Cardiovascular Health

Too much exercise may speed heart failureReported August 16, 2007 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Though exercise can be a key part of managing high blood pressure and heart disease, new animal research suggests there can be too much of a good thing. In experiments with rats, researchers found that excessive exercise worsened high blood pressure and progression to heart … [Read more...]

A new study shows an association between low vitamin D levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease "in a nationally representative sample." Dr. Keith Norris, at Drew University School of Medicine in Los Angeles, and colleagues analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), conducted between 1988 and 1994. They evaluated … [Read more...]

Never too Late to Kick the HabitReported May 12, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study proves it is never too late to quit smoking and gain back health benefits. The study finds women who quit smoking reduced their risk of death from heart disease within five years and had a 20 percent lower chance of a smoking related cancer within that time as well. It’s estimated five … [Read more...]

Light smokers have much higher risk of developing heart disease and lung cancer, women's risk higher than men's If you are a keeping your smoking down to a minimum, say, under five cigarettes a day, you may not be protecting yourself from developing heart disease or lung cancer by as much as you think. If you smoke from one to … [Read more...]

Panic Attacks Linked to Heart Attacks Reported December 15, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The stress of panic attacks may be just the beginning. New research shows people diagnosed with panic attacks or panic disorder are more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack or develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than the rest of the population. Studies show the risk … [Read more...]

Predicting Heart Disease Risk Reported November 30, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Consumers are well aware of the dangers of oxidative stress, if the number of juices and teas advertised as containing antioxidants is any indication. But what is the best way to measure oxidative stress – and to fight it?   Doctors at Emory University School of Medicine … [Read more...]

Red Yeast Rice Capsules Reduce Cholesterol Reported June 16, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Red yeast rice pills could be one of the keys in helping people lower their cholesterol levels. Researchers studied a group of 62 patients, who were at risk of heart attack or stroke because of their abnormally high levels of low-density lipo-protein (LDL) … [Read more...]

Today's high-speed roller coasters may be too much for some hearts to handle. A new study from Germany reveals heart rates can speed up dramatically as the popular rides twist, loop and plunge. The researchers report an evaluation of 40 roller coaster fatalities from the last decade shows seven deaths could be blamed on heart problems. Researchers monitored the heart … [Read more...]

Combination implant appears to help more heart-failure patients Reported September 02, 2009 The CRT-D, part automated defibrillator, part cardiac resynchronization device, reduced hospitalizations in milder cases. But issues including cost have some questioning how widely it should be used. An implantable device that shocks an erratically beating heart and works … [Read more...]

Stroke Survivors Relearning to Focus   Reported July 27, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Impaired attention is one of the most significant repercussions for stroke victims, reducing their ability to focus on tasks. A therapy called Attention Process Training (APT) may aid survivors in their rehabilitation process. Almost 80 stroke survivors were … [Read more...]

Drinking coffee does not increase the risk of heart attacks in women   July 15, 2007 The team from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, say in point of fact coffee may even confer some benefit. The study of 32,650 Swedish women was carried out between 1987 and 1990. The women were followed up on … [Read more...]

The Heart Benefits From a Happy MarriageReported March 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Husbands and wives: listen up! Being happily married is good for the heart. A new study from Brigham Young University finds men and women who are happily married have lower blood pressure than singles with supportive social networks. Researchers found unhappily married adults have higher … [Read more...]

Artichoke can lower cholesterol levels, say researchers Reported 03 July, 2008 Levels dropped six per cent in otherwise healthy adults with raised cholesterol between a group given 1280mg of ALE per day and a control group taking a placebo. "There was a modest, but statistically significant effect detectable between the two groups," said lead … [Read more...]

Vascular Disease Patients Face Recurring Heart Attacks and Strokes   Reported September 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There is no easy way out for those battling vascular disease. Despite treatments and medications, a large international study shows patients have high rates of multiple heart attacks and strokes that may lead to … [Read more...]

What happens to blood pressure during coronary artery bypass surgery may have implications far beyond the end of the operation. Specifically, researchers find people who experience an increase in arterial blood pressure -- a measure related to how well the heart is pumping blood to the various organs in the body -- are at higher risk for having memory and learning problems … [Read more...]

