Readmission rate has increased for heart failure patients

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 health

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.

Supercomputer can predict heart attack

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.

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.

Ablation heart procedure reduces risk of Alzheimer and stroke

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 improve blood cholesterol levels

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.

Chocolate reduces blood pressure and heart disease risk

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.

Walnuts may help fight prostate cancer

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.

Replacing saturated fat with PUFA is good for the heart

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

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.

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