From the category archives:
Cholesterol Levels May Vary By Season View the Cholesterol Levels Slideshow Pictures THURSDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) — Cholesterol levels increase with winter’s arrival and drop again as warmer weather returns, a new study by Brazilian researchers suggests. “In the winter, people should be careful with their cholesterol levels,” said lead researcher Dr. Filipe Moura, [...]
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Pets a Boon for the Human Heart, Cardiologists Say THURSDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) — That four-legged friend of yours may be more than a companion — he also may be boosting your heart health, experts say. An official statement released Thursday by the American Heart Association says there is evidence that having a pet, [...]
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(A good summary article) External Arrhythmia Triggers Arrhythmias don’t necessarily need some type of internal condition like heart disease to trigger them. In fact, arrhythmias can often result from “every-day” sources. In most cases it is not possible to identify any specific triggers. Examples of triggers include: Stimulants: Can cause premature and irregular heartbeats Smoking [...]
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Seasonal variations in coronary heart disease Oxford Journals Medicine QJM: An International Journal of Medicine Volume 92, Issue 12 Pp. 689-696. Abstract Coronary heart disease exhibits a winter peak and summer trough in incidence and mortality, in countries both north and south of the equator. In England and Wales, the winter peak accounts for an [...]
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[This was the best summary article on factors related to heart attacks in winter months] Heart Health in Winter Lifeline Screening The holiday season is a time that usually gladdens our hearts as we gather with friends and family. But it’s also a time when our own hearts are under additional stress. During winter, the [...]
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MSNBC LiveScience staff 8/10/2010 Enjoy the heat this summer. Cold weather brings more than a chill to your bones, a new study suggests. It could also raise your risk of having a heart attack. The results show that each 1.8 degree Fahrenheit reduction in temperature on a single day is associated with around 200 additional [...]
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Why late to bed, early to rise is a recipe for a heart attack By Daily Mail Reporter February 9 , 2011 It is the stuff of nightmares for those whose hectic work schedule or busy family life means getting up early and staying up late. Sleeping for less than six hours a night greatly [...]
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“Heavy” Drinking Increases Risk After Heart Attack Even moderately heavy drinking is bad after myocardial infarction By Richard N. Fogoros, M.D. Updated July 04, 2007 Several studies have indicated that light usage of alcohol (one or two drinks per day) may help protect against cardiac disease. However, because alcohol causes so many medical problems, and [...]
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Has your cardiologist talked to you about breathing? Associated Press July 31, 2006 Breathe deep to lower blood pressure, doc says Experiment suggests slow breathing helps break down the salt we eat WASHINGTON — Take a slow deep breath, then exhale just as slowly. Can you take fewer than 10 breaths a minute? Research suggests [...]
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The Rose Bower from the “Legend of Briar Rose” by Sir Edward Burne-Jones 1890 Buscot Park, Oxfordshire Heart Attacks in the Morning Are More Severe
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Yoga Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Risk Considerably April 3, 2011 Medical News Today People who regularly practice yoga have a significantly lower risk of having episodes of atrial fibrillation – abnormal heart rhythm (irregular heartbeat) caused by unusual generation of electrical signals in the heart. Atrial fibrillation is a major cause of stroke among elderly individuals. [...]
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In the 80′s, research suggested that being married to an educated woman was a heart disease risk. Now it seems to be a factor in risk reduction. What has changed? The inquiring mind wants to know… Is the research better? Are educated women less stressed than they used to be? Are men more used to [...]
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Note: This article is from last year. Still applies though. Super Bowl Stress Can Spark Heart Attacks Steven Reinberg February 5, 2010 HealthDay News When the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts take the field for Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, emotions will be running high, so high that some fans can run the [...]
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It is hard to know what to believe these days. Medical research is frequently biased (often by drug money) and off the mark. Since the 1980′s, articles have been appearing about the “diagonal ear crease” (pictured below) and heart disease and mortality due to heart problems. Some physicians dismiss it as related to aging; however, [...]
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“Air filtration was associated with improved endothelial function and decreased concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers, but not markers of oxidative stress. Our results support the hypothesis that systemic inflammation and impaired endothelial function, both predictors of cardiovascular morbidity, can be favorably influenced by reducing indoor particle concentrations. ” (Note: Actually, it gets more simple than this.) [...]
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Unfortunately, even though us bald men are more lovable and have more testosterone, it puts us at higher risk for heart disease. You win some, you lose some. Medscape Wire Male pattern baldness may signal increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) events, especially among men with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, according [...]
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Tad and Abraham Lincoln April 10, 1865 In Curtis’s Life of Lincoln, he tells the story of Lincoln’s answer to the question: “How long should a man’s legs be in proportion to his body?”.… It was when Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, and Owen Lovejoy were traveling in a stage coach on their way to attend [...]
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A discussion in the Women Heart Support Community centers on how the cold affects people with heart problems. My own experience was of having a heart attack when after exercising at 0 degree temperatures.Research suggests that there is, in fact, a correlation between cold temperatures and heart attacks. According to a study in Spain in [...]
