Diabetes has special heart risk factors
NEW YORK, Jul 17 (Reuters Health) - Researchers have identified risk factors that may help explain why heart disease strikes so many people with diabetes.

Athletes' ECGs can be misleading
NEW YORK, Jul 17 (Reuters Health) - Elite athletes' hearts show abnormalities on electrocardiograms (ECGs) that resemble those seen in various heart conditions--but it usually does not mean they should retire. Instead, Italian researchers report, abnormal heart tests are often an "innocent consequence" of intense athletic training, a phenomenon called athlete heart syndrome.

Intervention programs drop BP in at-risk patients
NEW YORK, Jul 17 (Reuters Health) - Intervention programs that promote contact with healthcare professionals--including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers--help to reduce blood pressure (BP) in at-risk African-American patients, according to the results of two new studies.

Suppressed anger may boost blood pressure in black women
NEW YORK, Jul 17 (Reuters Health) - Does suppressing anger lead to high blood pressure? Yes, according to results of a study of African-American women. And more evidence of a behavior-blood pressure link: The study also found that women with better coping skills had lower blood pressures.

Meditation helps to lower blood pressure
NEW YORK, Jul 17 (Reuters Health) - Taking part in programs designed to modify behavior, such as anger management training and transcendental meditation sessions, seems to have a measurable impact on blood pressure in African Americans, according to preliminary results of the Health Education and Diet, Stress Management and Anger Reduction Therapy (HEAD SMART) study.

Drug reduces BP in black patients on high-salt diets
NEW YORK, Jul 17 (Reuters Health) - African Americans are especially prone to high blood pressure (hypertension) and may not respond to many of the drugs commonly used to control the disease.

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A Super Soybean Oil?
(7/14/00 HeartInfo) - You've probably heard soy protein can help reduce the risk of heart disease as part of a low-fat diet. But did you realize that soybean oil doesn't contain the same healthful ingredients found in tofu, soymilk, tempeh or other foods high in soy protein? Nutritionist Lynn Grieger offers information about soy and which sources will provide benefits for the heart conscious.

Cytomegalovirus linked to heart disease
NEW YORK, Jul 13 (Reuters Health) - Adding to evidence that certain infections may promote heart disease, researchers have found that cytomegalovirus (CMV) may increase a person's risk for later heart problems.

Yoga shown to slow heart disease
DELHI, Jul 13 (Reuters Health) - Yoga can help slow atherosclerosis--the build-up of fatty deposits on the lining of arteries--in patients with severe coronary artery disease, according to a report from Delhi, India.

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Caregiving a barrier to exercise for older women
NEW YORK, Jul 12 (Reuters Health) - Lack of time due to caregiving and a lack of energy are two major barriers to exercise among women over age 40, researchers suggest.

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Uric acid levels predict death from heart disease
(7/12/00 HeartInfo) - Many epidemiological studies suggest a high concentration of uric acid in the blood increases a person's risk of dying from heart disease. A new study by Drs. Jing Fang and Michael H. Alderman of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx shows uric acid predicts heart disease deaths, even among men and women with no other known risk factors for heart problems.

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Niacin beats gemfibrozil in race to improve lipid levels
(7/11/00 HeartInfo) - A study by Dr. John R. Guyton and colleagues of Duke University Medical Center shows high doses of extended-release niacin (Niaspan) increased HDL (good cholesterol) twice as much as gemfibrozil in similar patients. Niaspan was also better at decreasing the concentration of lipoprotein(a) in the blood, improving the ratio of HDL to LDL (bad cholesterol) and maintaining lower levels of fibrinogen, a protein that promotes blood clots. 

Heart attack victims delay calling 911
NEW YORK, Jul 10 (Reuters Health) - Most people are quick to dial "911" if they think someone else is having a heart attack, but they are far less speedy to call emergency services when they experience heart attack symptoms themselves, researchers have found.

Diet plus exercise can reduce blood pressure
NEW YORK, Jul 10 (Reuters Health) - Regular exercise and weight loss can help to lower blood pressure in people who are overweight, US researchers report.

Blood triglyceride level may not reflect heart risk
NEW YORK, Jul 10 (Reuters Health) - While high cholesterol is a widely acknowledged risk factor for heart disease, controversy surrounds the importance of other blood fats known as triglycerides. Some studies have shown that an elevated triglyceride level alone can raise the odds of heart disease. But a new analysis of three large studies puts little stock in triglyceride readings when it comes to heart disease risk.

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A Chocolate Bar a Day?
(7/7/00 HeartInfo) - Are you addicted to chocolate? Who isn't! The dark sweet treat is the most commonly craved food in North America, especially among women. Wouldn't it be great if chocolate lowered your risk of cardiovascular disease? Some scientists believe it might!

Confusion over antibiotic use in heart patients
NEW YORK, Jul 06 (Reuters Health) - Some people with heart-valve conditions do not receive the antibiotics recommended to prevent life-threatening infections, while others receive these antibiotics when they do not need them, US researchers have found.

Genes may protect some against high-fat diet
NEW YORK, Jul 06 (Reuters Health) - The mystery behind how some people live to 100 after a life of burgers and fries may now be a bit clearer. In experiments with mice, researchers found that genetic factors may help determine whether heart arteries become clogged on a high-fat diet.

Gene mutation linked to high blood pressure in pregnancy
NEW YORK, Jul 06 (Reuters Health) - Mutation of a gene responsible for controlling the way the body handles salt can lead to high blood pressure early in life that worsens markedly with pregnancy, US researchers report.

Health risks differ between the sexes
NEW YORK, Jul 06 (Reuters Health) - Men and women report quite different health risks and behaviors, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study found that men are more likely to say that they are overweight, to smoke, to binge drink, and to drink and drive. Women are less likely to exercise regularly, but they are also more likely to wear a seatbelt and to have their blood cholesterol checked.

