple cup of coffee could prevent one of the most prevalent diseases facing western society. Nine new studies undertaken over fifteen years have found it can … [Read more...]

Blood Pressure Drugs Save Memory?   Reported July 27, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Proven beneficial to the heart and kidneys, research shows certain blood pressure drugs called ACE inhibitors may also benefit the brain. A specific type of ACE inhibitor known as “centrally acting” can cross the blood-brain barrier. A study involving 5,888 participants … [Read more...]

Bringing Blood Pressure Measurement HomeReported May 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- If you have high blood pressure, you need to be monitoring the condition at home with a home blood pressure monitor. That’s the take home message in new guidelines just published by three major medical groups. The American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension, and Preventive … [Read more...]

Chemical in Medical Plastics Hard on the HeartReported May 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A chemical found in IV bags and catheters might be putting patients’ hearts at risk. New research out of Johns Hopkins finds this chemical – called cyclohexanone – may be leaching out of the plastics used to make these devices and ending up in the fluids meant to help … [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...]

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...]

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...]

Gene Variants Predict Heart Attack RiskReported March 24, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A combination of gene variants may help predict those at risk for heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death. These findings may help target individuals who need cholesterol-lowering medications and other early-intervention methods to combat heart problems. Researchers set … [Read more...]

Heart Disease and Happiness Reported July 21, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Better treatments for heart disease may help people live longer, but are they enjoying that extra time? A new study from the American Heart Association finds adults with coronary heart disease (CHD) scored up to 9 percent lower on four scales measuring quality of life than those without CHD. Quality … [Read more...]

Heart Health Not Hurt by Cancer TreatmentsReported June 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Standard cancer therapies do not appear to affect a survivor's cardiovascular fitness level, according to a new study. Physical activity is closely linked with cancer survivorship both during and after treatment, and physicians need a simple test to assess a patient's … [Read more...]