Leading a healthy lifestyle in one’s youth has a big impact on health later in life, a new study has shown. Researchers examined those with a healthy weight, moderate alcohol consumption, who ate a balanced diet and didn’t smoke before turning 40, and found that their risk of developing cardiovascular disease throughout middle age was… [Continue Reading]
Healthy Lifestyle in Youth Strongly Correlated with Lower Risk of Heart Disease Later in Life
March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Drug That May Protect Brain After a Stroke Ready for Clinical Trials
March 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
In a major breakthrough in stroke research, scientists have generated a drug that could protect patients from brain damage. When tested in monkeys, the drug blocks certain reactions that occur in brain cells deprived of blood and oxygen. The drug was effective several hours after the monkey’s simulated stroke, suggesting it could be life-saving in… [Continue Reading]
Nicotine, Not Just Tobacco Smoke, Contibutes to Heart Disease
February 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Smoking strongly increases the risk of developing heart disease, and doctors have attributed this to different compounds in the smoke. New research, however, suggests that nicotine itself damages blood vessels, and likely contributes to cardiovascular disease in smokers. Cigarette smoke has long been considered the main risk factor for heart disease. But new research from… [Continue Reading]
Binge Drinking Link to Coronary Disease Not Clear
February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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]