Cardiovascular Health

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...]

Robotic Heart RepairReported January 14, 2008 CHOUSTON, Texas (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- As many as five million people live with a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse. It’s usually harmless, but sometimes it can become debilitating. "I had developed shortness of breathe along with other symptoms," says Tony Teutsch Teutsch was only 12 years old when he found out he … [Read more...]

Secondhand Smoke Affects Toddlers MostReported March 17, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Parents: you may want to think twice before you light up in front of your little ones. A new study reveals children between the ages of 2 to 5 years absorb six times more nicotine than children 9 to 14 years old when exposed to parental smoking in their homes. The toddlers also had higher … [Read more...]

Survive Stroke with Support Reported November 21, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows high levels of social support can provide protection to the brain during a stroke. In a study on male mice, researchers found those living with female partners before and after a stroke had significantly higher survival rates than mice that lived alone. What’s more, the … [Read more...]

The Greatest Workout on Earth Reported September 30, 2008 ATLANTA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Did you ever wish you could join the circus when you were a kid? A new exercise class might be the next best thing. Nearly half of us say we exercise on a regular basis. But those old workout routines can get boring. Stars like Jodie Foster and Jeff Goldblum, and a lot of regular folks, … [Read more...]

Turbo Booster for Leg PainReported January 25, 2008 LOS ANGELES (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Twelve million Americans have it - 75 percent of us don’t even know about it. That nagging pain in your legs could be a sign of a serious cardiovascular disease. For now, memories of exotic vacations will have to do. The Paxton’s were grounded when Gertrude’s legs refused to budge. "I … [Read more...]

Heart attacks more common but less fatal in women Reported November 03, 2009 Heart attacks appear to have become more common in middle-aged women over the past two decades, but all women and especially those younger than 55 have recently experienced a greater increase than men in their chances of survival following such a heart event, according to two reports in the 26 … [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...]

High Calcium Level May Signal Heart Danger   Reported July 29, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Researchers may be able to predict future severe heart attacks in patients with known, stable coronary artery disease (CAD) using coronary calcium scoring, according to a new study. "The amount of calcium in the coronary vessels, as measured by CT, is of … [Read more...]

Walnuts decrease cardiovascular disease risk: November 9 [Health India]: Washington: According to a study conducted by Penn State University walnuts, walnut oil and flaxseed oil not only lower bad cholesterol but also decrease the possibilities of blood vessel inflammation in patients susceptible to … [Read more...]

Just One Cigarette Stiffens Arteries Reported October 30, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Canadian researchers say smoking even one time significantly stiffens the arteries and negatively influences the body's ability to cope with physical stress. Young adults ages 18 to 35 who smoke as little as one cigarette increase the stiffness of their arteries by 25 … [Read more...]

Heart patients say quality of life lower Reported July 16, 2008 ATLANTA, July 16 (UPI) -- Better treatments have improved survival in people with coronary heart disease, but not necessarily their quality of life, U.S. researchers say. The study, published in the journal Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, found that compared with adults without … [Read more...]

Heart surgeries more dangerous for women, study indicatesReported September 03, 2007 Heart surgeries that typically save men's lives can be deadly for women, research presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna on Monday suggests. A small study of 184 women conducted by Dr. Eva Swahn of the department of cardiology at University … [Read more...]