Cardiovascular Health

Redefining Obesity Reported November 4, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows there's more than meets the waist when it comes to predicting someone's risk for a heart attack. Researchers from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada studied body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist measure and hip measure in more than 27,000 people from 52 countries. Previous … [Read more...]

High blood pressure July 10, 2007 Low-fat dairy foods may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, but no evidence suggests that whole-milk products increase the risk. A new study has found that the fat content of dairy products may neutralize their protective effect. The researchers interviewed a group of 6,686 men and women who … [Read more...]

Stem Cells for Better Blood Clotting Reported July 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new solution to blood clotting problems may be around the corner. Human blood depends on cells called platelets to clot. Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from anemia often suffer from low counts of these crucial cells. Platelets harvested from donated blood carry a risk of … [Read more...]

Stroke Treatment Unclogs Neck ArteriesReported April 14, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Now, there is a minimally invasive and effective treatment option for patients suffering from clogged neck arteries -- a condition that often leads to stroke. One in four adults in the United States have some blockage of their two carotid arteries. About five percent of women over age 65 … [Read more...]

Migration Raises Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease   Reported May 20, 2008 Older Iranian immigrants in Sweden have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease than their counterparts in Iran. But immigration to Sweden does not reduce quality of life, according to a new doctoral dissertation from the Swedish … [Read more...]

The Heart of a Mummy Reported December 25, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Hardening of the arteries has been detected in Egyptian mummies, some as old as 3,500 years, suggesting the factors causing heart attack and stroke are not strictly modern, but afflicted ancient people, too. "Atherosclerosis is ubiquitous among modern day humans and, despite differences in ancient and … [Read more...]

Can superfruit sea buckthorn lower cholesterol? Reported January 16, 2009 I have heard a lot about a berry called sea buckthorn that may help to lower cholesterol. What do you know about it and can you recommend any other dietary steps I can take other than cutting down on bad fats? Sea buckthorn is a shrub that bears prolific amounts of soft, … [Read more...]

Veggie Heavy 'Eco-Atkins' Diet Improves Cholesterol Reported June 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One of the hottest diet trends of the past decade is back, but this time, meat is taking a backseat to vegetables. New research shows that overweight individuals who ate a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet high in plant-based proteins for four weeks lost weight and experienced … [Read more...]

Stuttering to Save HeartsReported October 20, 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 too young and too … [Read more...]

Teenage stress impacts adult health Reported March 16, 2009 LOS ANGELES, March 16 (UPI) -- The stress of first love, first break up, gossip, exams and fights with parents can impact teens' health when they become adults, U.S. researchers said. Andrew J. Fuligni of the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues report that in a study of otherwise healthy, normal … [Read more...]

What Links Coronary Artery Disease and Depression?   Reported August 10, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A new study examines how major depression and coronary artery disease interact over time. "While an association between major depression and coronary artery disease has long been noted and recently confirmed, the direction and cause of this … [Read more...]

Advisory on Using Pain Medication Reported March 23, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Are you confused about what painkillers to take following recent arguing over the safety of COX-2 inhibitors? The American Heart Association's new science advisory on the use of COX-2 inhibitors and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory … [Read more...]

Artificial ArteryReported November 19, 2007 WASHINGTON, D.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Patients worried about losing a foot because their arteries are clogged now have a new option to save their legs … and their lives. As many as 12 million people in the United States older than 50 have peripheral artery disease, or PAD. The condition results from a build-up of plaque in the … [Read more...]

Bad Marriages Break Women’s Hearts Reported March 09, 2009 Researchers who studied marital strain, depression and risk factors for heart disease among 276 couples who had been married on average 20 years find the combination of martial strain and depression ups the chances women will suffer from metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is defined as high blood pressure, … [Read more...]

Blood-Thinning Drug Dangers Reported September 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A common blood-thinning drug may have deadly side effects. A new report from the University of Cincinnati finds warfarin may cause more bleeding in the brain and increase the risk of death in patients who have a hemorrhagic stroke. Warfarin is commonly prescribed to prevent blood clotting. … [Read more...]

Bypassing the Blues Reported November 30, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients who were screened for depression after surgery and then cared for by a nurse-led team of health care specialists via telephone reported improved quality of life and physical function compared to those who received their doctors' usual … [Read more...]

