Preliminary research suggests that secondhand marijuana smoke can damage blood vessels as much as tobacco smoke, raising concerns about its impact on cardiovascular health. The study found that blood vessel function dropped by 70% after exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke.
The Heart of New Ulm Project demonstrated population-level improvements in blood pressure and lipids, with increases in residents meeting blood pressure and LDL cholesterol goals. Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, quitting smoking, and increased physical activity, also showed significant effects on HDL levels and total cholestero...
Hospital admissions for acute aortic dissection increased during peak flu season in the US, according to research. Researchers found a notable correlation between flu activity and AAD admissions from 2001-2013.
The study found that more than half of US adults with high blood pressure now have readings below 140/90 mmHg. Despite progress, nearly half of those with hypertension remain uncontrolled, highlighting the need for increased efforts to prioritize blood pressure management at every medical visit.
Repeat testing after puberty revealed abnormal electrocardiogram findings in most individuals with a first-degree relative with Brugada syndrome. This suggests the need for repeated monitoring of family members of patients with Brugada syndrome, even those initially considered at low risk due to young age.
Researchers found that patients with underweight or overweight/obese BMIs were less likely to achieve sustained remission in early rheumatoid arthritis. The study also identified other contributing factors, such as smoking and response to treatment, that can impact patient outcomes.
A study of 4,524 patients found that intravascular VCDs were more effective than manual compression in achieving hemostasis, with fewer device failures and shorter time to hemostasis. The results suggest that VCDs may be a safer alternative for closing artery access sites following coronary angiography.
A Swedish registry study suggests that beta blockers can improve survival in patients with HFPEF, which affects women more often than men and is characterized by an impaired ability to relax and fill with blood. The treatment difference persisted even after adjusting for various factors.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University found that extrasynaptic receptors are essential for establishing a plateau in the membrane potential of neurons, allowing them to signal more effectively. Blocking these receptors with memantine reduces the frequency and synchrony of neural activity.
A new study published in JAMA found that hospitalized patients with STEMI heart attacks are more likely to die than those who had the same type of heart attack outside the hospital. The study analyzed data from over 62,000 patients and found that these patients were older, female, and less likely to receive routine treatments for STEMI.
Physicists at Australian National University have created a spiral laser beam that generates a stable vortex of polaritons, which are hybrid particles exhibiting both matter-like and light-like behavior. This achievement could enable the development of novel technology linking conventional electronics with photonics.
Researchers found that couples who kiss frequently share similar oral bacteria, with at least nine kisses per day leading to significantly shared salivary microbiota. The study also suggests an important role for other mechanisms that select oral microbiota, shaped by lifestyle and personal care habits.
A new study suggests that repeated head injuries can disrupt the brain's energy use, leading to inflammation, degeneration of brain cell segments, and problems with learning and memory. The discovery could help explain the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease seen in professional athletes.
Research suggests that long-term use of anti-clotting drugs like warfarin and aspirin or clopidigrel can increase the risk of dementia in people with atrial fibrillation. Patients with abnormally slow blood clotting times were found to be more likely to develop dementia.
A new study by Hospital for Special Surgery found that total hip replacement is an excellent option for young JIA patients, with 85% of patients experiencing at least 10 years of implant longevity. Patient-reported outcomes showed favorable results in terms of activities of daily living and pain management.
A study found that beta-blockers are associated with lower all-cause mortality in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction, but no significant effect on combined all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization. The study used data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry and included over 41,000 patients.
Researchers studied adolescents' brain connections, impulsivity, and sugar intake to understand the risk of alcohol use and abuse. The findings suggest that reduced executive cognitive functioning and impaired connectivity in key brain networks may contribute to risky behaviors.
Research at Mayo Clinic reveals that patients with active asthma are at a twofold risk of having a heart attack. Patients with inactive asthma were not found to be at an increased risk, highlighting the need for better control of asthma symptoms and medication use.
Research spanning over three decades found that participants with low risk for heart disease as young adults were 60% less likely to report disability as older adults. A healthy lifestyle has been shown to be associated with favorable levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to the study lead author.
A new program called Family SWAP uses an electronic monitoring device to help heart failure patients and their caregivers adapt to a low-salt diet. The study found that participants noticed a significant change in their ability to taste salt, while caregivers reported no increased burden.
Leading coral reef scientists argue that a shift away from extinction threat is needed to protect marine ecosystems. Researchers found no relationship between species abundance and geographic range, highlighting the weaknesses in current approaches to assessing extinction risk.
The overall heart disease death rate decreased by 3.8% and coronary artery disease death rate by 5.1% between 2000-2010, but some subtypes showed increases in mortality rates, including hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and arrhythmia.
Research studies presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2014 found that people with active asthma are more likely to experience a heart attack. Participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who required daily medications for asthma were 60% more likely to have a cardiovascular event.
A study of 68,765 STEMI patients found that 53% had non-IRA disease, significantly associated with increased 30-day mortality. The presence of non-IRA disease was consistent with findings from the KAMIR registry but not the Duke database.
Atrial fibrillation hospital admission rates have increased significantly in the US, with elderly females and those with low income experiencing higher rates. Patient characteristics such as Medicare insurance and living in areas with low median income contribute to these disparities.
Preterm birth is now the world's number one killer of young children, accounting for nearly 1.1 million deaths in 2013. Direct complications from preterm births killed an additional 125,000 children between one month and five years old.
Researchers found that menthol reduces irritation from nicotine by desensitizing airway receptors. The study provides insight into how menthol affects the function of α3β4 receptors, which are expressed in both airways and other neurons.
A study published in JAMA found that a device for closing the left atrial appendage significantly reduces the risk of stroke and cardiovascular death in patients with atrial fibrillation. The device was shown to be noninferior and superior to warfarin, a current treatment option for stroke prevention.
Research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2014 found that young and middle-age women with stable coronary heart disease are more vulnerable to emotional stress. They experience a significant reduction in blood flow to the heart when subjected to mental stress, whereas physical stress does not cause a no...
A new study found that public lay bystanders in higher-income Pennsylvania counties are more likely to perform CPR during cardiac arrests, with a ROSC rate of 23.3% compared to 1.5% in lower-income areas. The research suggests targeting CPR education efforts in lower-income counties to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.
Patients who develop heart attacks in hospitals for non-acute conditions have a 3.5-fold higher mortality rate compared to those with outpatient-onset STEMI. Inpatient-onset STEMI patients are also less likely to be discharged home and undergo necessary treatments, leading to longer hospital stays and higher costs.
A recent study by Duke University researchers found that over half of STEMI heart attack patients had one or both of their other arteries obstructed, leading to worse outcomes. The study suggests that opening all blocked arteries may become a standard procedure.
A new study suggests that malfunctioning tau, not amyloid-beta plaque, is the key event triggering neuron death in Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that when tau fails to function, neurons can't clear toxic proteins, leading to cell death.
A new study found that over 40% of energy drink exposure reports to US poison control centers involved children under 6, suffering from serious cardiac and neurological symptoms. Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and other ingredients that can cause these effects, particularly when mixed with alcohol.
The DAPT Study found that continuing dual antiplatelet therapy for at least 30 months significantly reduced the risk of stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiovascular events. This benefit was observed across all stent types and patient characteristics, with a notable reduction in heart attack risk.