Heart disease is a nasty enough problem. It would be nice if the tests you have to go through just to get your diagnosis didn’t cause so much unpleasantness of their own. Now they may not have to, thanks to a combination CT scan …
Heart Disease
Low Vitamin D and Stroke Risk: Unrelated in African Americans
In a finding that surprised its authors, a new study revealed that vitamin D deficiency does not contribute to rates of fatal stroke in African Americans, even while it doubles the risk of death from stroke in whites. This, …
Study: New Test May Predict Heart Failure in Symptomless, Older Adults
Patients over 65 account for most new cases of heart failure in the U.S., but, based on traditional risk factors, it’s hard for doctors to identify who is at highest risk for hospitalization or death. Now, researchers report that …
CDC: More Adults Are Aware and Treating Their High Blood Pressure
The rate of high blood pressure among American adults has plateaued over the last 10 years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But compared to 10 years ago, more of those …
How a Scorpion’s Poison Could Help Heart Patients
There are toxins, and then there are toxins. If you’ve had bypass surgery, the powerful margatoxin — courtesy of the scorpion — might one day save your life. But don’t go hunting for the little critters yet — not until …
Marathon Running Can Damage the Heart — But Only Temporarily
As grueling — and potentially painful — as running a marathon can be, most people assume that completing one is a good thing overall, for your heart and your health.
New CPR Rules: Pump First, and Save the Breaths for Later
If you saw someone in cardiac arrest, would you know what to do? If you had ever been trained in CPR, you might remember your ABCs — airway, breathing, chest compressions.
Can Heart Attacks Be Predicted With a Blood Test?
Heart attacks are frightening mostly because they are so unexpected; they can happen at anytime, anywhere and can have long-term health consequences.
Study: Putting More People on Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Could Save Money
When it comes to preventing heart disease, most of us know what to do — lower our cholesterol, lose weight, quit smoking and try to avoid stress. But we also know that if eating right and going to the gym aren’t enough, there …
Are You a Type D Personality? Your Heart May Be at Risk
Stress is a major contributor to heart disease, so it’s no surprise that researchers have associated anxious Type A personalities with a greater risk of heart attack. Now they’ve connected another personality profile with heart …
Chocolate Helps the Heart — But Not If You Eat It Everyday
Chocolate can certainly make you feel better, and the evidence continues to grow that it may do the body good as well — but only, natch, in moderation.
Researchers in Boston and Stockholm found that women in a large Swedish …
FDA panel in favor of keeping Avandia on the market
Despite concerns that the popular GlaxoSmithKline diabetes drug Avandia could raise the risk for heart attack, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted today in favor of keeping the medication on the market. As the Wall Street Journal reports, 20 members of the 33-person panel voted in favor of keeping Avandia on the
…
FDA: Diabetes drug Avandia raises heart attack risk
A document released today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concludes that, as critics have claimed since 2006, the hugely popular diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitizone) increases the risk for heart attack. The 765-page briefing document released today in anticipation of an advisory panel meeting on July 13-14 to determine
…