Articles tagged with Heart Disease
Researchers have discovered a link between gum disease and heart disease, suggesting that controlling gum disease could reduce the risk of heart attacks. The study found that heat shock proteins produced by bacteria can initiate atherosclerosis, a condition that causes "furring" of the arteries.
A team of researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been awarded a $9.3 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to investigate blood lipoproteins and their role in preventing coronary heart disease. The study aims to identify molecular events regulating cholesterol transport in blood.
Researchers found that depression subtypes differ in cardiotoxicity and response to antidepressive treatment, with somatic and incident depressions associated with poor prognosis. This knowledge could lead to new treatment strategies to prevent future cardiac events.
A population of 4,450 athletes showed no evidence of HCM, with only 12 cardiac abnormalities detected. Routine echocardiography is not necessary in large population screening programs for young athletes with HCM.
A trial of intensified versus standard medical therapy in elderly patients with congestive heart failure found that increased medication doses did not improve outcomes for older adults. In contrast, younger patients showed lower death rates and fewer hospitalizations with intensified therapy.
The introduction of handheld echocardiography machines promises to revolutionize cardiac diagnosis and treatment. These portable devices will enable doctors to quickly assess heart valves and pumping power, potentially saving lives in emergency situations.
Recent guidelines reject CABG as initial treatment strategy for most patients with multi-vessel disease, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. A multidisciplinary approach involving a surgeon is recommended to ensure patients receive balanced advice.
A new drug development project aims to create a modified beta-blocker that targets the heart without affecting lungs, benefiting hundreds of thousands of heart patients with respiratory conditions. The treatment has the potential to become the general medicine of choice for all heart patients due to its reduced side effects.
A recent study published in The Lancet found a statistically significant association between low-dose radiation exposure and cardiovascular disease. Researchers suggest that radiation can cause damage to blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease, especially among individuals with certain non-cancer diseases.
A UK study found that financial incentives reduced inequalities in clinical care between affluent and poor areas. Practices serving poorer populations improved their performance over time, narrowing the gap with more affluent areas.
Research indicates that obesity can be metabolically benign, with some obese individuals having a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. The studies found that visceral fat accumulation was more important than total body fat in determining the beneficial phenotype in obesity.
Researchers found a 26% increased risk of death among individuals with low blood levels of vitamin D. The study suggests that adequate vitamin D levels may be crucial in preventing cardiovascular disease.
A UC Irvine study found that only 17% of adults with cardiovascular diseases have optimal levels for all lipids, compared to 85% of those without heart disease. The researchers emphasize the importance of proper diet, exercise, and medication to target all lipids.
Women with migraines, especially those with aura, may be at higher risk for heart disease and stroke due to a specific gene variant. A study found that women with this gene variant had more than three times the risk of cardiovascular disease, including four times the risk for stroke compared to those without the gene.
A new study found that smoking is associated with a higher risk of stroke in spouses, particularly among never-smokers. Quitting smoking eliminates this risk, suggesting the health benefits of cessation extend beyond individual smokers to their partners.
Researchers found that a lifetime of eating tuna, sardines, salmon and other fish appears to protect Japanese men against clogged arteries despite other cardiovascular risk factors. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish were linked to low levels of atherosclerosis.
A study found that high omega-3 fatty acid intake from eating large quantities of fish may explain Japan's very low levels of heart disease. This is due to a strong anti-atherogenic effect observed in Japanese men, who consume an average of 100g of fish daily.
A large study of 5837 middle-aged civil servants found that coronary heart disease is associated with impaired cognitive performance, particularly for men. The study suggests that preventive measures such as smoking cessation and physical exercise can help mitigate this effect.
A recent study published in Diabetes Care found high levels of oxidative stress in coronary heart disease patients without type 2 diabetes were actually indicative of overt diabetes. This discovery highlights the importance of considering glucose abnormality as a potential underlying condition for heart disease.
A new study published in Annals of Family Medicine found that optimistic perceptions of cardiovascular risk are associated with a three times lower incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes among men. However, the study did not find a similar association among women.
