+Food & Drink

Study Finds Coffee Drinkers Live Longer

By Marilynn Marchione | AP

One of life’s simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer. Regular or decaf doesn’t matter.

+Heart Disease | February 29, 2012

FDA Warns Statin Users of Memory Loss and Diabetes Risks

By Alice Park
Photo Researchers / Getty Images

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added new safety warnings to cholesterol-reducing statin drugs on Wednesday, noting increased risks of Type 2 diabetes and memory loss for patients who take the medications.

+Pharmaceuticals | January 13, 2012

400%

Visuals Unlimited

Percent higher cost of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs in the U.S. compared to the U.K. Americans spend anywhere from $314 to $1,428 for a year’s supply of the drugs, while the annual cost for statins ranges from $164 to $500 in the U.K . [via Pharmacotherapy]

Family Matters
+Heart Disease | November 14, 2011

New Advice: Kids Should Be Screened for High Cholesterol

By Bonnie Rochman
Al Behrman / AP

All tweens aged 9 to 11 should have their cholesterol checked to help head off cardiovascular disease early, according to new medical guidelines announced Friday.

+Food & Drink | November 9, 2011

To Salt or Not to Salt? Study Questions the Benefits of Reducing Dietary Sodium

By Alice Park
Jamie Grill Photography

For decades, experts have been recommending that Americans cut down on their salt consumption to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. According to a new study, however, while reducing dietary salt does lower blood pressure, it may also lead to a slight boost in cholesterol, a separate risk factor for heart disease.

+Heart Disease | October 14, 2011

What Do Gut Bugs Have to Do With High Cholesterol? A Lot

By Alice Park
Photo Researchers

It’s hard to think of bacteria as the good guys when it comes to health, but research increasingly shows that the bugs that live in our gut may have a big influence on our well-being. In a new study, scientists find that these bugs may affect how patients respond to potentially life-saving drugs like statins.

+Diet | August 24, 2011

The Four Foods That Lower Your Cholesterol

By Alice Park
Getty Images

Eating certain foods can help people lower their cholesterol levels, even without the aid of medication, a new study finds.

Family Matters
+Parenting | April 18, 2011

Genetic Testing for Kids: Is It a Good Idea?

By Bonnie Rochman
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With the advent of new genetic tests, it’s increasingly easy to gauge whether you’re predisposed to developing certain conditions — diabetes, say, or breast cancer. For adults, that knowledge can be simultaneously overwhelming and empowering. For children, the ramifications of such predictions are especially controversial, which is why professional groups — the American Academy of Pediatrics [...]

+Food & Drink | April 14, 2011

An Apple a Day Keeps Cholesterol at Bay?

By Amie Ninh
Yellowdog Productions via Getty Images

Lending credence to the old adage about eating an apple a day, a new study finds that women who ate the fruit daily saw improvements in cholesterol levels and markers of inflammation — suggesting a lower risk of heart disease — in a year’s time.

+Numbers | February 1, 2011

1 in 2

Number of Americans who have high blood pressure, but don't have their condition under control, despite the availability of lifestyle and drug treatments [via CDC]