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.
Replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is good for the heart – The replacement of dietary saturated fatty acids with polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces coronary heart disease events, bringing much needed scientific evidence to an issue debated by experts and clinical guidelines.
Omega 3 curbs precancerous growths in those prone to bowel cancer — Eicosapentaenoic acid reduces rectal polyp number and size in familial adenomatous polyposis – A purified form of an omega 3 cuts the number and size of precancerous bowel growths (polyps) in people whose genetic make-up predisposes them to bowel cancer, finds research published ahead of print in the journal Gut.
Extreme obesity affecting more children at younger ages — Electronic health records used to study 711,000 children – Extreme obesity is affecting more children at younger ages, with 12 percent of black teenage girls, 11.2 percent of Hispanic teenage boys, 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5 percent of girls now classified as extremely obese.
UF researcher urges caution in reducing blood pressure in patients with diabetes, coronary disease – New study revealed that there is an increased risk of heart attack and stroke for patients having blood pressure either too high or too low. Systolic blood pressure above 120 in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease is safer. Levels between 130 and 140 appear to be the most healthful.
An apple a day? Study shows soluble fiber boosts immune system – Soluble fiber – found in oats, apples, and nuts, for starters reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system, revealed by researchers.
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.
UNC study: Obese 3-year-olds show early warning signs for future heart disease – Obese children as young as 3 years old have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that in adults is considered an early warning sign for possible future heart disease, revealed by researchers.
Regular exercise reduces patient anxiety by 20 percent, study finds – The anxiety that often accompanies a chronic illness can chip away at quality of life and make patients less likely to follow their treatment plan. But regular exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, a new University of Georgia study shows.
More Flexibility at Work Boosts Employee Health – Giving employees more flexibility over their work schedules is likely to boost their health as judged by measures like blood pressure and stress, revealed by researchers.
Migraine sufferers are twice as likely to have heart attacks as people without migraine. – People with migraine may be at an increased risk of heart attack and other risk factors for heart disease, according to a study published in the February 10, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Women with gout at greater risk of heart attack than men — Independent risk of gout on the risk of acute myocardial infarction among elderly women: A population-based study – Women with gout are at greater risk of a heart attack than men with the disease, indicates research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
‘Overweight’ adults age 70 or older are less likely to die over a 10-year period than those of ‘normal’ weight: new study calls into question current BMI guidelines for older adults – Adults aged over 70 years who are classified as overweight are less likely to die over a ten year period than adults who are in the ‘normal’ weight range.