A study of Japanese people found that men who drink heavily have a lower risk of coronary heart disease, while women quadruple their risk. Women also show a higher risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes with heavy drinking.
Researchers found that farm-raised tilapia has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and high levels of omega-6 fatty acids. This combination may be detrimental to individuals with heart disease, arthritis, asthma, and other conditions. The study highlights the importance of balancing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid intake.
A Geisinger study found PTSD increases likelihood of heart disease death by 2x in Vietnam veterans, similar to smoking 2-3 packs/day for 20+ years. Chronic stress from PTSD causes inflammation and cardiovascular damage.
Researchers have discovered that Tabebuia extract can delay dietary fat absorption in animal models, reducing triglyceride levels. The extract's potential use in treating obesity and associated diseases like type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease is being explored.
Researchers found that women derive less benefit from high-blood-pressure-lowering drugs than men for reducing left-ventricular hypertrophy, a marker for future heart disease. This may explain why women are at greater risk for heart disease later in life despite similar blood pressure reduction.
A large cohort study of over 87,000 women found that heavy birthweight female babies are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood. The findings support the fetal origin of disease theory, suggesting that certain conditions and diseases may be programmed by factors during pregnancy.
Research suggests that hedgehog antagonists, used to treat certain cancers, can worsen cardiac function and lead to death in mice with heart disease. The study highlights the need to monitor patients' cardiovascular health when using these drugs.
The University of Manchester will lead a joint planning phase for the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure, linking European biobanks and managing millions of biological samples. The project aims to counter fragmentation in Europe and facilitate access to valuable resources for biomedical research.
Researchers identified five genetic variations that increase metabolic syndrome risk and a sixth variant that protects against the condition. Variants in the CD36 gene were associated with abnormal HDL cholesterol levels.
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that regular coffee drinking is not linked to increased deaths, but rather may be protective against heart disease and other causes of death. Moderate coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of death from heart disease in women.
Women with type 2 diabetes and heart disease have poorer control of both diseases and receive less intensive medical treatment than do men. Women are also more likely to have uncontrolled high blood pressure and poor long-term control of their blood glucose levels compared to men.
The EUROACTION study found that a nurse-coordinated multidisciplinary family-based cardiology programme improved cardiovascular disease risk factors for patients with coronary heart disease and those at high risk. The programme also showed significant increases in physical activity levels, dietary improvements, and blood pressure contr...
The updated charts show a person's risk of dying from a given cause within the next 10 years, taking into account their age, sex, and smoking status. The charts provide two key elements: the magnitude of the risk and context to help people understand where to focus risk reduction efforts.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that heart patients who met regularly with cardiac 'disease managers' for three years had better control of risk factors and lower death rates. The approach demonstrated clear clinical benefits, including improved cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and medication compliance.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that heart failure patients significantly overestimate their life expectancy, with an average prediction of 13 years beyond accepted survival models. Despite this, patients' predictions showed no correlation with disease severity or clinical outcomes.
A study in JAMA found that low HDL cholesterol levels due to a genetic mutation do not increase the risk of ischemic heart disease. Instead, the researchers discovered that low HDL cholesterol was associated with a lower risk of IHD in certain populations.
Researchers found that adding noninvasive imaging to risk-assessment protocols increased the number of people classified as high risk for heart disease. This approach is proposed by the Screening for Heart Attack Prevention and Education task force, which aims to identify more patients who could benefit from cholesterol-lowering therapy.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh have identified Forkhead Box O1 (FoxO1) as a potential target for treating hypertriglyceridemia. Inhibiting FoxO1 in the liver curbs triglyceride secretion in obese and diabetic animals.
A new analysis suggests that healthy postmenopausal women with normal blood cholesterol levels are at no increased short-term risk for heart attack when taking hormone therapy. Women with a low LDL to HDL ratio have an even lower risk of heart attack or death from hormone therapy.
A research study has found that a simple blood test can indicate whether post-menopausal hormone therapies increase the risk of a heart attack. Women with favorable cholesterol levels were not at increased risk of developing heart problems while taking hormones, whereas those with unfavorable cholesterol levels were at higher risk.
