Research on diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Covers microvascular imaging, light exposure, cardiac imaging anxiety, and sex differences in risk.
A study from Lund University finds a strong link between neurotensin, a satiation hormone, and the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer in women. Obesity is not the primary explanation for this connection.
A study published in JAMA found that high plasma levels of proneurotensin are associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer in women. The study also found a significant interaction between sex and proneurotensin on the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A large study found that moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of atrial fibrillation in older people with heart disease or advanced diabetes. The study involved over 30,000 individuals from 40 countries and found a significant increase in atrial fibrillation cases linked to higher alcohol consumption.
Researchers are investigating the mechanisms of atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients, exploring whether HIV infection itself is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A study using transgenic mice could provide insight into how HIV causes lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and potentially lead to new trea...
Research found a significant association between sleep disturbance and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents, including high cholesterol levels, BMI, and hypertension. Poor sleep habits were also linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as consuming more fried foods and exercising less.
A new study finds that women experiencing early menopause are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke due to cardiovascular disease. Women with early menopause were found to be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, including smoking, diabetes, and excess weight.
Dr. James Sowers, a renowned endocrinologist, has received the American Heart Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering work on the deadly link between cardiovascular disease and diabetes. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of insulin action, vascular biology, and metabolic disorders.
Case Western Reserve University researcher Nicole Ward is leading a study to identify the mechanistic link between psoriasis and heart attack/stroke. The study aims to provide first-ever evidence that cell-specific events in psoriasis can be targeted for treatment, potentially improving cardiovascular disease outcomes.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that obese individuals with visceral fat are at a higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. In contrast, those with excess abdominal subcutaneous fat were not at greater risk. The study, which sampled over 700 obese adults, used imaging methods to determin...
Women experiencing early menopause are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease and stroke. The study suggests that avoiding early menopause or delaying it through lifestyle changes may help reduce this risk.
Researchers will analyze data from a unique NIH-funded repository to identify genetic variants associated with premature cardiovascular disease. The goal is to create new screening strategies and therapeutic targets to reduce the human and financial costs of cardiovascular disease.
A study of 1,216 individuals found a positive association between PFOA levels and the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and peripheral arterial disease. Higher PFOA levels were associated with an increased risk of CVD and PAD.
Experts say that younger men with erectile dysfunction are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease. A thorough non-invasive cardiovascular disease evaluation is recommended for all men diagnosed with organic ED due to low testosterone levels and other risk factors.
The study found that TAVI leads to significant improvements in health-related quality of life, including increased mobility and reduced discomfort, for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Patients reported remarkable increases in self-rated quality of life scores after TAVI procedure.
The ESC has launched a new acute cardiovascular care association, expanding its scope to cover the entire first seven days of acute cardiovascular disease. The association aims to improve quality of care through an integrated patient-oriented approach.
A study found that coronary artery calcium provides superior discrimination and risk reclassification compared to other risk markers for intermediate-risk individuals. The marker offers the highest improvement in discrimination over traditional risk scores, supporting its use in refining cardiovascular risk prediction.
The University of Leicester is set to receive a significant boost in cardiovascular research thanks to a record-breaking £7 million donation. This major gift will support the creation of a unique UK facility for cardiovascular science and enable researchers to develop novel tools for clinical use, ultimately benefiting patients.
Researchers urge physicians to ask about ED symptoms in men over 30 with cardiovascular risk factors and all diabetic men. Early detection can lower healthcare costs and improve outcomes, as ED shares similar risk factors with cardiovascular disease.
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital found that HIV-infected individuals have comparable levels of arterial inflammation as those with established cardiovascular disease, despite being at lower risk. The researchers suggest that targeting monocyte activation may be a unique strategy to reduce arterial inflammation in these patients.
Women experiencing high job strain are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those with low-strain jobs. A 10-year study found that elevated job strain has long-term cardiovascular health effects in women.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has awarded a $4.78 million grant to Cleveland Clinic researchers to discover new pathways linked to cardiovascular diseases through metabolomics. The study aims to improve diagnostics and treatments for cardiovascular disease by analyzing the role of gut flora in heart disease.
