Improvements in fitness can reduce your risk of heart failure, new research suggests, regardless of age. A new study has found that middle-aged men and women who improved their fitness over an eight-year period significantly lowered their likelihood of the condition. Middle aged and out of shape? It’s not too late to get fit —… [Continue Reading]
Exposure to Sunshine Could Improve Cardiovascular Health and Prolong Life
May 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Spending some time in the sunshine may be good for your blood pressure, a new study suggests. Researchers have found that light exposure, independent of UV rays or vitamin D production, is linked to lower blood pressure, which may improve overall cardiovascular health. Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure, cut the… [Continue Reading]
Seven Lifestyle Factors Can Reduce the Risk of Developing Blood Clots
May 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The formation of blood clots in the body can be lethal, but a number of lifestyle factors can significantly reduce the risk. Researchers have found that factors such as diet, exercise, smoking, and blood pressure have a significant impact on the condition. Blood clots in the legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)… [Continue Reading]
Mediterranean-Style Diet Improves Cholesterol Levels, Regardless of Weight, in Patients At Risk for Heart Disease
May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Changing the diet can have a significant impact on cardiovascular health, a new study has found, even if it doesn’t result in weight loss. Researchers examined men at risk for cardiovascular disease before and after having them eat a Mediterranean-style diet, and found improved cholesterol levels and markers of heart health, even if men’s body… [Continue Reading]
Changing Diet Can Improve Blood Vessel Function, Reducing Risk of Heart Disease
May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Scientists have found that adjusting the type of vegetables, beans, and grains consumed has a significant postive effect on blood vessel health, and reduced early indicators of cardiovascular risk. Reducing the consumption of foods rich in the protein lectin resulted in an improvement in the health of the inner lining of the blood vessels in… [Continue Reading]
Fatty Liver Disease Significantly Linked to Hardening of the Arteries
April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is significantly associated with hardening of the arteries, termed atherosclerosis, researchers have reported. This link is independent of other cardiovascular risk factors, indicating that the liver condition predicts multiple problems with cardiovascular health. A study presented today at the International Liver Congress (TM) 2013 – which evaluated the relationship between non-alcoholic… [Continue Reading]
College Binge Drinking Linked to Cardiovascular Disease Markers
April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Binge drinking, a problem on college campuses throughout the country, is linked to health problems years afterward, a new study has found. Researchers have found that students that engaged in binge drinking have numerous hallmarks of cardiovascular disease, similar to those found in daily heavy drinkers. Impaired cardiovascular function could have major health consequences later… [Continue Reading]
Exposure to Air Pollution Harms Cardiovascular Health
April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The quality of the air in an individual’s community increases the risk of heart disease, a new study suggests. Researchers examined the levels of pollution in different communities within the same city, and found that metropolitan areas with poorer quality air significantly correlate with blood vessel thickness, a diagnostic measure of cardiovascular disease. Long term… [Continue Reading]
New Understanding of a Protein Regulates Heart Tissue Death in Cardiovascular Disease
April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Preventing the death of heart tissue in cardiovascular patients could help physicians treat the disease much more effectively. New research on the molecular pathways behind the death of heart cells has found a key player in the process, and further work could reveal new therapeutic drug targets. A major factor in the advance of heart… [Continue Reading]
Protein Acts as a High-Level Regulator of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Health
April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A protein has been discovered to play a key role in part of the brain that controls multiple aspects of the body’s metabolism, linking body weight, appetite, and cardiovascular health. The finding is helping scientists better understand how the different body systems are interconnected and regulated. Obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure (hypertension) are… [Continue Reading]