Cardiovascular
Vitamin D supplements do not reduce cardiovascular risk
While previous research has suggested a link between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a new Michigan State University study has found that taking vitamin D supplements did not reduce that risk....
High daily coffee use not linked to arterial stiffness — large study
June 12th, 2019 In a large middle-aged UK cohort without cardiovascular disease, moderate to heavy coffee consumption — up to 25 cups a day — was not associated with significant changes in arterial stiffness, contradicting previous research. The research...More aggressive statin therapy sometimes needed to fight 'bad' cholesterol
A study shows more aggressive treatment may be needed for a large number of patients taking statin medications, and that treatment could help reduce cases of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the US. High levels of low-density...
Upper limit put on safe consumption of coffee
May 15th, 2019 Latte, cappuccino or short black, a morning coffee is an essential for many people looking to kick start their day. But while the humble coffee may be a vital feature of the daily grind, how much is too much? While the pros and cons of drinking...
Work stress and impaired sleep linked to 3x higher CVD risk
May 8th, 2019 Work stress and impaired sleep are linked to a threefold higher risk of cardiovascular death in employees with hypertension, found a German study with an 18-year followup. Work stress alone had a 1.6-fold higher risk while only poor sleep had a...Long-term antibiotic use linked to higher stroke and heart risk in women
Women who take antibiotics over a long period of time are at increased risk of heart attack or stroke, according to research carried out in nearly 36,500 women. The study found that women aged 60 or older who took antibiotics for two months or more...
Only 6% of patients follow statin regimen that can halve cardiovascular risk
March 27th, 2019 Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease cut their risk of a second major adverse cardiovascular event by almost 50%, if they adhere to taking a statin medication as prescribed by their doctors. However, only about 6% of patients are in...AHA and ACC release prevention of CVD guidelines
The choices we make every day can have a lasting effect on our heart and vascular health. Adopting a heart healthy eating plan, getting more exercise, avoiding tobacco and managing known risk factors are among the key recommendations in the 2019...
Major bleeding risk with warfarin and aspirin together
March 13th, 2019 Combination warfarin and aspirin therapy was associated with significantly increased bleeding but similar observed rates of thrombosis and mortality, found a seven-year US study. Although 37.5% of the patients in this study were receiving...
High waist-to-stature ratio reflects increased CVD risk
January 30th, 2019 Health experts have warned for years that men and women with excess abdominal fat run a greater risk of developing cardiovascular problems. However, individuals with abdominal or central obesity are not the only ones in danger, according to a new...Exercise test predicts CVD mortality risk
Performance on a simple exercise test predicts the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other causes, reports a large study presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2018. Good performance on the test equates to climbing three floors of stairs...
Smoke-free policies associated with lower blood pressure
December 3rd, 2018 Non-smokers who had access to smoke-free restaurants, bars and workplaces had lower systolic blood pressure readings than those who lived in areas without smoke-free laws, reports the American Heart Association. It is the first study to examine the...
Mixed results from trials on cardiovascular benefits of fish oil
November 21st, 2018 VITAL and REDUCE-IT – both highly anticipated trials revolving around the cardiovascular benefits of fish oil products – delivered mixed results at this year’s AHA Scientific Sessions 2018 in Chicago, with one trial observing few heart...
Energy drinks notably diminish blood vessel function in young adults
November 21st, 2018 Young, healthy adults experienced acute, significant diminished blood vessel function soon after consuming one energy drink, according to preliminary research from a small study to be presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's...
Adequate compression therapy cuts complication risk in DVT
September 26th, 2018 People with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) can substantially cut their risk of potentially debilitating complications by starting adequate compression therapy in the first twenty-four hours of DVT therapy (known as the acute phase of treatment),...