The new 2012 Joint European Societies' Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice focus on lifestyle changes, public health initiatives, and individual preventive measures to address the growing burden of CVD. Experts stress the need for a co-ordinated society-wide effort to reduce mortality.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created an animal model that spontaneously develops rheumatoid arthritis and is predisposed to atherosclerosis. The model allows scientists to examine the systemic influence of inflammatory arthritis on the development of heart disease, with promising results from treatment with Enbrel.
A small study exposed young, healthy volunteers to ozone for two hours, showing vascular inflammation and changes in autonomic nervous system control. The findings suggest a plausible explanation for the link between acute ozone exposure and death.
A large-scale study found that low DHEA-S levels are independently associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular-disease events. The results indicate that low DHEA-S may be protective or serve as a marker for poor general health, highlighting the need for further research to understand underlying mechanisms and potential benefits.
A new study found that persistent and late-onset menopausal symptoms are associated with increased blood pressure, white blood cell count, glucose, and insulin levels, which are risk markers for heart disease and stroke.
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found a strong association between psychological distress and an increased risk of death from stroke. The research, which analyzed data from over 68,000 participants, suggests that questionnaires could be useful screening tools for common mental illnesses to help redu...
An international study found living alone associated with increased four-year mortality and cardiovascular death among stable outpatients at risk of or with arterial vascular disease. The risk was highest among middle-aged individuals, suggesting that social isolation may be a significant contributor to cardiovascular risk.
University of Minnesota researchers found that patients with high levels of good cholesterol but low levels of the GPx3 enzyme were six times less likely to develop cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that measuring this enzyme may become a common blood test to determine risk for cardiovascular disease.
Postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy may experience stiffer arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hormonal changes and decreased estrogen levels after menopause may contribute to this effect.
A study of 17 studies from seven countries found that smoking increases relative mortality by 83% for current smokers and 34% for former smokers. Quitting smoking at an older age is associated with a reduced risk of death, even after a longer follow-up period.
A French cohort study of 6,000 women aged over 65 found that high levels of estrogen are associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and strokes. The study challenges the long-held assumption that estrogen has a protective effect on the heart and blood vessels.
A recent study found that meditation can lower left ventricular mass in black teens with high blood pressure, reducing the risk of future cardiovascular disease. School records also showed significant behavioral improvements in the meditation group.
Researchers used echocardiograms to spot early heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The study found that the condition is often underestimated by traditional risk assessment tools.
A study of 559 adolescents found that those with low-fiber diets had bigger bellies, higher levels of inflammatory factors, and more visceral fat. Increasing fiber intake is crucial for reducing these risks, particularly in a time when one-third of children are overweight or obese.
Researchers found that highly active middle-aged subjects avoid arterial stiffening associated with aging. The study suggests that high physical activity may be more beneficial for women than men in preventing cardiovascular disease.
A Northwestern University study found that early exposure to microbes reduces the risk of chronic inflammation related to diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia. Adults in Ecuador showed no signs of chronic inflammation, unlike many US adults with chronically elevated C-reactive protein levels.
Researchers found that two bloodletting sessions improved blood pressure, glucose levels, and cholesterol ratios in obese individuals with metabolic syndrome. Blood donation may prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease in these patients.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients face a higher risk of early death and cardiovascular disease due to inflammation. Conventional predictors of risk are inadequate for estimating this risk, emphasizing the need for more accurate tools to assess heart disease danger in these patients.
Researchers linked air pollution exposure to increased risk of cardiovascular problems, as shown by significant reductions in blood clotting and inflammation biomarkers during the Beijing Olympics. The study provides evidence that even short-term air pollution reduction improves cardiovascular health.
A study found that narrower central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) is associated with a higher six-year incidence of any cardiovascular disease and lower extremity arterial disease. Larger retinal venular diameter, on the other hand, was linked to an increased risk of hypertension.
