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Cardiovascular
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...
Landmark study highlights importance of cholesterol monitoring of young adults
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...
Canadian review: Aspirin not recommended for those not at risk of CVD
Those who've never had a heart attack or stroke, should not be taking daily aspirin to prevent them, found a Canadian review of ...
New NICE hypertension guidelines a 'pragmatic compromise’ — The Lancet
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...
Pets, especially dogs, linked with better cardiovascular health
Pet owners were more likely to report more physical activity, better diet and blood sugar at ideal level, with the greatest benefits for those...
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...
Daily 4-in-1 polypill could cut CVD risk in low-income countries
A study has shown that a daily pill containing four medicines can cut the number of heart attacks and strokes by a third, BBC...
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...
Statins linked to doubled risk of type 2 diabetes
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...
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...
High daily coffee use not linked to arterial stiffness — large study
In a large middle-aged UK cohort without cardiovascular disease, moderate to heavy coffee consumption — up to 25 cups a day — was not...
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...
Upper limit put on safe consumption of coffee
Latte, cappuccino or short black, a morning coffee is an essential for many people looking to kick start their day. But while the humble...
Work stress and impaired sleep linked to 3x higher CVD risk
Work stress and impaired sleep are linked to a threefold higher risk of cardiovascular death in employees with hypertension, found a German study with...
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...
Only 6% of patients follow statin regimen that can halve cardiovascular risk
Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease cut their risk of a second major adverse cardiovascular event by almost 50%, if they adhere to taking a...
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...
Major bleeding risk with warfarin and aspirin together
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....
High waist-to-stature ratio reflects increased CVD risk
Health experts have warned for years that men and women with excess abdominal fat run a greater risk of developing cardiovascular problems. However, individuals...
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...
Smoke-free policies associated with lower blood pressure
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...
Mixed results from trials on cardiovascular benefits of fish oil
VITAL and REDUCE-IT – both highly anticipated trials revolving around the cardiovascular benefits of fish oil products – delivered mixed results at this year’s...
Energy drinks notably diminish blood vessel function in young adults
Young, healthy adults experienced acute, significant diminished blood vessel function soon after consuming one energy drink, according to preliminary research from a small study...
Adequate compression therapy cuts complication risk in DVT
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...
Lifestyle changes help reduce hypertension risk
Men and women with high blood pressure significantly reduced the need for anti-hypertensive medications within 16 weeks after making diet and exercise changes, according...
Home BP monitoring signifcantly improves hypertension control, cuts costs
Home blood pressure monitoring improved hypertension control and saved substantially on medical costs, according to results of a pilot initiative presented at the American...
Dangerously high BP spikes more prevalent in black adults
Black US adults experience a hypertensive crisis, at a rate that is five times the national average, according to a study presented at the...
Statins don't reduce CVD risk in healthy older people
Statins are not associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) or death in healthy people aged over 75, finds a study. However, in...
Mortality outcomes of original ASCOT trial reported
In patients with hypertension, the long-term cardiovascular and all-cause mortality effects of different blood pressure-lowering regimens and lipid-lowering treatment are not well documented, particularly...
Cancer the most likely to be cause of internal bleeding in CVD patients
Patients with cardiovascular disease who develop major internal bleeding are much more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, a large international clinical trial has...
Healthy heart diet differs from what was previously thought
The foods that make up a heart healthy diet for people worldwide may differ from what was previously thought, according to late breaking results...
Studies look at the benefits of aspirin for patients with CVD
A meta-analysis from 11 trials found that aspirin reduced the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction by 22% and death by 6%, at the cost...
Too little or too much sleep bad for heart health
A team from the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre in Athens, Greece, evaluated the impact of sleep duration on cardiovascular health by performing a meta-analysis...
'Holy grail' of weight-loss meds does not increase major cardiovascular events
Lorcaserin effectively aids weight loss in obese patients at a high risk for cardiovascular events (MACE) without increasing the rate of MACE.
With a median...
Many take other drugs that lower effectiveness of BP medications
People who take pills to lower their blood pressure often take other drugs that reduce the pills’ effectiveness, a large study suggests. Reuters Health...
Contentious study shows reduced salt consumption not necessary for cardiac health
Research, led by the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) in Canada with research colleagues in 21 countries, shows that for the vast majority of...
Women under-treated for heart attack die at double the rate of men
A study of 2,898 patients (2,183 men, 715 women) reveals that six months after hospital discharge, death rates and serious adverse cardiovascular events in...
Marriage may make the heart beat stronger and longer
Marital status appears to influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) and prognosis, according to the largest yet meta-analysis. Not being married was associated with heightened risk...
Flavour additives in e-cigarettes may impair blood vessel function
Flavour additives used in electronic cigarettes and related tobacco products could impair blood vessel function and may be an early indicator of heart damage,...
An egg a day could significantly reduce CVD risk
People who consume an egg a day could significantly reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) compared with eating no eggs, suggests a study...