theheart.org - Prevention

Ten foods provide half of sodium eaten in US

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:06 EST

New estimates of salt consumption from a recent US survey show that 10 food groups provide almost half of the dietary sodium consumed in the country and that 90% of individuals eat more than the recommended daily amount of sodium.

Like father, like son: Y-chromosome variant may explain CAD

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST

New genetic work has unveiled an association between some lineages of the relatively empty male Y chromosome and coronary artery disease. The hypothesis, while "intriguing," requires more research to confirm, says one expert.

For stroke risk, look for novel lipid/lipoprotein biomarkers

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:15:16 EST

Women with triglyceride levels in the highest quartile had a significant 56% increased risk of stroke compared with women in the lowest quartile. Similarly, for women with highest quartile of VLDL particle size and IDL particle number, there was a significant 59% and 46% increased risk of ischemic stroke compared with women in the lowest quartile.

Fitness and fatness independently linked with CVD risk factors

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Individuals should be aware that exercising can have positive health effects, even if the weight doesn't necessarily come off, as can losing weight alone, researchers say, although the ideal combination is to improve fitness and lose fat.

Lower mortality in NFL players�if weight is kept in check

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:15:21 EST

The reduction in mortality and cardiovascular disease was observed in the smaller players—defensive backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers, as well as fullbacks, halfbacks, and running backs, among others. For the true giants of the gridiron, the linemen, cardiovascular disease mortality was not significantly reduced compared with the US population.

Photos on school lunch trays boost veggie intake

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:45:11 EST

A simple intervention, whereby photographs of green beans and carrots were placed in lunch trays in a school cafeteria, has had some success in boosting consumption of these vegetables among elementary schoolchildren.

The flap over flavonoids

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:15:40 EST

The field of flavonoids and polyphenols continues to attract a massive amount of interest, from researchers and the public alike. But can health really be improved by eating chocolate and drinking red wine?

"Cardiovascular health," new focus of the AHA, linked with reduced mortality

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:15:32 EST

Individuals meeting five of seven cardiovascular health metrics outlined by the American Heart Association had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality and deaths from diseases of the circulatory system when compared with unhealthy individuals who met none of the cardiovascular health criteria.

Statins reduce cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in women: Meta-analysis

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Based on the meta-analysis, which included 18 clinical trials, investigators conclude that the benefits of statin therapy for the reduction of cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality extend to both men and women.

Interarm BP differences increase CVD risk

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:15:56 EST

New research indicates that large differences in systolic blood pressure between the right and left arm of 15 mm Hg or more point to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The findings should add weight to guidelines, which already encourage doctors to measure BP in both arms, say the authors and editorialists.

Data mixed on role of parents and caregivers in combating childhood obesity

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:35 EST

Despite the mixed data from the clinical trials, experts say there are some parenting strategies, such as monitoring unhealthy behaviors and positive reinforcement, that are helpful in getting children to change their behavior and lose weight.

Heart attack deaths plummet in three EU nations

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:15:26 EST

New statistics from Denmark, England, and Poland show a roughly 50% drop in deaths due to acute AMI in recent decades.

Heart disease risk begins with middle-age risk factors

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Risk-factor-reduction efforts are usually based on short-term risk scores, but most Americans at low risk for cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years are actually at much higher risk for heart problems over the rest of their lives.

Cardiologists flagging woeful patient care say they paid with their jobs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

An echocardiographer and cardiac surgeon who say their jobs were axed in retaliation after they lodged numerous complaints of substandard patient care at a county hospital in Santa Clara are suing some of their former bosses, including two other cardiologists. The plaintiffs also claim they suffered severe harassment as a result of expressing their concerns. The defendants' attorney says the case "is hotly disputed."

Vytorin US label updated with SHARP results

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:05:17 EST

But the FDA has not allowed an official indication for chronic-kidney-disease patients, which has concerned investigators who conducted the trial.

Pay for SGR repeal with war savings, say medical groups

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:45:34 EST

A letter to Rep Dave Camp from 110 medical societies admits that war savings from military pullbacks are a "budget gimmick" but says they could retire SGR debt, another budget gimmick.

