Cardiovascular Health

Heart disease risk factors on rise in Canada: study   Reported July 20, 2009 The prevalence of heart disease and its attendant risk factors — hypertension, diabetes, and obesity — are increasing in all age groups and most income groups in Canada, according to a study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The increasing prevalence of heart disease … [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...]

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...]

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...]

Disaster Heart Attacks Reported June 30, 2009 NEW ORLEANS (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Almost four years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is on the road to recovery. Homes and businesses are rebuilding, but there's still a long way to go. Now, a new study suggests that the hurricane may have been as damaging to residents' hearts as it was to their homes. … [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...]

Go Nuts for Good Health Reported December 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Looking for a tastier way to be healthier? A new study suggests eating a traditional Mediterranean diet of cereals, vegetables, fruits and olive oil plus a daily serving of mixed nuts could be the key to better health. The study was designed for those looking to manage metabolic abnormalities, such … [Read more...]

Healing Hearts to Prevent Stroke Reported January 23, 2009 CHICAGO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's a common heart defect that affects more than 20 percent of the population, but for an unlucky group it can lead to stroke before the age of 50. Right now, most young, otherwise healthy people who have a stroke are put on restrictive medications for the rest of their lives, but … [Read more...]

Hostility Levels Linked to Heart Health Reported November 17, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A permanent hostility toward others does not affect the long-term heart health of women, according to a recent article in the journal Heart. The same, however, is not true for men. In a study of more than 3,000 adults in Nova Scotia, Canada, evidence of coronary artery heart disease … [Read more...]

High Blood Pressure Reduces MigrainesReported April 15, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research reveals people who have high blood pressure appear to be less likely to have migraines than those with healthy blood pressure. The researchers tested the systolic, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure rates of more than 50,000 men and women. Those with higher systolic … [Read more...]

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...]