A new study reveals the nitric oxide system plays a crucial role in regulating proteins and controlling cellular activity. The discovery opens up new avenues for biochemical research and potential therapeutic applications.
Two studies found that erectile dysfunction is a powerful early warning sign for serious heart disease, including heart attack and death in men with type 2 diabetes. Cholesterol-lowering medications and certain compounds like Viagra may reduce the risk of heart problems.
Women who quit smoking experience a significant reduction in mortality risk, with 61% of the benefit realized within 5 years for coronary heart disease and 42% for cerebrovascular mortality. Quitting also reduces lung cancer mortality risk by 21% within 5 years, with an 87% reduction after 20-30 years.
International health experts call for urgent action from international development banks and pharmaceutical companies to address blood pressure-related diseases affecting developing countries. The authors argue that deaths from heart disease and stroke are largely avoidable but lack of effort has resulted in over 50 million deaths, wit...
A study at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke found that focused measures improved high blood pressure control among veterans. The proportion of patients reaching their blood pressure goal increased from 61.8% to 64.3%, with an estimated 1,349 ...
Researchers found that young women with heart attacks often misattributed their symptoms to fatigue or other conditions, failing to connect them with a heart condition. The study suggests that there are large gaps in understanding the symptoms and reasons for delaying prompt care among this age group.
A small study found that incubator electromagnetic fields decrease heart rate variability in newborns, a predictor of poor prognosis in adults. The researchers suggest modifying incubator design to mitigate this effect.
A study found that women with normal thyrotropin levels had a higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease. The study, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, suggests that relatively low but clinically normal thyroid function may increase the risk of fatal coronary heart disease.
A study found that regular physical activity lowers heart disease risk in overweight women, despite the presence of obesity. However, physical activity alone may not fully reverse the negative effects of being overweight on coronary heart disease risk.
Scientists have identified a region on human chromosome 1 that contributes to elevated blood triglyceride levels, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Three genes, angiopoietin-like 3, leptin receptor, and sterol carrier protein 2, are promising candidates for further study.
A study found that India will account for 60% of the world's heart disease burden by 2010, with a higher rate of severe cases among younger patients. The country also has a lower age at diagnosis compared to developed countries.
Researchers found that endurance athletes experienced significant increases in heart size, while strength athletes saw thickening of the left ventricle. The study provides new insights into the effects of exercise on cardiac function, which may benefit heart disease patients in the future.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology has made a significant breakthrough in treating aortic valve stenosis, a common form of heart valve disease. The experimental treatment, which raises high-density lipoproteins (HDL), showed promising results, including reduced aortic valve narrowing and calcifications.
Researchers found that low vitamin D levels are associated with a higher prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Studies suggest that vitamin D may not have a direct protective effect against PAD, but rather may be a marker for other health practices such as healthy diet and physical activity.
A DASH-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may lower the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Higher scores on the DASH diet were associated with lower levels of inflammation markers, suggesting a potential benefit for cardiovascular health.
A large Scottish Health Survey study found that just 20 minutes of weekly physical activity, including housework, reduces the risk of stress and anxiety. The more activity a person engages in, the lower their chances of psychological distress.
Research published in PLOS Medicine found that interleukin-6 levels are associated with coronary heart disease, suggesting it could be a target for drug development. Two new methods were also developed to estimate HIV incidence based on changes in cross-sectional prevalence, showing sufficient accuracy for monitoring the epidemic.
Dr. Gitlin emphasizes the need for research on childhood diseases and their potential prevention through genetics and nutrition. His work aims to identify key factors leading to diseases in infancy, which may affect them later in life.
A new study reveals that people with a normal body mass index (BMI) but high body fat percentage are at risk for metabolic disturbances and heart disease. The researchers found that these individuals had altered blood lipid profiles, high leptin levels, and higher rates of metabolic syndrome.
A study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine explores the concept of hope in ALS patients, revealing a range of coping capabilities that extend beyond physical disability. The research highlights several themes of hope, including personal fulfillment, social support, and spiritual beliefs.