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The overweight epidemic
(7/6/00 HeartInfo) - The number of overweight American men and women has increased steadily over the past 20 years, despite national surveys indicating that self-reported eating habits haven't changed significantly. A study by Lisa J. Harnack, PhD, suggests levels of physical activity have not changed in the last decade; however, a trend toward eating more fast foods and convenience foods may account for America's growing weight problem. 

Healthy lifestyle protects women's hearts
NEW YORK, Jul 05 (Reuters Health) - Good news for women who exercise, eat well and don't smoke: New study findings show that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of heart disease in women by more than 80%.

Female heart attack patients treated less aggressively
While a reasonable goal for most people with hypertension is 140/90 mm Hg, hypertensive diabetics should aim for 135/85 mm Hg .NEW YORK, Jul 05 (Reuters Health) - American women who suffer a heart attack receive less aggressive initial medical care than men do--but the difference in treatment is usually small and does not result in a greater risk of dying among women, according to researchers.

Combined blood pressure measure predicts heart risk
NEW YORK, Jul 05 (Reuters Health) - A measure of stiffness in the arteries, called pulse pressure, may be an even better predictor of heart problems than traditional methods--particularly among the elderly, researchers have found.

Exercise may cancel fish oil's heart benefits
NEW YORK, Jul 05 (Reuters Health) - Just when you thought you were doing everything possible to reduce your risk of heart disease, along comes a new scientific study to prove otherwise. Although taking fish oil supplements, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, and exercising can each reduce the amount of fat in the blood after a meal, doing both may actually negate the cardiovascular benefits of either treatment alone.

High cholesterol common after bypass surgery
NEW YORK, Jul 05 (Reuters Health) - Some heart bypass patients, especially those who had surgery before the benefits of lowering cholesterol were scientifically proven, are not managing to keep their cholesterol levels low, according to researchers in Scotland.

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Diabetics benefit from lower blood pressure
(7/5/00 HeartInfo) - Both diabetes and hypertension increase the risk of developing heart disease, so patients suffering from both conditions need lower-than-normal blood pressure to stay healthy a new advisory from National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states. While a reasonable goal for most people with hypertension is 140/90 mm Hg, hypertensive diabetics should aim for 135/85 mm Hg .

Food trends play role in obesity epidemic
NEW YORK, Jul 04 (Reuters Health) - Increased availability of convenience foods, changes in food preparation, and eating out more often are factors that appear to be contributing to the obesity epidemic among Americans, say researchers.

Licorice boosts blood pressure
TORONTO, Jul 04 (Reuters Health) - If you have high blood pressure, steer clear of licorice. In a study by researchers in Iceland, it was found that eating even small amounts of licorice each day causes a noticeable increase in blood pressure. The findings were presented recently at the 82nd annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.

Fortified cereals may help reduce heart risk
NEW YORK, Jul 04 (Reuters Health) - Folic acid supplements and fortified cereals are more effective than a diet rich in naturally occurring folates in reducing levels of homocysteine in the blood, report researchers from New Zealand. Research findings show that high levels of the amino acid homocysteine increase the risk of heart disease and other vascular disorder.

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TNKase, single-dose treatment for heart attack, approved by FDA
(7/4/00 HeartInfo) - More than a decade ago, Genentech, Inc.  produced a synthetic version of the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), marketed as Activase. Now Genentech has received FDA approval to market TNKase, a single-dose anticlotting agent given intravenously in only five seconds to heart attack patients. Studies show that TNKase is just as effective as Activase in reducing risk of death from heart attack, with fewer side effects and potential complications.

Drug helps chronic pain due to diabetic neuropathy
SAN ANTONIO, Jul 03 (Reuters Health) - A medication used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder may have a role in managing painful diabetic neuropathy, according to study results released recently at the 60th Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association.

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Benecol enhances effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs
NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - A margarine that blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the body can enhance the cholesterol-lowering effects of certain drugs, report researchers.

Some men at higher risk from aspirin therapy
NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - Men who have high blood pressure may realize more harm than good from taking an aspirin a day to prevent heart disease and stroke. Daily, low-dose (75 mg) aspirin is widely used as a way of preventing cardiovascular disease. But British researchers report that men with higher blood pressures may be at greater risk of bleeding complications from aspirin, and may not gain any reduction in heart or stroke risk.

New test detects heart disease--but more study needed
NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - Close on the heels of a report favoring the use of a new test, electron beam computed tomography (EBCT), for evaluating chest pain comes the report of an expert panel opposing its widespread use.

Heart problems, not epilepsy, cause some seizures
NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - Many people thought to have epilepsy may have a heart problem instead, say British researchers. In a study, researchers closely examined people diagnosed with epilepsy who did not respond well to medication or had symptoms unusual for the disorder. They found that more than 40% had another medical problem--most often a heart or circulation condition--that could have caused the symptoms.

Vitamin E may benefit type 1 diabetics
NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - Taking vitamin E supplements appears to improve blood flow in patients with type 1 diabetes, results of a study suggest.

Early intervention offers best bet for uncontrollable chest pain
NEW YORK, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - Patients with intractable chest pain fare best when treated with an aggressive strategy that includes an early procedure--angioplasty or bypass surgery--to restore a normal blood flow to the heart.

FDA approves anticoagulant drug
PHILADELPHIA, June 30 (Reuters) - SmithKline Beecham Plc and Texas Biotechnology Corp. said on Friday that the US Food and Drug Administration approved an anticoagulant to prevent or treat abnormal blood clotting related to use of the blood thinner heparin. Argatroban, the name of the anticoagulant which was developed by Texas Biotech, blocks the activity of thrombin, a key factor in blood clotting.

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