Although previous studies have found that binge drinking is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a recent study has called this conclusion into question. A large scale study of over 25,000 individuals failed to find a difference between those binge drinking and drinking moderately, in terms of the incidence of ischemic heart disease…. [Continue Reading]
Purple Potatoes Help Reduce Hypertension in Patients
February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A variety of potatoes with a purple skin has the potential to help lower blood pressure, a new study reports. Researchers studied hypertension patients asked to eat purple potatoes twice daily for a month, and found a significant reduction in blood pressure, enough to potentially protect individuals from some cardiovascular health problems. The first study… [Continue Reading]
Cholesterol Medication Widely Available Via the Internet With Little Information on Safe Use
February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Statins are a class of drugs that is widely used to lower cholesterol, but aren’t safe for everyone and can bring serious side effects. New research suggests that there are many websites marketing the drugs directly to patients without medical supervision, with very little safety information presented. A new study published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology… [Continue Reading]
Daily Soft Drinks Have Harmful Consequences for Cardiovascular Health
January 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Daily consumption of soft drinks is linked to poorer cardiovascular health, new research indicates. While no link was observed with less frequent consumption, a daily soda is associated with an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, and suffering from strokes and heart attacks. Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may be… [Continue Reading]
Study of Kidney Disease Yields Major Insights Into Regulation of Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
January 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A new study of a rare kidney disease has allowed researchers to gain new insights into how blood pressure is regulated. A family affected by the disease carries mutations in two important genes, which the scientists found play a key role in regulating our sodium and potassium balance. Correct levels of these minerals are essential… [Continue Reading]
Air Pollution May Increase Incidence of Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
January 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Air pollution is known to be linked to a number of health problems, and new research shows that the levels of certain pollutants, namely nitrogen oxides, are associated with an increased likelihood of diabetes and hypertension, or high blood pressure. The study examined thousands of women in Los Angeles, and found that nitrogen oxide and… [Continue Reading]
Small Strokes Affect Brain Function in 1/4 of Older Adults
December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Many older people may unknowingly have suffered small strokes, according to new research. Researchers think that these clusters of nonfunctioning tissue may help explain some symptoms of aging, including memory loss. New research links ‘silent strokes,’ or small spots of dead brain cells, found in about one out of four older adults to memory loss… [Continue Reading]
Idea of Vitamin B12 Therapy For Stroke and Heart Attack Revisited
December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Previously, vitamin therapy with vitamin B12 was thought to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, but the idea had fallen out of mainstream medical thought. The idea isn’t dead, though, with some calling for research to revisit the issue. A commentary by Dr. David Spence of The University of Western Ontario and Dr…. [Continue Reading]
Keeping Hypertension Under Control Increases Life Expectancy
December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Treating high blood pressure is associated with a significantly higher life expectancy, new research suggests. Following patients who had been part of a clinical trial for the treatment of the condition, also known as hypertension, reveals that an increase in lifespan of one day for every month spent in treatment. Patients with systolic hypertension who… [Continue Reading]
New Molecules Involved in Atherosclerosis Could Be Used As Drug Targets to Treat Disease
December 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A molecular pathway involved in atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, has been identified. Researchers report a protein, involved in signaling, modulates the response of the arteries to a high-fat diet, using a mouse model. Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified for the first time the A2b adenosine receptor (A2bAR) as… [Continue Reading]