Cardiovascular Health

Pacemakers for Breathing Reported November 04, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breathing may seem like a mindless bodily function, but new research shows the mind is actually more involved in breathing than previously thought. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered two pacemakers in the brain work together in harmony to ensure that … [Read more...]

Robot Lends Hand to Heart Surgery Reported December 15, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The day when computers actually start performing surgery may soon be upon us. A French team has developed a computerized 3D model that allows surgeons to use robotics to operate on a beating heart. The robotic technology predicts the movement of the heart as it beats, enabling the surgical … [Read more...]

Second Stroke Risk Reported June 02, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – After a stroke, time is of the essence. A new study on second strokes reveals they tend to occur within 24 hours of the initial event. "Our study highlights the need for someone who is experiencing the symptoms of a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) to get to an emergency room fast," Peter … [Read more...]

Snoring Linked to Childhood Reported August 26, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Your childhood environment may determine whether you will snore when you are an adult. A new report from Sweden shows childhood risk factors such as having pets, early respiratory or ear infections and growing up in a large family can all play a role on adult snoring. Researchers asked more than … [Read more...]

Superficial Vein Thrombosis May Signal Deeper Problem   Reported July 22, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with superficial vein thrombosis may have an increased risk of developing vein thrombosis, a life-threatening condition. In a new study, researchers found 24 percent of participants with superficial vein thrombosis -- a condition that … [Read more...]

The ABCs of Acute Coronary Treatment Reported January 19, 2005 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A recent change to the once complex way of managing acute coronary syndrome may be as easy as learning the ABCs, literally. In the past, acute coronary syndrome, which is chest pain at rest or mild exertion, was managed by a system doctors … [Read more...]

Treating Hepatitis C Reported July 17, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – It may soon be easier to come up with new treatments for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). A researcher at the University of California, San Diego, has developed the first tissue culture of normal, human liver cells that can model HCV infections. It gives scientists a realistic environment to test potential new … [Read more...]

Unnecessary Testing? Reported September 15, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Hospitals that perform nuclear stress tests on the heart may be wasting time and money. A new study looked at 375 patients who underwent nuclear stress testing at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. It showed 21 of the patients should not have received the test because their patient profile and … [Read more...]

Washing Away Varicose Veins   Reported August 21, 2009 PHOENIX (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Experts estimate 50 percent of Americans over age 50 have varicose veins. For women -- and men -- they can be embarrassing, ugly, and even so painful it's hard to walk. Now, there's a new treatment option that uses foam to wash away problem veins. Bulging and … [Read more...]

Diet key to slowing cardiovascular disease progression in womenReported June 16, 2009 Washington, June 16: Researchers at Tufts University and Wake Forest University have found that following adherence to recommendations for whole-grain, total fat, and cholesterol intake leads to a decrease in atherosclerotic progression. The researchers say that their most important … [Read more...]

Young, Healthy Still at Risk for Heart Disease Reported January 13, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows even young and healthy adults may still be at risk for heart disease, the number one killer in the United States. According to current 10-year risk assessment data, more than 90 percent of patients 50 years old or younger have a low risk of heart disease; … [Read more...]

Apples at the Core of Good HealthReported April 10, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Whether you bite them, cook them, slice them or top them with peanut butter, new research shows regular consumption of apples, applesauce and apple juice significantly reduces one’s risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a defined as a cluster of three or more conditions including … [Read more...]

HRT 'no benefit' to older heartsJuly 13, 2007 More evidence that hormone replacement therapy could be harming, not protecting the hearts of older women has been published. Research into 5,000 women from the UK, Australia and New Zealand suggests women over 60 are more at risk of heart and blood problems. The British Medical … [Read more...]

Heart disease risk factors on rise in Canada: study   Reported July 20, 2009 The prevalence of heart disease and its attendant risk factors — hypertension, diabetes, and obesity — are increasing in all age groups and most income groups in Canada, according to a study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The increasing prevalence of heart disease … [Read more...]

