Heart Health – Page 5

Urinary Tract Infection And Stroke

Several infections have been identified as possible stroke triggers, with urinary tract infections showing the strongest link with ischemic stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke. Previous research examined infections as triggers of stroke but were limited to the correlation of acute infections with ischemic stroke, a type of stroke… Continue reading Urinary Tract Infection And Stroke

Poor Sleep Patterns and High Blood Pressure

A bad night’s sleep may result in a spike in blood pressure that night and the following day, according to new research. The link between poor sleep and cardiovascular health problems is increasingly being documented, but the reason for the relationship is less understoodl The study, led by the University of Arizona, will be published… Continue reading Poor Sleep Patterns and High Blood Pressure

Heart-Attack Patients Over 65 Are Treated Differently

Heart attack victims over age 65 are less likely than younger patients to receive timely intervention to open their blocked heart arteries, researchers say. That finding came as a result of preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Quailty of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2019. The event is a global exchange of… Continue reading Heart-Attack Patients Over 65 Are Treated Differently

A Deadly Ingredient in Well Water

Drinking water that is contaminated with arsenic may lead to thickening of the heart’s main pumping chamber in young adults, according to new research. This is a structural change that increases the risk for future heart problems. The study appeared in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, an American Heart Association (AHA) journal. “People drinking water from private… Continue reading A Deadly Ingredient in Well Water

Study: Many Heart Attack Patients May Be Needlessly Treated in ICU

Many patients who suffer a type of heart attack known as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), despite a relatively low risk of developing a complication requiring ICU care, according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. A STEMI is caused by a blocked blood supply… Continue reading Study: Many Heart Attack Patients May Be Needlessly Treated in ICU

Compression-Only CPR Increases Survival Rates of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

A Swedish review of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest data shows that rates of bystander CPR have nearly doubled; compression-only (or Hands-Only CPR) increased six-fold over an 18 year period; and the chance of survival was doubled for any form of CPR compared with no CPR, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.… Continue reading Compression-Only CPR Increases Survival Rates of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Lower Blood Pressure Isn’t Always Good

You’ve probably heard of “white-coat hypertension,” the phenomenon of having a higher blood pressure reading in the doctor’s office when compared to the same patient’s reading outside the clinic. Now there’s another type of distorted reading that’s exactly the opposite. Investigators say that approximately 20 to 30 percent of adults in the United States may… Continue reading Lower Blood Pressure Isn’t Always Good

Heart Patients Who Are Given Opioids Less Likely to Seek Follow-Up Care

Heart disease patients who were prescribed opioids at hospital discharge were less likely to follow up with their healthcare provider or to participate in heart rehabilitation than patients who were not prescribed the drugs, new research shows. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, comes as the nation’s opioid epidemic continues,… Continue reading Heart Patients Who Are Given Opioids Less Likely to Seek Follow-Up Care

Diet Soda Linked to Strokes and Heart Attacks

Among post-menopausal women, drinking multiple diet drinks daily was associated with an increase in the risk of having a stroke caused by a blocked artery, especially small arteries, according to research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA). According to a news release from the AHA, this is one of the… Continue reading Diet Soda Linked to Strokes and Heart Attacks

Study Links Psoriasis Treatment and Improvement in Heart Artery Disease

Treating the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis with biologic drugs can reduce the early plaque buildup that clogs arteries and leads to heart attacks and strokes, researchers say. Their findings highlight how immunotherapies that treat inflammatory conditions might play a role in the reduction of cardiovascular disease risks. The study, funded by the National Heart, Lung,… Continue reading Study Links Psoriasis Treatment and Improvement in Heart Artery Disease

Climate Change May Increase Congenital Heart Defects

Researchers say that rising temperatures stemming from global climate change could increase the number of infants born with congenital heart defects (CHD) in the United States in the next two decades. Concretely, that could mean up to 7,000 additional cases over an 11-year period in eight representative states: Arkansas, Texas, California, Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia,… Continue reading Climate Change May Increase Congenital Heart Defects

Money Troubles Linked to Heart Disease Risk

Sudden, unpredictable drops in personal income during young adulthood are linked with an increased risk of developing heart disease and/or dying from any cause, according to new research. In the United States, the recent rise in income inequality suggests that a larger proportion of the population faces poverty and economic difficulties. In addition, while most… Continue reading Money Troubles Linked to Heart Disease Risk

Moderate Drinking Not Harmful for Older Patients with Heart Failure

A study published December 28th 2018 in JAMA Network Open suggests that people over age 65 who are newly diagnosed with heart failure can continue to drink moderate amounts of alcohol without worsening their condition. The study, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, showed a survival benefit for moderate drinkers compared with… Continue reading Moderate Drinking Not Harmful for Older Patients with Heart Failure

Chemical in Red Meat Is Linked to Heart Disease

Yet another reason to limit consumption of red meat: It contains high levels of a chemical called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), that also is linked to heart disease. People who eat a diet high in red meat have triple the TMAO levels of those who eat a diet rich in white meat or mostly plant-based proteins,… Continue reading Chemical in Red Meat Is Linked to Heart Disease

Some Kinds of Exercise Have Greater Heart Benefits than Others

Physical training is important for heart health. But not every kind of exercise will have the same cardiovascular benefits. New research presented at the American College of Cardiology Latin America Conference found that “static”activities—such as strength training—were more strongly associated with reducing heart disease risks than “dynamic” activities like walking and cycling. “Both strength training… Continue reading Some Kinds of Exercise Have Greater Heart Benefits than Others

Marathon Runners and Heart Problems

If you’re just a weekend runner, better think twice about signing up for that grueling race. Researchers say that full marathons (26.2 miles) may significantly raise concentrations of several biomarkers of stress in the heart. The study appeared in Circulation, Journal of the American Heart Association. The strain on the heart muscle is much greater… Continue reading Marathon Runners and Heart Problems

Curry Spice May Improve Exercise Performance After Heart Failure

Research done at the University of Nebraska Medical Center suggests that curcumin, a main ingredient in curry, may improve exercise intolerance related to heart failure. The study was published in November 2018 in the Journal of Applied Physiology. Curcumin, a chemical that comes from the turmeric plant, has been used as a traditional Asian medicine… Continue reading Curry Spice May Improve Exercise Performance After Heart Failure

Yet Another Reason to Eat More Vegetables (And Fish)

A naturally occurring compound could be a new weapon in the fight against heart disease and hypertension. Researchers working with an animal model found that elevated levels of the compound, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), may reduce hypertension-related heart disease symptoms. Treatment with TMAO also reduced heart thickening (cardiac fibrosis) and markers of heart failure in in… Continue reading Yet Another Reason to Eat More Vegetables (And Fish)