Black tea lowers blood pressure in small trial

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:15:06 EST

Three daily cups, which provided approximately 400 mg/day of polyphenols, reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure between 2 to 3 mm Hg, according to researchers.

Carotid images don't boost quit rates or cut CV risk factors in smokers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

A new randomized controlled trial is the latest addition to a contentious field of research trying to establish whether "seeing is believing" when it comes to motivating cardiovascular risk reduction.

To prescribe or not to prescribe: That is the statin question, experts debate

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:09 EST

The two very different sides of the statin argument are debated today in the Wall Street Journal, with Dr Roger Blumenthal arguing the drugs prevent heart disease in patients with cardiovascular risk factors as well as in those who have already had a cardiovascular event. Dr Rita Redberg, on the other hand, argues against the current practice of prescribing statins to healthy patients with cardiovascular risk factors, including individuals with elevated cholesterol levels.

Treat risk and not LDL-cholesterol targets, new perspective argues

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

In focusing on patient risk, rather than LDL-cholesterol treatment targets, doctors would improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse effects and costs that result from treating low-risk, low-benefit patients, say experts.

"High-normal" blood pressure linked to AF

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:15:44 EST

Upper-normal levels of blood pressure in otherwise-healthy middle-aged men appear to predict a higher risk for the development of atrial fibrillation in older age, a new study suggests.

Contemporary look at VTE after joint surgery

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

One in 100 patients who have knee-replacement surgery and one in 200 who undergo hip replacement will have a venous thromboembolic event in the hospital, despite receiving modern anticoagulant prophylaxis, a new review shows. These numbers will help inform patients and clinicians, say the authors, but an editorialist notes that to get a better picture, it will be necessary to look at a longer postsurgery time frame.

NHANES: One in three adults, one in six children obese

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:04 EST

Obesity continues to be a significant public health problem in the US, affecting more than one-third of US adults and 17% of children and adolescents, but 2009-2010 data suggest trends may have plateaued for most groups.

Resveratrol scientists react to Das fraud scandal: "Research will continue"

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:20:01 EST

As the controversy over the research fraud allegations against Dr Dipak Das enters its third day, researchers told heartwire what the news means for the field of resveratrol research and, more pressingly, an upcoming scientific meeting.

Red-wine researcher charged with photo-editing fraud

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:30:31 EST

A University of Connecticut investigation found Dr Dipak K Das guilty of falsifying and fabricating images that appeared in published research.

Very low risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death in long-distance running events

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Despite the high-profile deaths of seemingly healthy runners at marathons in the past few years, new data show that the risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death during marathon and half-marathon running races is actually quite low.

Statins cost four times more in US than UK

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:38 EST

UPDATED // Based on 2005 numbers, American private insurers paid as much as 400% more for statins than the UK government was paying over the same period. Even for statins sold as brand-name drugs in both countries, US costs were at least double.

Inactivity is a universal risk factor for heart attack

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:40:42 EST

New findings from the INTERHEART study show that being physically active during leisure and work time protects against MI. The message is simple, say the authors: incorporate as much physical activity into daily life as is possible. Not surprisingly, those who own a TV and car have a higher risk of MI, they also show.

Aspirin in primary prevention: New meta-analysis finds bleeding outweighs benefits for most

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:46 EST

But there may be a case for aspirin treatment in certain individuals at high risk of heart disease or with a family history of cancer.

Statin use associated with significantly increased risk of diabetes: WHI analysis

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

New data from the Women's Health Initiative hint that the risk of diabetes is higher than suggested by previous studies, with investigators reporting a 48% increased risk of diabetes among women taking the lipid-lowering medications.

Bereavement triggers MI, new study finds

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Bereaved people are 21 times more likely to suffer an MI the day after the death of a significant other, and this heightened risk remains for as long as a month afterward, new research finds. Healthcare providers, the bereaved themselves, and their family and friends need to recognize this heightened risk, say the authors.

UK's NICE wants more data on rivaroxaban in AF

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:50:00 EST

The UK drugs cost-efficacy watchdog, NICE, has asked for more data from Bayer before it will sanction use of rivaroxaban for stroke prevention in atrial-fibrillation patients.

