A new drug may reduce inflammation and atherosclerosis

Patients at high risk of recurrences of heart disease: Breakthrough in prevention – A clinical study directed by Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif of the Montreal Heart Institute confirms the potential of a medication to reduce inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis.

Nuts, fish, poultry and fruits reduce Alzheimer’s disease risk

Study identifies food combination associated with reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk – Individuals whose diet includes more salad dressing, nuts, fish, poultry and certain fruits and vegetables and fewer high-fat dairy products, red meats, organ meats and butter appear less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Weight loss diets reduce atherosclerosis

Weight loss diets significantly reverse arterial clogging — Ben-Gurion University study — 2-year study reveals that carotid artery atherosclerosis reduction is due to weight loss-induced decline in blood pressure from either low-carbohydrate, low-fat or Mediterranean diets – A two-year study led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) found that healthy, long-term weight loss diets can significantly reverse carotid (main brain artery) atherosclerosis, a direct risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.

HbA1c accurately predicts future diabetes

Hemoglobin A1c outperforms fasting glucose for risk prediction – Measurements of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) more accurately identify persons at risk for clinical outcomes than the commonly used measurement of fasting glucose, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Metformin safe for patients with heart failure and diabetes

UCLA study shows metformin is safe for patients with advanced heart failure and diabetes mellitus — Drug may improve survival rates for these patients – A new study has shown that metformin, a drug often used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, is safe for use in treating patients who have both diabetes and advanced heart failure.

Putting limits on antioxidant vitamin E

Putting limits on vitamin E — The potent antioxidant may do more harm than good, Tel Aviv University research suggests. – Indiscriminate use of high-dose Vitamin E supplementation does more harm than good, revealed by a research group from Tel Aviv University.

Atherosclerosis, heart disease found in Egyptian mummies

Heart disease found in Egyptian mummies — Findings suggest that atherosclerosis is not only a modern disease. – Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries has been detected in Egyptian mummies, some as old as 3,500 years, suggesting that the factors causing heart attack and stroke are not only modern ones; they afflicted ancient people, too.

Routine use of aspirin not supported

No evidence for the routine use of aspirin in people with asymptomatic vascular events, reported by Professor Gerald Fowkes from the Wolfson Unit for Prevention of Peripheral Vascular Diseases in Edinburgh. – The routine use of aspirin for the prevention of vascular events in people with asymptomatic disease cannot be supported, according to results from the Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis (AAA) study.

Hopelessness increases stroke risk in women

Feelings of hopelessness linked to stroke risk in healthy women – Healthy middle-aged women with feelings of hopelessness appear to experience thickening of the neck arteries, which can be a precursor to stroke, revealed by researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Oxycholesterol cholesterol may pose greatest heart disease risk

Little known type of cholesterol oxycholesterol may pose the greatest heart disease risk – Health-conscious people know that high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the so-called “bad” cholesterol) can increase the risk of heart attacks.

Health Newstrack