Cardiovascular Health

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...]

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...]

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...]

Doubling Drug Dose Before Angioplasty Reduces Death Risk Reported March 8, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows how the risk of death and heart attack can be reduced for heart patients undergoing an angioplasty. Researchers from Italy found doubling the usual dose of an anti-clotting drug before the procedure is … [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...]

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...]

Ginkgo Biloba Protects Brain from Stroke Reported October 13, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Ginkgo biloba has long been used as a natural brain booster. Now, researchers say it may also protect against brain damage after a stroke. In a recent study, scientists gave rodents a100 milligrams per kilogram oral dose of the extract for one week, and then induced a stroke. Brain … [Read more...]

Heart Care Comes Up Short Reported May 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Two new studies suggest doctors could do a better job when it comes to caring for the heart. European researchers who surveyed doctors on how they treat heart failure found too many physicians are ignoring medical evidence. The problem was worse among primary care physicians and internists/geriatricians. … [Read more...]

Heart Failure Patients Unrealistic Reported June 09, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Patients with heart failure often overestimate their life expectancy, new research shows. Younger patients, less depressed patients and those with more severe cases are more likely to have unrealistic survival expectations. “What patients are told and what they hear can be two … [Read more...]

A cutting-edge test aimed at diagnosing heart disease might also be putting some people at risk for cancer. Researchers arrived at that conclusion after developing a risk model for 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). CTCA, which delivers doses of ionizing radiation, is fast becoming the diagnostic test of choice for people suspected of having heart … [Read more...]

High Blood Pressure Clouds Thoughts Reported December 19, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- High blood pressure not only causes heart trouble; it also makes your thoughts a little fuzzy. A new study shows Increased blood pressure in older adults has been directly linked to a reduction in cognitive functioning. Therefore, seniors may not be able to think as clearly during … [Read more...]

Meditate your way to heart healthReported November 19, 2009 Transcendental Meditation, once the mainstay of tie-dyed hippies and new age "healers", has been hailed by US researchers as a preventative measure for heart attacks. The meditation practice, which followers believe aids "development of consciousness", was introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and … [Read more...]

Women’s heart disease risk : Living in multigenerational households ups women’s heart disease risk Reported January 12, 2009 A new study has revealed that living in a household with several generations of relatives triples a woman’s risk of serious heart disease. For the study, researchers examined the long-term impact on … [Read more...]

Less Invasive Procedure to Repair AAA Reported October 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Patients who received the less-invasive endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm had a lower risk of death in the first 30 days after the procedure compared to patients who had an open repair; however, both procedures had similar rates of death after two … [Read more...]

New Study: More Women Under 45 Dying of Heart DiseaseReported November 21, 2007 For decades, heart disease death-rates have been falling. But a new study shows a disturbing trend -- more women under 45 are dying of heart disease due to clogged arteries. Eye on Health spoke with a local heart specialist, and a woman who warns others to be careful. Las Vegas resident, … [Read more...]

Unstable Weight Hard on HeartReported November 10, 2004 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Gaining 15 pounds or more over several years puts one at greater risk for heart disease than those who are obese but maintain a stable weight, according to a recent study. Researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago studied nearly 2,500 adults … [Read more...]

New Treatment for Heart ArrhythmiasReported February 27, 2008 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One moment you feel fine. The next, your heart is racing at almost double the pace. Atrial fibrillation affects more than two million Americans. Although it is the most common arrhythmia, medicines for the condition only work about half the time. Now, researchers are … [Read more...]

Oxidative Stress Behind Lung ProblemsReported May 20, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research suggests markers for oxidative stress in young people can predict the later onset of lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress itself is not a disease, but it can lead to one. As we breathe, our bodies are constantly reacting with oxygen … [Read more...]

Each year, 1.5 million Americans receive heart catheterizations. This procedure requires doctors to thread a catheter through the arm or leg of a patient and allows them to look for trouble spots in the heart. Now, experts say there is a new, high-tech scanner that is making it easier than ever to spot potential heart problems. Elizabeth Martin is no stranger to heart tests. … [Read more...]

Screening may Reduce Sudden DeathReported December 23, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers in Italy have a found a way to screen for a condition commonly associated with sudden death and other cardiac irregularities. Long QT syndrome is an inherited disease that predisposes a person to increased risk for sudden death or heart … [Read more...]

Patients taking certain medications that help lower cholesterol levels have a relatively low risk of developing a disorder that causes the breakdown of muscles (rhabdomyolysis), according to a new study. These lipid-lowering medications, known as statins, include the drugs atorvastatin (Lipitor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor). Muscle disorders are among the … [Read more...]

Stroke Doubles Risk of Bone Fractures   Reported August 07, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, in the United States, about 300,000 people fracture their hip every year, and about 20 percent of these people die of their fracture within a year. Stroke patients have about twice the increased risk of … [Read more...]

Stuttering to Save Hearts Reported October 09, 2009 ATLANTA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Every year, 1 million Americans undergo angioplasty, a lifesaving procedure used to open up blocked arteries that supply the heart. Now, there’s a new twist on the common procedure that can offer patients even better long-term outcomes. At 52, Kathy Burks thought she was … [Read more...]

Teenage Girls' Hearts Protected Against Stress Reported July 22, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows young girls may hold the secret to healthy hearts. A study from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta finds girls between ages 16 and 18 have lower rates of blood pressure increase after activity than males in the same age group. Blood pressure and heart … [Read more...]

Transplant Lengthens Lives of Diabetics With Kidney DiseaseReported May 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Type 1 diabetics in need of a kidney transplant may increase their long-term survival rate with a simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant, although this option also brings some increased surgical risks. SPK transplants involve performing a pancreas … [Read more...]

Ultrasound Predicts Heart Attacks? Reported August 19, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new application for the widely used ultrasound imaging technology is showing promise in identifying people at high risk for heart attack and stroke. With the images and computer enhanced gray scale median measurements (GSM), researchers at the Medical University in Vienna were able to … [Read more...]

Walkable Neighborhoods Harbor Less Obesity Reported August 01, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Want to shed those extra pounds? Then move to a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood! People who live in neighborhoods where walking is the norm weigh significantly less than people who live in neighborhoods where walking is more inconvenient, report University of Utah researchers who … [Read more...]

Women: Don’t Panic, It may Hurt Your Heart!Reported October 3, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Older women who have experienced at least one full-blown panic attack may have an increased risk for cardiovascular problems … and even death. A team of researchers led by Jordan Smoller, M.D., Sc.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, collected data from 3,369 healthy … [Read more...]

A New Valve With No Open-Heart Reported June 16, 2008 ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One in seven people will have a significant aortic valve problem in their lifetime. That used to mean open-heart surgery and a painful recovery. But now, doctors have found a way to get the results … no open-heart surgery required. Mary Ann Cahalin has been a Girl Scout for 43 years! … [Read more...]

Heart attack survivors unaware of risks Reported July 02, 2008 People who have already had one heart attack could die from a second because they know so little about the disease, a joint Australian–US study has shown. The first large-scale international study to assess the knowledge of heart patients about their disease revealed poor … [Read more...]