Cardiovascular
Cocoa may improve walking in people with peripheral artery disease — small study
February 19th, 2020 In a small study of 44 peripheral artery disease patients over age 60, those who drank a beverage containing flavanol-rich cocoa three times a day for six months were able to walk up to 42.6 meters further in a 6-minute walking test, compared to...Large data analysis links cholesterol levels to heart disease and stroke risk
An observational and modelling study which used individual-level data from almost 400,000 people extends existing research because it suggests that increasing levels of non-HDL cholesterol may predict long-term cardiovascular risk by the age of 75...
Landmark study highlights importance of cholesterol monitoring of young adults
December 4th, 2019 Adults as young as 25, not only older people, need to know their “bad cholesterol” (non-HDL) levels so they can change their lifestyle or take drugs to protect themselves against heart attacks and strokes in later life. The landmark study,...
Canadian review: Aspirin not recommended for those not at risk of CVD
October 16th, 2019 Those who've never had a heart attack or stroke, should not be taking daily aspirin to prevent them, found a Canadian review of three large, randomised, placebo-controlled studies published in 2018, which showed the risk of major internal bleeding...
New NICE hypertension guidelines a 'pragmatic compromise’ — The Lancet
September 11th, 2019 The latest UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on antihypertensives "should be welcomed" as "a pragmatic compromise", writes The Lancet in an editorial. The latest UK National Institute for Health and...
Pets, especially dogs, linked with better cardiovascular health
September 4th, 2019 Pet owners were more likely to report more physical activity, better diet and blood sugar at ideal level, with the greatest benefits for those who owned a dog, independent of age, sex and education level, found an ongoing international...Quitting smoking associated with lower risk of CVD
Heavy cigarette smokers with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history can reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 39% within five years if they quit, according to a US study. But it takes at least five to 10 years, and perhaps up to 25...
Daily 4-in-1 polypill could cut CVD risk in low-income countries
August 28th, 2019 A study has shown that a daily pill containing four medicines can cut the number of heart attacks and strokes by a third, BBC News. The polypill contains blood-thinning aspirin, a cholesterol-lowering statin and two drugs to lower blood...Insomnia potentially increases CVD and stroke risk
People suffering from insomnia are potentially at a higher risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke, according to a study. In this first-of-its-kind study on insomnia, researchers examined data from 1.3m participants with or...
Statins linked to doubled risk of type 2 diabetes
July 3rd, 2019 A study of thousands of patients' health records found that those who were prescribed cholesterol-lowering statins had at least double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The detailed analysis of health records and other data from patients in a...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...