A European multicenter study found that intravenous thrombolysis is safe and effective for ischemic stroke patients with preexisting dependency, despite concerns of higher complication rates. The study suggests that these patients should be considered for IVT treatment in randomized-controlled trials.
Researchers found a significant association between poor sleep quality and severe arteriosclerosis in the brain, as well as increased oxygen-starved tissue, among elderly individuals. Sleep fragmentation was linked to higher odds of stroke and cognitive impairment, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors.
New research finds that women with heart failure live longer and experience lower mortality rates when equipped with implanted defibrillators. The study used data from the Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure registry to compare survival in patients with and without ICDs.
A new study published in Circulation journal found that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages daily increases visceral fat, a type of body fat that affects diabetes and heart disease risk. The study showed a direct correlation between greater sweetened beverage consumption and increased visceral fat among middle-aged adults.
New research found that even very healthy individuals with reduced kidney function experience changes in the heart, including increased left ventricle mass and elevated troponin levels, indicating potential for heart disease. The study tracked living kidney donors to explore direct effects of diminished kidney function on the heart.
A study found that people scoring well on the Life's Simple 7 checklist for a healthy heart have lower risk of developing heart failure. The measures include managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, as well as getting physically active, eating better, losing weight, and quitting smoking.
A new antiplatelet drug called PZ-128 has shown safe and fast effects in preventing blood clots, with reversal of its effects possible within 24 hours. The study found that the more PZ-128 was administered, the better it blocked platelet aggregation, with up to 100% effectiveness.
According to the American Heart Association's 2016 statistics update, cardiovascular disease is the top killer in both the US and globally. Key risk factors include hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, which contribute to an estimated one in three deaths in the US in 2013.
Women with Type 2 diabetes face increased cardiovascular disease risk, including earlier heart attacks, higher mortality rates, and reduced access to treatments. Lifestyle changes like improved diet and exercise may help reduce this risk, but more research is needed to understand these differences and improve health equity.
A nationwide study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that women with diabetes who are exposed to air pollution for long periods may have a much higher risk for heart disease. The study showed that cardiovascular disease and stroke risks increased by up to 66% among these individuals.
Research published in Circulation found adults with congenital heart defects to be at substantially higher risk of experiencing a stroke, especially before age 55. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes were the most prevalent types.
A study published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke found that bilingual patients were twice as likely as those who spoke one language to have normal cognitive functions after a stroke. The research also showed that bilinguals performed better on post-stroke tests measuring attention and information retrieval.
New research from the American Heart Association found that heart failure patients who face lack of social support and practical barriers such as transportation are less likely to benefit from supervised aerobic physical activity. In contrast, those with higher perceived social support and fewer barriers exercised more, on average.
Researchers found that African Americans with depressive symptoms have twice the increased risk of stroke compared to those without depressive symptoms. The study also discovered a significant association between depression and coronary heart disease in this population.
Researchers found that therapeutic hypothermia increased survival rates by 2.8 times and neurologic recovery by 3.5 times in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Therapeutic hypothermia may benefit comatose cardiac arrest patients with non-shockable heart rhythms, increasing their chances of survival and better brain function.
A large study found that moderate coffee consumption daily may reduce the risk of deaths from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and suicide. The benefits were seen in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting bioactive compounds are responsible.
A study of 6,814 adults found that achieving the seven heart-health metrics of the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 reduces rates of non-cardiovascular diseases overall. Those in the ideal category had a 20% lower risk for cancer and a 62% lower risk for chronic kidney disease.
The expanded coverage includes patients on optimal medical therapy and those with less than 35% ejection fraction. Newly eligible patients have lower hospital readmissions compared to those previously eligible for cardiac rehabilitation.
Research on Hispanic/Latino adults found substantial e-cigarette and hookah use, with younger users more likely to use these products. Easy access, flavored taste, and socializing were cited reasons for their appeal.
A recent study found that alcohol abuse is associated with a 70% increased risk of developing congestive heart failure among adults, particularly those under 60 years old and without high blood pressure. The study analyzed over 858,000 patients from California healthcare databases between 2005-2009.
A new study found that short bursts of high-intensity exercise improved cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight among Type 2 diabetes patients. Researchers compared the effects of 30 minutes of lower-intensity exercise to three months of high-intensity exercise in 10-minute bursts, finding a significant difference in outcomes.
A new smartphone-compatible listening device, HeartBuds, has been shown to work as well as widely used FDA-approved traditional and digital stethoscopes in identifying heart murmurs. The study also found that the disposable stethoscope performed poorly on detecting abnormal sounds, making it a less reliable option.
Researchers analyzed 2,176 children with cardiac arrest and found that just under half received bystander CPR, associated with an 11% likelihood of neurologically favorable survival. The majority of cardiac arrests occurred at home, but infants did not benefit from bystander CPR.
A study found that lowering China's air pollution to 2008 Olympics levels could prevent 304,000 stroke deaths and 619,000 coronary heart disease deaths by 2030. Achieving the World Health Organization's pollution goal would yield greater life year gains.
Research found significant heart disease and muscle abnormalities in obese children, with 40% considered high-risk. Obesity linked to thicker heart muscles and impaired pumping ability, potentially leading to complications in adulthood.