Stroke risk same for newer dementia drugs as forerunners, Canadian study saysFeb. 28, 2005 TORONTO (CP) - Witnessing a once sweet-tempered loved one turn belligerent and physically aggressive is one of the most difficult aspects of dementia for family members to contend with. And although certain drugs can ease those symptoms, some … [Read more...]

Contraceptives Safe, But Questions Remain Reported January 26, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Oral contraceptives are used by 80 percent of women at some point in their lives. The pills are generally safe, but experts warn some risks and benefits have yet to be examined. A recent journal article by experts at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute provides insight into hormonal … [Read more...]

Detecting Disease Through the Eyes Reported June 26, 2009 INDIANAPOLIS (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- From diabetes to cancer -- it can all be spotted by taking a closer look at your eyes. A new laser scan is helping doctors find major health problems sooner. "February of last year I started to notice flashes," Christa Dodge told Ivanhoe. Those flashes turned … [Read more...]

Large thighs 'may protect heart' Reported September 04, 2009 The relationship remains even when body fat, smoking and blood cholesterol are taken into account, a Danish team says. Those with narrow thighs may not have enough muscle mass to deal with insulin properly, raising the risk of diabetes and, in turn, heart disease, they say. Experts … [Read more...]

Drugs Benefit Older Stroke Patients Reported September 08, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People over the age of 65 can benefit from cholesterol lowering drugs following a stroke or mini-stroke, according to a new study. However, researchers found seniors are less likely to be prescribed these medications. Researchers from Wayne State University looked at about 4,700 stroke … [Read more...]

Exercise to Prevent Severe Strokes Reported October 24, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People who are physically active before suffering a stroke may recover better and experience fewer problems compared to non-exercisers, according to a new study. Researchers asked 265 stroke survivors with an average age of 68 about their exercise habits. They found those who exercised the … [Read more...]

Flu Vaccine may Protect Against Heart Attacks   Reported September 28, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Flu can trigger heart attacks and cause cardiovascular death, but the influenza vaccine may offer protection for cardiac patients. Researchers say greater efforts are needed to encourage people with heart disease and diabetes (which increases the risk … [Read more...]

Genetic Link Between Heart Disease, Common Dental DiseaseReported June 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – For the first time, scientists have discovered a genetic link between the dental disease periodontitis and coronary heart disease, according to a new study. German researchers said they have found a genetic variant situated on chromosome 9 that is shared … [Read more...]

Good Cholesterol Sometimes Bad Reported December 05, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- If you’re not one of the 17 percent of Americans who have high cholesterol, you may consider yourself healthy overall. New research that shows some good cholesterol can negatively affect your health may change your mind. Conventional wisdom says having high levels of good cholesterol, or HDL, … [Read more...]

Hearing Loss May Signal More Trouble Reported June 30, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sudden loss of hearing may be a warning sign of a stroke and could foreshadow the condition as early as two years in advance. Researchers reviewed data on 1,423 patients five years after being hospitalized for an acute episode of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). They found those … [Read more...]

Heart Disease Linked to Alzheimer's   Reported July 17, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Though discoveries about Alzheimer's disease are often in the news, a new study reveals that American adults are unaware of the relationship between Alzheimer's disease risk and heart health, and that physical activity can protect against dementia. "There's a strong … [Read more...]

Heart Medication Leads to Hip Bone LossReported April 15, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Loop diuretics -- commonly prescribed drugs for heart failure and hypertension -- may cause hip bone loss in men, a new study reveals. Experts say taking loop diuretics potentially damages bones over time by increasing the amount of calcium excreted in urine. The medication was previously … [Read more...]

Higher Statin Dose Safely Reduces Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Reported March 9, 2005 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Results from a new study show lowering LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) to below 100 milligrams per deciliter by increasing the dosage of a cholesterol-lowering drug is safe and results in fewer … [Read more...]

Women Smokers are at Risk of Getting Acne Reported November 08, 2007 Smoking has been linked to a number of health problems ranging from lung diseases to cancer, but a new study has found another undesirable side effect of smoking cigarettes, particularly in women – acne. Italian researchers from the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in … [Read more...]