Study: Active women face reduced risk of heart disease as they age Reported July 11, 2007 For women, getting into the habit of being physically active when you're young influences the likelihood you'll be active later in life, helping to cut the risk of coronary heart disease, researchers report. A large study of nearly 40,000 women indicates women who were the most active … [Read more...]

Women wrong on heart disease: survey Reported June 12, 2008 Most women mistakenly believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among females, underestimating heart disease as the nation's biggest killer. Results of a Newspoll survey released show awareness around heart disease and what causes it is "dangerously low" among a … [Read more...]

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The blood thinner warfarin can prevent strokes in most people with abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, but the drug may have the opposite effect in kidney disease patients on dialysis, according to a new study. The results suggest warfarin should be prescribed with caution in patients with kidney failure. Kevin Chan, MD, Michael Lazarus, … [Read more...]

Brush Your Teeth to Prevent Heart Disease Reported September 12, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A nice smile isn’t the only incentive to brush your teeth. Scientists say unhealthy teeth, bleeding gums and poor dental hygiene can end up causing heart disease. “The mouth is probably the dirtiest place in the human body,” Dr. Steve Kerrigan from the Royal College of Surgeons in … [Read more...]

Report calls for $700M heart disease warReported February 24, 2009 OTTAWA – After two years of consulting and analysis, a federal agency has concluded that too many Canadians die from heart attacks and strokes because they eat too much, exercise too little and are still smoking. The Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan says the government should spend $700 … [Read more...]

Chinese Remedy may Prevent Heart Attacks Reported June 10, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – People who’ve survived a heart attack may want to take an ancient Chinese natural supplement to prevent future heart problems. A recent study found Chinese red yeast rice, or Xuezhikang (XZK) can reduce the risk of heart attacks. The Chinese study looked at 5,000 patients between the ages … [Read more...]

Depression Increases Risk of Heart FailureReported April 17, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Heart disease patients diagnosed with depression could be in double trouble. New research shows these patients are at an increased risk of heart failure after a diagnosis of depression. In a recent study, researchers found depression diagnosis following coronary artery … [Read more...]

Pharmaceutical companies may need a watch dog during the post-marketing phase of their products, according to a new investigation. Researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, recently reviewed internal files from the makers of the cholesterol-lowering drug cerivastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug removed from the market in 2001. Their study shows the manufacturing … [Read more...]

Exercise Reduces Hunger for Some Women Reported June 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Can exercise keep you from being hungry? A new report finds exercise reduces hunger in lean women, but not in obese women, which may lead to them eating more after a workout. Researchers from the University of Michigan wanted to better understand how changes in body fat level affect both … [Read more...]

Flu Shot Reduces Blood Clots Reported November 10, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It’s the time of the year get your annual flu shot, and now it could protect you against another danger. In a new study, researchers found receiving an influenza vaccine cut the risk of blood clots forming in veins -- venous thrombotic embolism (VTE) -- by 26 percent. VTE is a dangerous condition … [Read more...]

Genetic Explanation for Heart ComplicationsReported May 04, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Most people come through heart surgery just fine, but some end up going into shock or experiencing kidney complications. Now researchers from Germany and Australia help explain why. Their study links these complications to a variation in a gene involved in the metabolism of … [Read more...]

Too much of a good thing can be bad. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known for its ability to protect against heart disease. But new research reveals some components in the so-called good cholesterol can have a destructive effect on the body. Researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle report they found 48 proteins in HDL, … [Read more...]

Healthy Steps to Save Your HeartReported October 23, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Two new studies prove it’s worthwhile to take simple, healthy steps to reduce your heart attack risk. Researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston studied the link between breakfast cereal and heart failure in more than 21,000 men who were part of the Physician’s Health Study. In the … [Read more...]

Heart Disease Denial Reported May 29, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Too many people with heart disease are fooling themselves about their risk of having a heart attack. A new study out of the University of California, San Francisco, finds 43 percent of high-risk people rate their risk at less than or about the same as other people their age. Men were worse at assessing their … [Read more...]