A recent NHLBI study found that traditional diuretics are more effective than newer antihypertensive medications in treating high blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular events. The study, which involved over 42,000 participants, showed that diuretics reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 34% compared to the other groups.
The study found that controlling heart rate provides no benefit over controlling the heart's irregular rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation. This approach may also be less expensive due to lower hospitalization rates and costs.
A large clinical trial found that hormone replacement therapy did not reduce the progression of coronary disease in postmenopausal women, while high-dose antioxidant vitamins may even increase mortality risk. The study used angiography to assess the effects of hormone therapy and antioxidants on cardiovascular health.
The NHLBI initiative establishes partnerships between research-intensive and minority-serving institutions to investigate factors contributing to asthma disparities. The project focuses on psychosocial factors, ethnic variations in sensitivity to environmental allergens, and the interrelationship between genetic susceptibility and stress.
A new NHLBI study has found improved heart failure survival rates, with deaths decreasing by 12% per decade for both men and women. The study, which analyzed data from 10,317 participants over 50 years, also revealed a significant drop in new cases of heart failure among women during the same period.
The new recommendations aim to lower average systolic blood pressure among Americans by 5 mmHg, resulting in a 14% drop in stroke deaths and 7% overall mortality. Proven behavioral changes such as regular physical activity, weight loss, and dietary potassium intake can also significantly lower blood pressure.
The NHLBI has launched a major initiative to boost research on protein technologies, awarding $157 million over 7 years to 10 new proteomics centers. The centers will focus on novel technologies related to healthy and diseased heart, lung, blood, and sleep processes.
The NHLBI has funded new heart health education projects in high-risk communities across the US, with a focus on reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke deaths. The projects will employ creative approaches to engage communities, including training peer health educators and conducting awareness-raising town-hall meetings.
A recent study has revealed a significant decrease in leisure-time physical activity among black girls (56%) and white girls (31%) aged 16-17. Lower parental education levels and higher body mass indexes were found to predict activity decline in both racial groups, while pregnancy was associated with activity declines only in black girls.
Researchers found a gene variant associated with abnormal heart rhythm in African Americans, affecting an estimated 4.6 million people. The SCN5A gene variant increases the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias when combined with other factors.
The study of over 5,000 participants found a significant association between excess weight and increased risk of heart failure in both men and women. Obesity was independently linked to an increased risk of heart failure, even after accounting for other risk factors.
A hormone therapy study involving 16,608 women was stopped early due to a 26% increase in breast cancer risk. The study found that the risks of estrogen plus progestin outweighed any potential benefits for heart disease and hip fractures.
A long-term pediatric AIDS study of over 500 children reveals that cardiac abnormalities may persist in infants born to HIV-positive mothers. The study found that both infected and uninfected children had higher left ventricle mass and lower contractility, but differences dissipated over time.
The new guidelines stress the importance of inhaled corticosteroids for controlling and preventing asthma symptoms. The update also highlights the need for further research on combination therapy, particularly in young children.
A recent NHLBI-sponsored study found that weight concerns and a drive for thinness significantly increased the risk of teenage girls becoming daily smokers. The study also identified other factors such as stress, poor conduct, and family background that contributed to this risk.
A recent NHLBI study found that 90% of middle-aged Americans are at risk of developing high blood pressure, with a significant decrease in the past 25 years due to improved treatment. Lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and moderate alcohol consumption can help reduce this risk.
A recent NHLBI study found that the DASH diet and reducing dietary sodium can lower blood pressure in diverse populations, including those with hypertension, older adults, and younger individuals. The study's findings suggest that these lifestyle changes can benefit Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and health statuses.
Scientists have successfully corrected sickle cell disease in mice using gene therapy by introducing an anti-sickling human beta-hemoglobin gene. The study, supported by the NHLBI, shows promising results with high expression of the gene in up to 99% of circulating red blood cells.
A study of 2,481 patients with heart disease found that treating depression and low social support did not reduce deaths or heart attacks. Despite improvements in psychological and social functioning, patients who received treatment showed no significant change in heart disease survival over a 3-year period.
A new study funded by the NHLBI shows that a type of implantable heart pump can extend and improve the lives of terminally ill patients with end stage heart failure. The HeartMate LVAD was shown to have a 52% one-year survival rate, compared to 25% for those receiving standard medical management.
The Framingham Heart Study is entering a new phase by recruiting its third generation of participants to explore factors that promote the development of cardiovascular and other diseases. The study aims to identify genes contributing to good health and develop new imaging tests for early-stage coronary atherosclerosis.
A new NHLBI study found that high-normal blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure by 1.5 to 2.5 times in 10 years compared to optimal blood pressure levels. The study also showed a continuous increase in cardiovascular events with age, especially in older adults.
Researchers at NHLBI discovered that women with LAM have a high rate of meningiomas, a surprising finding that has implications for diagnosis and treatment. The study suggests using MRI scans to screen for tumors and avoiding progesterone in affected patients.
A study found hemochromatosis patients' blood is as safe as other donated blood, potentially alleviating a national blood shortage. The research suggests that patients with the condition can donate without increasing the risk of viral infections.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that premenopausal women using inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma experience accelerated bone loss in the hip compared to those not using the medication. The study suggests a potential long-term risk of hip fractures for these women.
