Heart disease is the narrowing or blockage of the arteries and vessels that provide oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the heart. It is caused by atherosclerosis, an accumulation of fatty materials on the inner linings of arteries that restricts blood flow. When the blood flow to the heart is completely cut off, the result is a heart attack because the heart is starved of oxygen.
Calcium supplements linked to increased risk of heart attack — Research: Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis – Calcium supplements, commonly taken by older people for osteoporosis, are associated with an increased risk of a heart attack, revealed by researchers. The results suggest that a reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in osteoporosis management is needed.
Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer – A recent report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease like breast cancer.
Sensor and insulin pump results in better blood-sugar control in all age groups with diabetes – Adding a continuous blood sugar level sensor to an insulin pump helps patients with type 1 diabetes achieve better blood sugar control compared to the common standard of care, multiple daily insulin injections, concludes a study published on-line today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Study examines outcomes of lowering homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 – A new study revealed that the substantial long-term reductions in blood homocysteine levels with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation did not have beneficial effects on vascular outcomes but were also not associated with adverse effects on cancer incidence.
For heart failure patients, risk of in-hospital death has decreased; readmission rate has increased – An analysis of Medicare data from 1993 through 2006 for older patients hospitalized for heart failure indicates that along with a decrease in hospital length of stay, the rate of in-hospital and 30-day mortality has decreased, while the rate of hospital readmission and discharge to skilled nursing facilities has increased, according to a study in the June 2 issue of JAMA.
More ‘good’ cholesterol is not always good for your health — HDL cholesterol can transform from good to bad actor in heart-disease process
– We’ve all heard about the importance of raising HDL, or the so-called “good” cholesterol, and lowering LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, to improve heart health. While we’ve come to assume HDL cholesterol is an inherently good thing, a new study shows that for a certain group of patients, this is not always the case.
3-D model of blood flow by supercomputer predicts heart attacks – EPFL Laboratory of Multiscale Modeling of Materials, in Switzerland, has developed a flowing 3D model of the cardiovascular system that should allow for predictions of certain heart diseases before they become dangerous.
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.
Cardiac procedure significantly reduces risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, researchers find – Researchers found that ablation treatment can eliminate serious risks associated with atrial fibrillation. New research was presented at National Heart Rhythm Society.
Eating nuts associated with improvements in cholesterol levels – Consuming more nuts appears to be associated with improvements in blood cholesterol levels, according to a pooled analysis of data from 25 trials reported in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Study shows chocolate reduces blood pressure and risk of heart disease — Easter eggs may be good for you – Easter eggs and other chocolate may be good for you ? at least in small quantities and preferably if it’s dark chocolate ? according to research that shows just one small square of chocolate a day can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Real-world health nuts: First evidence that walnuts may help fight prostate cancer — Walnuts slow prostate tumors in mice. – Scientists in California are reporting for the first time that walnuts – already renowned as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that fight heart disease – reduce the size and growth rate of prostate cancer in test animals.
