Too much cholesterol in the blood, or high blood cholesterol, can be serious. People with high blood cholesterol have a greater chance of getting heart disease. High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs statins may help prevent stroke recurrence. – People who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins after a stroke may be less likely to have another stroke later, according to research published in the May 26, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Following a healthy lifestyle is on the decline in the US – Researchers urge individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles, particularly in middle age. – Despite the well-known benefits of having a lifestyle that includes physical activity, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, moderate alcohol use and not smoking, only a small proportion of adults follow this healthy lifestyle pattern, and in fact, the numbers are declining, according to an article published in the June 2009 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Turmeric Extract Suppresses Fat Tissue Growth in Rodent Models – Curcumin, the major polyphenol found in turmeric, appears to reduce weight gain in mice and suppress the growth of fat tissue in mice and cell models.
To stall progress of neuropathy, doctors should monitor levels of an easily measured blood fat as closely as they do blood sugar, study suggests. – A common blood test for triglycerides ? a well-known cardiovascular disease risk factor ? may also for the first time allow doctors to predict which patients with diabetes are more likely to develop the serious, common complication of neuropathy.
Study indicates that a common virus could cause high blood pressure – Cytomegalovirus affects majority of adults worldwide. – A new study suggests for the first time that cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common viral infection affecting between 60 and 99 percent of adults worldwide, is a cause of high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
Walking often and far or walking for 45 to 60 minutes a day at a moderate pace reduces risks in heart patients. – An exercise program that burns a lot of calories reduced cardiac risk factors better than standard cardiac rehabilitation in overweight coronary patients, researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Diet prescribed to lower blood pressure also reduces women’s risk of heart failure. – The DASH diet was initially developed to help patients lower their blood pressure, but a large study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) demonstrates that women who followed the diet also significantly reduced their risk of developing heart failure.
This study provides evidence of protection against early AMD from regularly eating fish, greater consumption of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and low intakes of foods rich in linoleic acid. Regular consumption of nuts may also reduce AMD risk. – Regularly eating fish, nuts, olive oil and other foods containing omega-three fatty acids and avoiding trans fats appears to be associated with a lower risk for the eye disease age-related macular degeneration, according to two reports in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Subtle exposure to small pharmaceutical promotional items influences implicit attitudes toward marketed products among medical students. – Exposure to small promotional items from pharmaceutical companies, such as clipboards and notepads, appears to influence medical students’ unconscious attitudes toward the marketed product, according to a report in the May 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Statins may exert influence on prostate cancer growth by reducing inflammation. – Cholesterol lowering drugs called statins may reduce inflammation in prostate tumors, possibly hindering cancer growth, according to a study led by investigators in the Duke Prostate Center.
Drinking 100% Fruit Juice is Associated with Lower Risk of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. NHANES analysis reveals drinking juice is associated with health-promoting behaviors in adults. – If you enjoy a glass of 100% juice as part of your daily routine, chances are you also have fewer risk factors for several chronic diseases when compared to your non juice-drinking peers.
Mayo Clinic and Microsoft deliver a powerful and personalized consumer solution for managing health. Mayo Clinic Health Manager, powered by Microsoft HealthVault, helps you and your family become better organized, better informed. – Mayo Clinic and Microsoft Corp. announced the launch of Mayo Clinic Health Manager, a privacy- and security-enhanced free online application that provides people with a place to store medical information and receive real-time individualized health guidance and recommendations based on the clinical expertise of Mayo Clinic.