Novel LDL-gene-targeted agent promising

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:45:54 EST

Suppressing the activity of PCSK9, a gene known to mediate low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism, cut LDL-C levels in a small dose-ranging study.

Excess calories, not proportion of dietary protein, key in causing obesity

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:15:33 EST

Excessive food intake, rather than the mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, has been implicated in causing obesity and is key in treating it.

Bariatric surgery reduces CV events, but mechanisms remain a mystery

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

The latest data from the Swedish Obese Subjects study show that bariatric surgery reduces the risk of cardiovascular events and CV death among obese individuals, compared with usual care. But weight loss is not the reason behind this reduced risk, meaning that guidelines that use BMI to determine who will get such surgery need updating, say the authors and an editorialist.

Analysis slams use of clopidogrel loss-of-function gene test; proponents fire back

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

A new meta-analysis and especially an accompanying editorial argue against current use of CYP2C19 genotyping to define risk of subsequent CV events in patients considered for clopidogrel. Proponents of the test defend its use and describe what they see as flaws in the study.

Congress postpones Medicare pay cut

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:30:15 EST

UPDATED // After the Senate had overwhelmingly approved the plan and a tumultuous few days among House Republicans, this morning Congress voted to put off a steep cut in Medicare physician reimbursements that was to take effect on January 1, 2012.

FDA approves new combination for hypertension

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:45:34 EST

The new agent is the first fixed-dose therapy in the US to combine an angiotensin-receptor blocker with the diuretic chlorthalidone.

First data to show antihypertensive therapy prolongs life

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:00:25 EST

The first-ever long-term data from a high-blood-pressure trial, the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program, reveals that people taking the antihypertensives lived longer free from cardiovascular disease and died less often from CV causes. The results should help encourage patients to comply with medication and doctors to prescribe it, say the researchers.

Increasing heart rate over time linked with heart disease mortality

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Despite the adverse effects of an increase in resting heart rate over time, individuals who lowered their resting heart rate did not have a lower risk of ischemic heart disease, a finding that suggests the association is not linear.

Overeating, salt, the real culprits in stroke risk

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:15:41 EST

The quality and quantity of a person's diet are more important determinants of stroke risk than the foods and nutrients consumed.

Improving BP in middle age pays off later

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:30:20 EST

Most studies of lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease that have focused on BP look at one index point, so researchers have examined multiple pooled studies to see how changes in BP over time during middle age affect lifetime risk.

Support for edoxaban for VTE prevention

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:00:17 EST

The benefit of edoxaban over enoxaparin for the prevention of VTE following hip and knee surgery did not appear to come at a cost, according to investigators, as there was no statistically significant increased risk in bleeding in the overall cohort or in any subgroups.

Combining wireless sensors and genomics for CVD prevention?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:31 EST

Monitoring an individual's risk for MI in the future would ideally first take into account his or her genome sequence or other biomarkers and then might use an implanted nanosensor smaller than a grain of sand. In an excerpt from his new book, The Creative Destruction of Medicine, theheart.org's editor in chief offers a glimpse of what that might look like.

Riata ICD lead "alert" is now a class I recall

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST

The US FDA has designated a recent physician advisory letter relating to St Jude Medical's Riata family of ICD leads as a class I recall, the most serious. The letter, issued last month, warned doctors that more leads than it first thought were affected by a problem related to insulation failure.

AHA Statistics: New year, same trends

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:00:12 EST

The new annual update on the state of America's heart health is out and provides some encouraging news about outcomes while underscoring the severity of the country's problems with obesity and poor fitness.

Vitamin D fails again to affect CV mortality

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:15:40 EST

Three-year follow-up from a British study adds to accumulating evidence that vitamin-D supplementation does not have an impact on cardiovascular mortality. Only large ongoing trials, the results of which are not expected for a number of years, will resolve this issue once and for all, say the researchers.

TACT study of chelation therapy again in spotlight

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:15:57 EST

The TACT study, investigating the chelation therapy EDTA in coronary heart disease patients, is once again the subject of controversy, this time in an article published yesterday in the Chicago Tribune.