Cholesterol: Size Counts!Reported April 17, 2008 MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Most American adults have had their cholesterol level checked, and most people know that number needs to be below 200; but that only tells part of the story. Some doctors say measuring how big or small your cholesterol particles are is just as important. Alan Scharf used to have high … [Read more...]

Computer Learns How to Diagnose Patients   Reported September 14, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Mayo Clinic researchers say their new "teachable" software system mimics the human brain and may help diagnose cardiac infections without an invasive exam. Developers call their program “artificial neural network" (ANN) because it mimics the brain's … [Read more...]

Fix Your Spine, Lower Your Blood Pressure?Reported January 11, 2008 CHICAGO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- About 72 million adults in the United States are living with high blood pressure. That's one in three people. Statistics show only 35 percent of them have it under control. Now, research shows a spinal adjustment may actually help control blood pressure. Chiropractor Marshall … [Read more...]

Gene Variants Predict Heart Attack RiskReported March 24, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A combination of gene variants may help predict those at risk for heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death. These findings may help target individuals who need cholesterol-lowering medications and other early-intervention methods to combat heart problems. Researchers set … [Read more...]

Heart Disease and Happiness Reported July 21, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Better treatments for heart disease may help people live longer, but are they enjoying that extra time? A new study from the American Heart Association finds adults with coronary heart disease (CHD) scored up to 9 percent lower on four scales measuring quality of life than those without CHD. Quality … [Read more...]

Heart Health Not Hurt by Cancer TreatmentsReported June 01, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Standard cancer therapies do not appear to affect a survivor's cardiovascular fitness level, according to a new study. Physical activity is closely linked with cancer survivorship both during and after treatment, and physicians need a simple test to assess a patient's … [Read more...]

High Calcium Level May Signal Heart Danger   Reported July 29, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Researchers may be able to predict future severe heart attacks in patients with known, stable coronary artery disease (CAD) using coronary calcium scoring, according to a new study. "The amount of calcium in the coronary vessels, as measured by CT, is of … [Read more...]

Walnuts decrease cardiovascular disease risk: November 9 [Health India]: Washington: According to a study conducted by Penn State University walnuts, walnut oil and flaxseed oil not only lower bad cholesterol but also decrease the possibilities of blood vessel inflammation in patients susceptible to … [Read more...]

Just One Cigarette Stiffens Arteries Reported October 30, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Canadian researchers say smoking even one time significantly stiffens the arteries and negatively influences the body's ability to cope with physical stress. Young adults ages 18 to 35 who smoke as little as one cigarette increase the stiffness of their arteries by 25 … [Read more...]

Heart patients say quality of life lower Reported July 16, 2008 ATLANTA, July 16 (UPI) -- Better treatments have improved survival in people with coronary heart disease, but not necessarily their quality of life, U.S. researchers say. The study, published in the journal Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, found that compared with adults without … [Read more...]

Heart surgeries more dangerous for women, study indicatesReported September 03, 2007 Heart surgeries that typically save men's lives can be deadly for women, research presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna on Monday suggests. A small study of 184 women conducted by Dr. Eva Swahn of the department of cardiology at University … [Read more...]

Negative Emotions Affect Heart Disease RiskReported October 9, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Here’s another reason to get along with the people close to you. New research finds those who have conflict with those they love have an increased risk of heart disease. More and more research shows social relations are associated with better health and a reduced risk of cardiovascular … [Read more...]

Noisy Roads Drive Up Blood Pressure   Reported September 14, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers found people exposed to high levels of noise from nearby roads are more likely to report suffering from hypertension. Theo Bodin and colleagues from Lund University Hospital, Sweden, investigated the association between living close to noisy roads … [Read more...]

Packing on Pounds Impacts the GumsReported April 06, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – These days, obesity is being blamed for everything from diabetes to high blood pressure. But gum disease? Researchers who followed men taking part in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study say the answer is yes. Their analysis of 16 years worth of data shows men who were obese at … [Read more...]

Pre-Flight Advisory for Heavy SnorersReported May 19, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may not be as fit to fly as they think. Researchers in Sydney, Australia conducted the first ever study to test the effects of ventilation, oxygen and air pressure typical of commercial flights on people with severe OSA. They did the testing in flight … [Read more...]