New software allows for 3-D images of the heart’s arteries during cardiac catheterization. Still in the testing phase, this technology may provide more information on the width and length of artery blockages, while exposing patients to less dye and radiation.
New research on inactive people with high blood pressure shows that just three months of soccer practice twice a week causes a significant fall in blood pressure, resting pulse rate and percentage of body fat, and is more effective than the doctor’s usual advice on healthy diet and exercise.
Patients with high levels of proteinuria (protein in urine) in addition to another marker of reduced kidney function had an associated increased risk of all-cause death, heart attack or progression to kidney failure, according to a study.
People who are obese and have type 2 diabetes in their 20s will be at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke in their 40s if they do not change their lifestyle.
People who experience memory loss or a decline in their thinking abilities may be at higher risk of stroke, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with dementia, according to a new study.
More and more Americans are turning to herbal remedies to help manage chronic conditions or promote general health and wellness. But many of today’s popular herbal supplements, including St. John’s wort, gingko biloba, garlic and even grapefruit juice can pose serious risks to people who are taking medications for heart disease, according to a review article.
New research finds that quitting smoking after a heart attack has about the same positive effect as other major interventions such as lipid-lowering agents like statins or more invasive procedures.
Scientists have used a unique genetically-modified mouse line to reveal a previously unidentified mechanism contributing to heart failure. The study shows how the decreased release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a chemical messenger which slows cardiac activity, contributes to heart failure.
It is well known that diet-induced obesity increases dramatically a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. One reason underlying this susceptibility is that diet-induced obesity triggers the accumulation of inflammatory immune cells known as macrophages in fat tissue known as white adipose tissue (WAT). Researchers have now determined that engineering macrophages to store increased amounts of triacylglycerol (the main constituent of vegetable oil and animal fats) is sufficient to protect mice from diet-induced inflammatory macrophage activation, macrophage accumulation in WAT, and insulin resistance, a condition that preempts the onset of type 2 diabetes.
A prospective study of Group Health primary-care patients with diabetes in western Washington showed that depression raised the risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes during a five-year follow-up. These complications include kidney failure or blindness, the result of small vessel damage, as well as major vessel problems leading to heart attack or stroke.
New immigrants to North America may be less likely to have a stroke at a young age than long-time residents, according to a new study.
Overeating in mice triggers a molecule once considered to be only involved in detecting and fighting viruses to also destroy normal metabolism, leading to insulin resistance and setting the stage for diabetes.
Women with gout are at greater risk of a heart attack than men with the disease, indicates research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
By considering molecular-level events on a broader scale, researchers now have a clearer, if more complicated, picture of how one class of immune cells goes wrong when loaded with cholesterol. The findings show that, when it comes to the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease, it’s not about any one bad actor — it’s about a network gone awry.
Fewer than half of individuals who have “non-specific” chest pain (not explained by a well-known condition) experience relief from symptoms following standard medical care, according to a new study. In addition, one-tenth of those with persistent chest pain undergo potentially unnecessary diagnostic testing.
Scientists announced they have identified for the first time definitive variants associated with biological ageing in humans. The new discovery has important implications for the understanding of cancer and age-associated diseases.
Cardiologists and heart imaging specialists at 15 medical centers in eight countries have enrolled the first dozen patients in a year-long investigation to learn whether the subtle squeezing of blood flow through the inner layers of the heart is better than traditional SPECT nuclear imaging tests and other diagnostic radiology procedures for accurately tracking the earliest signs of coronary artery clogs.
Fat tissue in women with polycystic ovary syndrome produces an inadequate amount of the hormone that regulates how fats and glucose are processed, promoting increased insulin resistance and inflammation, glucose intolerance and greater risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to a study.
New research may lead to new treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) — a potentially fatal disease that currently has no pharmacological treatments.
Most people know that exercise protects against heart attack and stroke, but researchers have spent 30 years unraveling the biochemistry behind the idea. Researchers have now revealed new details of how athletic hearts push blood through arteries with greater force and the force-sensitive chain reaction that protects arteries.
Growing evidence shows that people of South Asian descent-regardless of where they live now-are at significantly higher risk of heart disease. As we approach American Heart Month, the team of physicians and researchers at the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Hospital are available to discuss this epidemic, and what strategies are being used successfully to combat it…
As Americans look to keep their fitness resolutions and increase their physical activity, Dr. Bing Liem, cardiologist and electrophysiologist at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif…
A new report reveals that the burden of dementia on the UK economy is twice that of cancer, yet dementia research receives one twenty sixth of the money that goes to studying cancer, agreeing with previous studies that concluded dementia research is severely underfunded…
Lurking in your kitchen may be a killer. According to Saint Louis University cardiologist Melda Dolan, M.D., the fast, convenient and processed foods that fill American’s freezers and pantries are bad news for your heart and waistline, as well as your taste buds…
By considering molecular-level events on a broader scale, researchers now have a clearer, if more complicated, picture of how one class of immune cells goes wrong when loaded with cholesterol…
