Archive for the ‘Heart Attack’ Category

Higher Heart Rate Predicts the Risk of Developing Hypertension

Monday, November 26th, 2007

                                                  An elevated heartrate is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular illness and death.  This study looked at whether an elevated heartrate in people with normal blood pressure was linked to developing elevated blood pressure in the future. Subjects were grouped in quartiles(4 groups) based on ranges of heartrates.   There ...

Embryonic stem cells made without embryos

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

                                      In a recent breakthrough, researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of cells that behave like embryonic stem cells.  These unique types of cells have the special ability to be directed to become  more specialized cell lines, such as forming new brain, nerve or heart tissue.  The significance ...

Energy drinks may pose risks for people with high blood pressure, heart disease

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

                           Downing an “energy drink” may boost blood pressure as well as energy.  This was the conclusion of researchers who performed a small study on healthy volunteers that was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2007.   In the study, conducted by Wayne State University researchers, blood pressure and heart rate levels increased in healthy ...

Healthy Breakfast Cereals Reduce the Risk of Heart Failure

Saturday, November 17th, 2007

                                 Heart failure is the leading cause for hospital admissions in the elderly.  It is well recognized that the consumption of whole grain products high in dietary fiber can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks.  This study evaluated the association between developing heart failure and the amount ...

The Benefits of Cholesterol Lowering In Dialysis Patients Is Unproven

Monday, November 12th, 2007

                                Elevated cholesterol levels are strongly associated with an increase in coronary heart disease in patient populations with little or no chronic kidney disease.  However, the lack of a clear association between cholesterol levels and mortality among patients on chronic dialysis in the few studies that have investigated this, is ...

Keeping the Young-Elderly Healthy: Is It Too Late To Improve Our Health Through Nutrition?

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

Despite past nutritional and lifestyle practices not being optimal, there is adequate opportunity even in later years of life to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and disability in future years.  It should never be considered too late to benefit from these lifestyle changes, as they can favorably impact one's ...

Erectile dysfunction may predict coronary artery disease: relationship between coronary artery calcium scoring and erectile dysfunction severity.

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

                  This study looked at the relationship of the prevalence of coronary artery disease(blockages of the heart arteries) in men with and without erectile dysfunction.  The method by which coronary artery disease was assessed was by looking at the amount of calcium deposits seen within the coronary arteries on CAT scans of ...

The Effect of Alcohol on the Heart after MI

Friday, November 9th, 2007

  Long term alcohol use may have many deleterious effects on the human body but little is known on the prognostic implications of drinking after a person suffers an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or "heart attack". European investigators seeking to answer this question enrolled 1346 consecutive patients between ages ...

If you think you are having a heart attack, call the ambulance!

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

A recent study in the British Medical Journal reported that in cases of cardiac chest pain (pain found to be coming from a blockage in the heart's arteries), the single most significant delay in getting proper treatment is the time it takes for patients to seek help. This accounts for ...