Researchers discovered a causal link between chronic skin inflammation and cardiovascular disease, with aggressive reversal of psoriasis reducing the risk. A mouse model demonstrated that persistent inflammation leads to vessel wall inflammation and blood clot formation, which can increase stroke or heart attack risk.
A new study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds that heart attack survivors living near highways have a 27% higher risk of death within 10 years compared to those living far away. The risk recedes to 13% for those living between 200-1,000 meters from the roadway.
Researchers found that daily consumption of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) lowered blood glucose and LDL cholesterol levels while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. This study suggests that moderate dark chocolate consumption may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving glucose and lipid profiles.
Global cardiovascular disease leaders urge the world to adopt a 25% reduction target for premature NCD mortality by 2025. The Taskforce, comprising leading CVD organizations, aims to reduce the global burden of CVD and address its impact on families and economies.
A 25% increase in high blood pressure screening in 19 developing countries could reduce CVD events and deaths by up to 3%. The study found that only one-third of people with high blood pressure are aware of their condition, and even fewer receive treatment.
The Indian Heart Watch study reveals alarming levels of lifestyle and biological risk factors driving India's CVD epidemic. The country faces a growing CVD crisis due to high prevalence of obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity.
A new study found that exposure to alcohol use in Bollywood movies is directly associated with alcohol consumption among Indian adolescents. The study, presented at the World Congress of Cardiology, reveals that students who were highly exposed to such content were 2.78 times more likely to have tried alcohol.
A new study from Hong Kong reveals that smokefree legislation has led to a decrease in total smokers, but hard-to-quit 'hardcore' smokers have increased. The number of hardcore smokers grew from 23.8% to 29.4% among males and 10.6% to 16.3% among females between 2005 and 2008.
A study of Chinese industrial workers found that long-term exposure to silica dust was associated with substantially increased mortality. The risk of death from all causes and specific diseases, such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, increased with increasing exposure levels.
A study from Lund University found that women who eat high-fibre diets have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, with a 25% decrease compared to those on low-fibre diets. The researchers also discovered that men may not benefit from high fibre intake in the same way.
The UCSF project provides a large publicly available resource to help researchers determine the importance of genes in mice. The resource includes 162 gene-disrupting vectors, 64 new stem cell lines, and 46 new strains of mice with missing microRNAs.
The Minneapolis Heart Institute will receive $63 million to support innovative stem cell therapy development for heart disease, as part of the National Institutes of Health's Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network. The network aims to drive public health advances in cardiovascular cell therapy.
Scientists at the University of Southampton have identified a new process that controls artery constriction, which could lead to a better understanding of cardiovascular disease causes and the development of new treatments. By blocking specific enzymes, researchers were able to reduce artery constriction and lower blood pressure risk.
A new position paper from the American Thoracic Society predicts increased asthma, allergies, and infectious diseases worldwide as climate change worsens air quality and heat stress. Vulnerable populations like infants, children, and the elderly will be disproportionately affected.
Researchers have found a protein called pregnane X receptor (PXR) that can sense harmful substances in the blood and activate protective pathways in blood vessels. This discovery has major implications for preventing cardiovascular disease, the UK's biggest killer.
Researchers discovered that a precise 24-hour rhythm, known as circadian rhythm, controls nitrogen balance in mammals. Disruptions can lead to life-altering diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
A Northwestern University study found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle from young adulthood into middle age can significantly reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Those who adhered to five key lifestyle factors, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity, were more likely to maintain a low-risk profile in their 40s.
A study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal found a strong link between irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and cognitive decline, dementia, and loss of independence in daily activities. Researchers analyzed data from two large trials and found that patients with atrial fibrillation were 34% more likely to experienc...
A benchmarking study found substantial progress in implementing previous guidelines, but many countries struggled with task. The new European Guidelines on CVD Prevention will be shorter and more accessible to engage health professionals.