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Carolyn Thomas’s MyHeartSisters post on women’s stories about their heart attack symptoms was picked by the most widely read doctor blog, www.Kevinmd.com There are over twenty stories told by women about their symptoms; they provide an excellent overview of the variability of heart attack symptoms. (Click here for full article.) Sandra, age 37, USA: “I [...]
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There are a number of studies which have attempted to correlate days of the week with the risk of a heart attack. Monday is consistently correlated with a higher incidence of a heart attack, though some of the research suggests that this primarily applies to working men. Interesting, (Japanese) women seem to be more at [...]
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We should do this every week — over the length of the year this would make for a 260% risk reduction for having a heart attack….. Daylight saving time: Spring forward into a heart attack, fall back into cardio health? Scientific American Jordan Lite Oct 29, 2008 Here’s a new reason to look forward to [...]
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Yesterday’s post suggested that one of the problems with the cardiology experience is that it is overwhelmingly a male dominated field. Research suggests that female doctors “tend to be more encouraging and reassuring, use shared decision-making, ask more psychosocial questions and spend more time — up to 10 percent more — with patients than male [...]
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One of the major factors that influences the profession (and experience) of cardiology is that cardiologists are predominately male. Over-stating the stereotype, women are usually more concerned about relationship than men: my experience of cardiologists is that they emphasize facts over feelings, authority over collaboration. Although I have not found any direct research about [...]
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Can you believe it? Walking is better for you than not walking?… Perhaps science needs to convince us to use common sense…. Note that the lowest quartile in this group reported walking eight blocks a week or less…. That’s possible? (I presume these were able-bodied participants who could walk…) The basic issue is often not [...]
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National Institute of Health Why Blood Cholesterol Matters Blood cholesterol plays an important part in deciding a person’s chance or risk of getting coronary heart disease (CHD). The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk. That’s why high blood cholesterol is called a risk factor for heart disease. Did you know that heart [...]
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Data from the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (the most recent year for which data is available) Heart disease and stroke • In 2004, heart disease was noted on 68% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 years or older. • In 2004, stroke was noted on 16% of diabetes-related death certificates among people [...]
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Green tea Botanical evidence indicates that India and China were among the first countries to cultivate tea. Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. Hundreds of millions of people drink tea around the world, and studies suggest that green tea (Camellia sinesis) in particular has many health [...]
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I suspect that walking and exercise is much more beneficial than this study would indicate; this article would suggest that it is less effective than moderate drinking, the same as owning a cat, and not as effective as eating Peking Duck. Miracle Cure Found March 20, 2008 About.com What if there was a miracle pill [...]
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Do Optimists Live Longer? Study: Negative Outlook Appears to Raise Risk of Heart Disease, Death By Salynn Boyles WebMD Health News Aug. 10, 2009 — Whether you believe the metaphorical glass is half full or half empty may not only affect how you see the world, it may also affect your heart. New research suggests [...]
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Alcohol May Reduce Men’s Heart Risk Study Shows Moderate Drinking Cuts Risk of Heart Disease in Men by 51% By Kathleen Doheny WebMD Health News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD Nov. 18, 2009 — Regular consumption of alcohol — beer, wine, or hard liquor — reduces the risk of heart disease in men by a [...]
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Science Daily May 21, 2007 The nighttime breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea increases a person’s risk of having a heart attack or dying by 30% over a period of four to five years, according to a new study. The more severe the sleep apnea at the beginning of the study, the greater the [...]
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Fiber is one of those nutrients that many of us know is important but that remains a bit of a mystery. Exactly what is it? What are the best sources of fiber? And what are its health benefits? Here we try to answer these and other questions. Vegetables and Fruits: Get Plenty Every Day: How [...]
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(Note that correlation is not cause and effect – just because a low frequency of sexual activity is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease does not mean that this is the cause of it.) More Sex Could Mean Less Heart Risk Study Shows Men Who Have Sex Twice a Week Have Less Risk [...]
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(This blog is not to be mistaken for medical advice; it provides information so that you can make informed choices when you talk with your physician) Update on Red Yeast Rice Desperately seeking red yeast rice? Consider generic statins. Richard N. Fogoros, M.D. June 18, 2008 Results from a large randomized trial conducted in China, [...]
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Medical News Today Cat Owners Have Lower Heart Attack Risk, Study 25 Feb 2008 Owning a cat could reduce your risk of a heart attack by nearly one third, researchers told delegates of the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in New Orleans last week. The finding provoked a mixed reaction from heart experts and [...]
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Time Healthland September 14, 2010 Alice Park Stress is a major contributor to heart disease, so it’s no surprise that researchers have associated anxious Type A personalities with a greater risk of heart attack. Now they’ve connected another personality profile with heart problems: Type D. People who are Type D, says Johan Denollet, a professor [...]
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Medical News Today; May 11, 2010 A study of 10,000 civil servants in London, England found that people who worked three or more hours longer than a normal 7-hour day had a 60% higher risk of developing heart related problems, such as death from heart disease, non-fatal heart attacks and angina. “The association between long [...]
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