Researchers found a higher incidence of high blood pressure in college linemen compared to non-linemen, with a relative decrease in subclinical left ventricular function. The study suggests that football players in lineman positions face a greater risk of specific heart problems due to physiologic differences between the group.
According to a study of 16,415 U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults, only one-third to one-half are eligible for and receiving statin therapy, highlighting a significant undertreatment gap.
Research at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015 found that intimate partners of people with heart defibrillators are concerned about resuming sexual activity. After discussing their concerns, partners reported a significant decrease in fears related to cardiac arrest and ICD discharge during sex.
Research found that patients who listed at multiple centers had higher transplant rates and lower death rates while waiting. Wealthier patients were more likely to be insured and had the resources to list at multiple centers, addressing long waiting times and organ shortage issues.
A study found that women with heart disease are less likely to receive optimal care at discharge from U.S. hospitals, resulting in a higher death rate compared to men. Additionally, black patients with heart disease have a significantly higher three-year death rate than white patients, despite similar quality of care.
Researchers found that short bursts of light physical activity, such as walking breaks or desk exercises, reduced systolic blood pressure by 10 and 12 points respectively. This study provides evidence for the benefits of breaking sedentary behavior in people with type 2 diabetes.
A study found that fewer people achieved ideal cardiovascular health scores, with a decrease in healthy metrics such as body mass index, blood pressure, and glucose levels. People who experienced significant changes in their health scores were at higher risk of diagnosed cardiovascular disease.
Researchers developed a novel 3D computer modeling system to assess compatibility of potential donor hearts with children receiving heart transplants. The new system uses MRI and CT images to predict the best donor body weight for pediatric transplant recipients, improving size matching and potentially reducing mismatched organs.
Research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015 found that eating about two homemade lunches or dinners a week can lower Type 2 diabetes risk by 13%. The study analyzed data from nearly 58,000 women and 41,000 men over 36 years.
A Japanese study found that bus/train commuters were 44% less likely to be overweight, 27% less likely to have high blood pressure, and 34% less likely to have diabetes compared to drivers. Regular public transportation use may also encourage longer walks to and from the train or bus station.
A new study found that moving from a low-walkability neighborhood to a high-walkability one significantly lowers the risk of high blood pressure. Researchers compared adults who made this move and found a 54% lower risk of developing hypertension.
A study of 25 healthy young adults found that drinking one energy drink increased blood pressure and norepinephrine levels, which could predispose otherwise healthy individuals to cardiovascular risk. The findings suggest that commercially available energy drinks may be a contributing factor to heart disease in young adults.
A survey found that only 27% of women can name a woman with heart disease, highlighting the disconnect between widespread cardiovascular disease and personal perceptions. Women are more likely to be concerned about heart health when they know another woman who has experienced it.
A school-based garden program in Nevada taught children about the value of healthy nutrition and physical activity, leading to increased awareness and behavior change. The program also included parent workshops and a farmer's market, resulting in improved knowledge of daily recommended screen time and participation in physical activity.
A new smartphone application called AED-SOS helps connect rescuers with lifesaving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest outside hospitals. Researchers found that the app can shorten the time from recognizing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to delivering AEDs by an average of 69 seconds.
Researchers in Pennsylvania have been granted funding from the American Heart Association to support their work on cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The grants will enable them to gather data and develop new treatment strategies for patients with Fontan physiology, a condition that affects thousands of people worldwide.
Research links combat injuries to increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease in US veterans. The more severe the injury, the higher the risk of developing these conditions due to inflammation and other factors.
A collaborative effort between pharmacists and physicians improved blood pressure control among a diverse group of patients. The study found that the intervention resulted in lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures and higher hypertension control rates, with costs mostly due to prescription drug expenses.
The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have updated recommendations for athletes with diagnosed heart disease. New research shows that the risk of sudden cardiac arrest is lower than previously thought for some athletes with irregular heartbeat disorders treated by implanted medical devices. However, patients...
Researchers found that eating more fruits and vegetables as young adults was associated with less calcified coronary artery plaque 20 years later. People who ate the most fruit and vegetable at the start had a 26% lower risk of developing calcified plaque compared to those who ate the least.
Researchers found that Botox injections significantly reduced the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) after bypass surgery. In contrast, saline injections showed no such benefit. The study's results could lead to Botox being used as a preventive measure for AF in patients undergoing heart bypass or valve repair.
Research published in the American Heart Association journal found that young women are less likely to be prescribed or fill their medication after a heart attack. Despite being eligible for the same treatment as men, only 65% of women under 55 initiated treatment on all appropriate drugs, similar to men.
Research found that psoriasis patients had high levels of blood vessel inflammation, even at low cardiovascular risk. The most extensive forms of psoriasis were associated with a 51% increase in blood vessel inflammation.
Research finds that higher levels of physical activity lower heart failure risk in the general population. Current U.S. guidelines may not be enough to reduce the risk, suggesting stronger recommendations are necessary.
Researchers found that sedentary time was associated with higher risks of heart and diabetes problems, regardless of exercise levels. The study suggests that reducing sedentary time can be beneficial for Hispanic adults' overall health.