Cardiovascular System

New Research: Arthritis Medicine Linked To Deaths

Use of often prescribed drugs against arthritis and pain increases the risk of dying from a stroke. This is the conclusion of a major new registry study involving more than 100,000 patients. 2014.11.13 | LOTTE FISKER JØRGENSEN It is older versions of COX-2 inhibitors, which are now linked to increased risk of dying from a […]

Mediterranean-style diet is associated with reduced blood pressure variability and stroke risk in patients with coronary artery disease

Mediterranean-style diet is associated with reduced blood pressure variability and subsequent stroke risk in patients with coronary artery disease American Journal of Hypertension, 11/13/2014 Clinical Article Lau KK, et al. – The Mediterranean–style diet is widely advocated for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Meanwhile, blood pressure variability (BPV) is a novel risk factor for […]

Age-Related Normative Changes in Phasic Orthostatic Blood Pressure

RESEARCH · November 11, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE The authors carried out a large population analysis to establish normal reference measures of orthostatic hypotension and study age-related changes. They analyzed the beat-to-beat systolic and diastolic BP and heart rate records of 4475 participants >50 years of age who were asked to undergo an active stand test. […]

Bextra, Vioxx, and Celebrex Linked to Stroke Mortality

COX-2 Inhibitors Linked to Stroke Mortality Sue Hughes November 06, 2014 Further evidence suggesting harm of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in patients with stroke has been reported, with this latest study showing these agents to be associated with an increased risk for stroke mortality. The study, published online in Neurology on November 5, was conducted by a team led by […]

Difficult-to-Control Asthma in Children is Significantly Linked to Obesity

PracticeUpdate Editorial Team, 2014 Nov 07 November 7, 2014 – Atlanta – Childhood obesity and severe persistent difficult-to-control (FTC) asthma are significantly associated. This conclusion was presented at the 2014 American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, from November 6 to 10. Yasmin Hamzavi Abedi, MD, of Eastern […]

Mechanical Stress Contributes to Knee OA: Rationale for Weight Loss

Clinical Pain Medicine ISSUE: NOVEMBER 2014 | VOLUME: 12(11) Paris—Triggers for knee and hand osteoarthritis (OA) are different, a new study suggests. Mechanical stress appears to be the most important factor for knee OA, and systemic processes appear to have the most effect on the development of hand OA, according to the researchers. The study […]

Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies Maryam S. Farvid, PhD Circulation. 2014;130:18 1562-1564, published online before print August 26 2014, doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.012534 Abstract Background—Previous studies on intake of linoleic acid (LA), the predominant n-6 fatty acid, and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk have generated […]

Four Lifestyle Changes Might Prevent 40% of Heart Failure

November 04, 2014 Frontline Medical News LAS VEGAS (FRONTLINE MEDICAL NEWS)– Not smoking, maintaining a normal body weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet would avert roughly 40% of all cases of heart failure, Dr. Luc Djousse asserted at the annual meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America. “Those four simple lifestyle changes […]

Blood Sugar Control Reduces Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes

Effects of intensive glycaemic control on ischaemic heart disease: analysis of data from the randomised, controlled ACCORD trial Prof Hertzel C Gerstein MD The Lancet, Volume 384, Issue 9958, Pages 1936 – 1941, 29 November 2014 Summary Background Hyperglycaemia could substantially increase the risk of ischaemic heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. We […]

New Prevention Guidelines Favor Mediterranean Diet

Stroke Rounds: New Prevention Guidelines Favor Mediterranean Diet Published: Oct 30, 2014 | Updated: Oct 30, 2014 By Salynn Boyles, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Action Points Note that joint guidelines from the American Heart and American Stroke Associations clarify issues relating to stroke prevention on the population level. Among the most notable guidelines, the associations […]

Red Meat Bad for Heart Failure?

Video at MedPageToday as well. Published: Oct 28, 2014 | Updated: Oct 29, 2014 By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Action Points Note that this cohort study demonstrated an association between baseline trimethylamine-N-oxide levels and subsequent mortality among patients with heart failure. Be aware that dietary histories were not obtained from the patients […]

Does Aspirin Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer? Ignore the Guidelines

AN EXPERT INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES H. HENNEKENS, MD, DRPH Linda Brookes, MSc, Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH October 29, 2014 OUR ROLLERCOASTER RELATIONSHIP WITH ASPIRIN Opinions on the use of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have varied over the past 25 years since the Physicians’ Health Study (PHS) first demonstrated conclusively that […]

Mindfulness associated with better health

October 23, 2014 Contact: David Orenstein 401-863-1862 Story Source A new study that measured “dispositional mindfulness” along with seven indicators of cardiovascular health found that persons reporting higher degrees of awareness of their present feelings and experiences had better health. The research suggests that interventions to improve mindfulness could benefit cardiovascular health, an idea researchers […]

Genes Confirm LDL Causes Aortic Stenosis

Published: Oct 27, 2014 By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Story Source High LDL cholesterol appears to cause aortic stenosis, even though lipid-lowering trials in established valve disease haven’t worked, a genetic study suggested. In the Mendelian randomization study — using genetic allocation conferred at conception akin to trial randomization — weighted genetic […]

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure in patients with elevated blood pressure and vitamin D deficiency

Blood Press Monit. 2014 Oct 27. [Epub ahead of print] The effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure in patients with elevated blood pressure and vitamin D deficiency: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Loloei S, Mirjalili MR, Barzegar K. Abstract OBJECTIVES: The present evidence indicates a reverse correlation between vitamin D status […]

Resveratrol Boosts Bone Formation in Obese Men

Becky McCall October 24, 2014 Story Source High-dose resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found naturally in nuts and grapes, stimulates formation or mineralization of new bone in obese men with metabolic syndrome, according to results of a new study recently published onlineOctober 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. After only 16 weeks of treatment, dose-dependent […]

Workouts in Middle Age Keep Hearts Healthy

Published: May 16, 2013 | Updated: May 16, 2013 By Chris Kaiser , Cardiology Editor, MedPage Today Action Points These studies were published as abstracts and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. A sustained improvement in fitness level reduces the risk of heart […]

Nut consumption and the risk of coronary artery disease: A dose–response meta-analysis of 13 prospective studies

Thrombosis Research, 10/22/2014 Clinical Article Ma L, et al. – In this study, the authors conducted a meta–analysis to summarize the evidence from prospective cohort studies regarding the association between nut consumption and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The analysis indicated that nut consumption has a protective effect on CAD. Methods Pertinent studies were […]

Effects of tea intake on blood pressure: A meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials

JACC – Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 10/22/2014 Clinical Article Gang L, et al. – The authors undertook a meta–analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine changes in systolic and diastolic BP due to the intake black and green tea. The meta–analysis showed that long–term (≥12 weeks) ingestion of a tea (green and […]

Chocolate consumption and risk of heart failure in the Physicians Health Study

European Journal of Heart Failure, 10/17/2014 Clinical Article Petrone AB, et al. – The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that chocolate consumption is associated with a lower risk of heart failure (HF). The data suggest that moderate consumption of chocolate might be associated with a lower risk of HF in male […]