Researchers have identified scientifically based selection criteria for patients seeking lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) as a potential treatment for advanced emphysema. High-risk patients with severe lung damage and poor outcomes after surgery are no longer being enrolled in the study, but will continue to receive medical treatment.
A 2-year study found that brief counseling by health professionals significantly increased physical fitness and activity levels in inactive adults, particularly women. The interventions were equally effective for men and women, with a 5% improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness.
Children with high blood cholesterol can benefit from a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet without adverse effects on growth or development. The Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC) found that reducing saturated fat and cholesterol intake lowered LDL cholesterol levels for up to three years.
A recent NHLBI study found that reducing sodium intake, combined with either a typical U.S. diet or the DASH diet, substantially lowered blood pressure in persons with high blood pressure and those at higher than optimal blood pressure levels. The DASH-Sodium study found that lower sodium intake resulted in lower blood pressures for bo...
A recent NHLBI study found that inhaled corticosteroids do not significantly slow the progression of COPD, a disease affecting approximately 16 million Americans. However, patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids did experience fewer respiratory symptoms and improved lung sensitivity.
The new report clarifies how to monitor and treat pregnant women with hypertension before and during pregnancy. It highlights the importance of differentiating between hypertension and preeclampsia, a condition that affects the placenta, kidney, liver, and brain, and can lead to severe complications for both mother and child.
A study by the NIH/NHLBI confirms inhaled corticosteroids provide superior asthma control in children with mild to moderate asthma. However, growth rate was slightly reduced in the first year, but this effect was short-term and temporary.
The NHLBI launched a $37 million genomic applications initiative to identify human genes relevant to heart, lung, blood, and sleep functions. The program aims to decipher individual gene functions and develop better prevention, diagnosis, and therapy methods.
The NHLBI has launched a 10-year study to find new ways of detecting heart disease early, before symptoms appear. The $68 million Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) will collect data on various risk factors, including calcium deposits in coronary arteries and pulse waves at the radial artery.
A Phase I/II study found substantial and occasional complete regression of widespread tumors in patients with treatment-resistant metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with blood stem cell transplants. Three patients achieved total regression, while seven showed partial regression of disease.
New data from an NHLBI pediatric AIDS study show no significant differences in cardiac function between children exposed to AZT and those not exposed. The study provides reassuring evidence that AZT is not associated with any significant negative clinical effects on the heart.
The DASH diet, known for its blood pressure-lowering effects, also reduces homocysteine levels, a risk factor for heart disease. Participants on the DASH diet had lower homocysteine levels compared to those on a control diet or one rich in fruits and vegetables.
A large multi-center study is testing the life-saving potential and cost effectiveness of public access defibrillation (PAD). PAD involves placing defibrillators in community locations, where trained volunteers can access them, to improve emergency treatment for sudden cardiac arrest victims.
Two separate groups of scientists identified a genetic mutation associated with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), a rare but devastating lung disease. Defects in the BMPR2 gene lead to abnormal proliferation of cells in the lungs characteristic of PPH.
Researchers have identified a gene associated with inherited primary pulmonary hypertension, providing new avenues of study for determining its molecular basis. The discovery opens up possibilities for designing more effective therapies for this devastating condition, which affects primarily women of childbearing age.
A community education study increased ambulance use among heart attack patients but showed no improvement in delay time. The REACT study found a 20% increase in emergency medical services usage without a corresponding decrease in Emergency Department visits.
The NHLBI's IMPACT study will investigate whether patients with mild asthma require daily anti-inflammatory medication. The trial, which started recently, will compare the effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends a more aggressive approach to treating high blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is based on studies showing significant reductions in diabetes-related strokes, small blood vessel damage, and deaths when blood pressure is brought under control.
A recent study by the NHLBI found that reducing dietary sodium can significantly lower blood pressure in people with and without hypertension. The study, which involved 412 participants, showed that the lowest sodium intake produced the greatest blood pressure reduction, regardless of diet type.
The NHLBI has released a clinical advisory emphasizing the importance of systolic blood pressure in diagnosing and treating hypertension in middle-aged and older adults. The guideline recommends reducing systolic blood pressure to less than 140 mm Hg to reduce heart attack, heart failure, and stroke risk.
A large-scale NHLBI study found a significant relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension, with middle-aged adults at highest risk. The study revealed that even moderate levels of sleep apnea can increase the risk of hypertension in all participants, regardless of age or weight.
The NHLBI halted a study on high blood pressure treatments after an independent review found that an alpha-adrenergic blocker, doxazosin, was less effective than the diuretic chlorthalidone in reducing cardiovascular disease. The study compared newer drug treatments with conventional and less costly treatment options.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is funding seven asthma coalitions in communities with high asthma death rates to develop innovative programs for improving asthma care. The coalitions aim to eliminate disparities in asthma morbidity and mortality among children, minorities, and low-income individuals.
The NIH conference aims to develop a framework for independent research on medical implants retrieved after surgery or at autopsy. The conference seeks to address the challenges and opportunities in collecting and analyzing data on implant performance, with a focus on improving public understanding and policy-making.
The NIH conference aims to develop a framework for independent research on medical implants retrieved after surgery or at autopsy. It will address patient, healthcare provider, and societal expectations, as well as legal, ethical, and economic barriers to implant retrieval and reporting.