African Americans live shorter lives due to heart disease and stroke
Statement Highlights:
- African Americans carry a higher burden of cardiovascular diseases compared with white Americans.
- Risk factors for heart disease appear earlier in African Americans than in whites.
- Social determinants of health, stress and cultural factors all play a role.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Monday, October 23, 2017
DALLAS, Oct. 23, 2017 —The average lifespan […]
Irregular heartbeat linked to higher thyroid hormone levels
Study Highlights:
- Individuals with higher levels of thyroid hormone (free thyroxine or FT4) circulating in the blood were more likely than individuals with lower levels to develop irregular heartbeat, even when the levels were within normal range.
- Blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which regulates the production of thyroid hormones and is primarily measured in clinical practice […]
Men develop irregular heartbeat earlier than women; extra weight a factor
Study Highlights:
- The onset of an irregular heartbeat jumps sharply in men after age 50 and in women after 60.
- The risk of developing the irregular rhythm known as atrial fibrillation rises with increasing age and weight.
- Having atrial fibrillation more than tripled the risk of dying during average 13-year study.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT / […]
Tai Chi holds promise as cardiac rehab exercise
Study Highlights:
- The slow and gentle movements of Tai Chi – which can increase in pace – hold promise as an alternative exercise option for patients who decline traditional cardiac rehabilitation.
- The study is the first to suggest that Tai Chi may improve exercise behaviors in this high-risk group.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT / 5 […]
Scientists think public opinion important before human gene editing
Study Highlights:
- The public should be consulted before gene editing is used to treat human embryos, a survey of 300 cardiovascular researchers finds.
- Majority of respondents support gene editing to treat diseases but not for human enhancement.
Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017
DALLAS, Oct. 3, 2017 – The public should […]
One in four people leave work a year after a heart attack, Danish study finds
Study Highlights:
- One in four people in Denmark who suffer a heart attack leave their jobs within a year of returning to work.
- Heart attack survivors with diabetes, heart failure, depression and lower educational and income levels were the most likely to not be working a year after their heart attack.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT […]
Adverse events spike after blood pressure meds go generic in Canada
Study Highlights:
- One month after generic versions of three widely-used blood pressure drugs became available in Canada, hospital visits for adverse events spiked in generic drug users.
- The findings suggest that generic versions of the drugs may not be exactly equivalent to their brand-name counterparts, but more research is necessary, researchers said.
Embargoed until 3 p.m. […]
Meditation might be useful addition to heart-healthy lifestyle and medical treatment
Statement Highlights:
- Traditional medical therapy for high cholesterol, blood pressure and other risk factors remains the mainstay of preventing heart disease, but meditation may be helpful to some people who want to reduce the risk of heart disease as long as they understand its benefits have not been clearly established.
- The statement, the first ever […]
Early “full-term” babies may have poorer respiratory fitness through adolescence and young adulthood
Study Highlights
- Though considered full-term, babies born at 37-38 gestational weeks may be more likely than those born later to have poor cardiorespiratory fitness into young adulthood.
- These findings suggest scheduled caesarean sections or induced labor at lower gestational ages are concerning.
Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, September 27, 2017
DALLAS, […]
Umbilical cord stem cells show promise as heart failure treatment
Study Highlights
- Intravenous stem cell infusion derived from umbilical cords appears to boost heart muscle function in patients with heart failure, according to a small study.
- In this first-of-its-kind study, patients had “significant” improvement in their hearts’ ability to pump blood and experienced no adverse side effects related to the therapy.
- The results suggest IV-infused umbilical […]