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.
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.
Whole grain cereals, popcorn rich in antioxidants, not just fiber, new research concludes. – Snack foods like popcorn and many popular breakfast cereals contain “surprisingly large” amounts of healthful antioxidant substances called “polyphenols”, revealed by researchers at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Severe breathing disorders during sleep are associated with an increased risk of dying – Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of death from any cause in middle-aged adults, especially men, revealed by researchers.
An apple a day keeps kidney stones away — More fruits and veggies, less salt prevents stones from forming. – Researchers have found another reason to eat well: a healthy diet helps prevent kidney stones. The study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).
New research links social stress to harmful fat deposits, heart disease – Social stress could be an important precursor to heart disease by causing the body to deposit more fat in the abdominal cavity, speeding the harmful buildup of plaque in blood vessels, a stepping stone to the number one cause of death in the world.
Millions of US children low in vitamin D — Study shows increased risk of bone and heart disease. – Seven out of ten U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, raising their risk of bone and heart disease, according to a study of over 6,000 children by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
Scientists create energy-burning brown fat in mice — Suggests novel strategy for treating obesity in people. – Researchers have shown that they can produce brown fat, a natural energy-burning type of fat that counteracts obesity. If such a strategy can be developed for use in people, it could open a novel approach to treating obesity and diabetes.
Divorce undermines health in ways remarriage doesn’t heal — Impact of chronic illness lingers after remarriage. – Divorce and widowhood have a lingering, detrimental impact on health, even after a person remarries, research at the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins University shows.
Limited data suggest possible association between Agent Orange exposure – A new report from the Institute of Medicine finds suggestive but limited evidence that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War is associated with an increased chance of developing ischemic heart disease and Parkinson’s disease for Vietnam veterans.
NRG1 injection reverses heart-attack damage — Growth factor enhances heart regeneration, improves heart function without need for cardiac stem cells. – Researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston have laid the groundwork for regenerating heart tissue after a heart attack, in patients with heart failure, or in children with congenital heart defects.
Induced pluripotent stem cells repair heart, Mayo Clinic study shows — New iPS therapy pioneered for heart attacks. – Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be used to treat heart disease, revealed by researchers at Mayo Clinic, USA. iPS cells are stem cells converted from adult cells.
Researchers uncover genetic variants linked to blood pressure in African-Americans — Findings may point to new avenues for treatment, prevention. – Five genetic variants related to blood pressure — hypertension — in African-Americans, revealed by a team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health, USA.
