For the first time, a drug has been shown to help people lose weight and keep it off for several years without raising their risk for heart problems—a safety milestone that may encourage wider use to help curb the obesity epidemic. The drug, Belviq, has been sold in the United States since 2013 and is […]
I have had a heart attack. Do I need open heart surgery or a stent?
New advice on the choice between open heart surgery and inserting a stent via a catheter after a heart attack is launched today. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) Guidelines on myocardial revascularization are published online in European Heart Journal. Coronary artery disease, also called ischaemic heart disease, […]
Simple leg exercises could reduce impact of sedentary lifestyle on heart and blood vessels
A sedentary lifestyle can cause an impairment of the transport of blood around the body, which increases the risk of disease in the heart and blood vessels. New research published in Experimental Physiology suggests that performing simple leg exercises whilst lying down might help to prevent these problems. Previous work has demonstrated that prolonged sitting […]
Young drinkers beware: Binge drinking may cause stroke, heart risks
You might want to think before you go out drinking again tonight. Research by Mariann Piano, senior associate dean of research at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, has found that young adults who frequently binge drink were more likely to have specific cardiovascular risk factors such as higher blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at […]
Scientists identify key to slowing the clock for people with abnormally fast heart beats
Scientists in Japan have found a potential marker to identify which people with abnormally fast heartbeats are at high risk of developing heart failure. The results were published in June in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, a journal from the American Heart Association. Atrial fibrillation, or chronically, abnormally fast heartbeat, can be a symptom of […]
Older adults who get physical can lower their heart disease risk
Adults in their early 60s, who spend less time sitting and more time engaged in light to vigorous physical activity, benefit with healthier levels of heart and vessel disease markers, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The results from […]
Doxorubicin disrupts the immune system to cause heart toxicity
Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug widely used in ovarian, bladder, lung, thyroid and stomach cancers, but it carries a harmful side effect. The drug causes a dose-dependent heart toxicity that can lead to congestive heart failure. University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers now describe an important contributor to that heart pathology—disruption of the metabolism that […]
Obesity could set stage for heart issues in pregnancy
(HealthDay)—Young pregnant women who are obese may face a higher risk of changes in heart structure and function, a small new study suggests. The changes seen might lead to a pregnancy complication known as preeclampsia, according to the researchers. This disorder is a dangerous form of high blood pressure that can develop during the second […]
A better way to predict heart attacks and strokes in space
Researchers may have developed a more reliable way to predict the risk of heart attack and stroke in astronauts – and the technique may eventually help gauge the same danger for regular folks on Earth, too. NASA astronauts currently undergo a special screening method that scans coronary arteries for a buildup of calcified plaque. This […]
Gut bacteria and heart health: Is there a link?
If the latest medical research has taught us anything, it’s that our gut bacteria hold the key to our health. The trillions of micro-organisms that live in our gut seem to control every aspect of our well-being, from the size of our belly to the risk of chronic disease and even that of mental health […]