Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Low-carb trumps low-fat for weight loss and cardiovascular risk

A low-carbohydrate diet is more effective for weight loss and reducing cardiovascular risk factors than a low-fat diet, according to an article being published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

2 Sep 2014

Daily fruit consumption reduces risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 40%

Daily fruit consumption cuts the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 40%, according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Huaidong Du from Oxford, UK.

2 Sep 2014

Abdominal fat more strongly associated with high blood pressure risk

People with fat around their abdominal area are at greater risk of developing hypertension when compared to those with similar body mass index but fat concentrations elsewhere on the body, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

2 Sep 2014

Extracting Cardiac Leads: An Interview with Barry Norlander from Cook Medical

The pacemaker or ICD unit, which is the implanted box or generator i.e. the electrical component of the device that's implanted in the chest, usually lasts between seven to 10 years before the generator’s battery is depleted.

From COOK MEDICAL INC. 2 Sep 2014

Blood pressure self-management suitable for high-risk patients

Patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk can successfully monitor and titrate their own antihypertensive medication, shows research published in JAMA.

1 Sep 2014

‘Concerning’ rise in pneumococcus risk factors

Researchers report that the incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection has fallen significantly in the USA in the past decade but describe a “concerning trend” whereby the baseline health status of those with serious pneumococcal disease has worsened.

1 Sep 2014

Experimental agent TRO40303 ineffective in patients with heart attack

The administration of an experimental agent known as TRO40303 to patients who have had a heart attack, with the hope of preventing tissue damage when impaired blood flow is corrected (reperfusion), was disappointingly ineffective according to results of a European study of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presented today as a Hot Line the ESC Congress 2014 with simultaneous publication in the European Heart Journal.

1 Sep 2014

Alirocumab drug significantly improves cholesterol levels compared to ezetimibe

The investigational drug alirocumab significantly improved cholesterol levels compared to ezetimibe, when added to regular statin therapy in patients with high cholesterol and elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the ODYSSEY COMBO II trial, presented as a Hot Line today at ESC Congress 2014.

1 Sep 2014

Serelaxin reduces occurrence of in-hospital worsening heart failure

Serelaxin reduces the occurrence of in-hospital worsening heart failure by almost half in patients admitted for acute heart failure, according to the RELAX-AHF trial. The results were presented for the first time today at ESC Congress by co-principal investigator Professor John R. Teerlink.

1 Sep 2014

New polypill increases adherence to treatment following myocardial infarction

A new polypill increases adherence to treatment following a myocardial infarction (MI), according to results from the FOCUS Study presented for the first time at ESC Congress 2014 today by principal investigator Dr Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart in New York, US.

1 Sep 2014

'Good' cholesterol turns 'bad' by sugar-derived substance

Scientists at the University of Warwick have discovered that 'good' cholesterol is turned 'bad' by a sugar-derived substance.

1 Sep 2014

Obese boys are at 6 fold increased risk of hypertension compared to normal weight boys

Obese youths have a nearly six fold risk of hypertension, according to research in more than 22 000 young people from the PEP Family Heart Study presented at ESC Congress today by Professor Peter Schwandt from Germany.

1 Sep 2014

Study for better understanding of neural circuitry and dynamic mechanisms controlling memory

A study just published in the prestigious Nature Neuroscience journal by, Sylvain Williams, PhD, and his team, of the Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University, opens the door towards better understanding of the neural circuitry and dynamic mechanisms controlling memory as well of the role of an essential element of the hippocampus - a sub-region named the subiculum.

1 Sep 2014

Nutritional expertise helps enhance menus of prestigious care provider

Nutritional expertise at Northumbria University, Newcastle has helped enhance the menus of a prestigious care provider.

1 Sep 2014

Morbidity, mortality of AF patients remains high at 1 year even with good use of oral anticoagulants

Mortality and morbidity of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains high at one year despite good use of oral anticoagulants, according to the one year follow up of the Atrial Fibrillation General Pilot Registry.

1 Sep 2014

Measuring coronary artery blockage in heart attack patients can help avoid surgery

A method for measuring coronary artery blockage in heart attack patients can help more than one fifth of them avoid stents or surgery, according to a British study presented at the ESC Congress 2014 today.

1 Sep 2014

Darapladib drug fails to reduce risk of recurrent major coronary events

In patients who experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event (such as heart attack or unstable angina), use of the drug darapladib to inhibit the enzyme lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (believed to play a role in the development of atherosclerosis) did not reduce the risk of recurrent major coronary events, according to a study published by JAMA.

1 Sep 2014

Researcher presents new batteryless cardiac pacemaker based on automatic wristwatch

A new batteryless cardiac pacemaker based on an automatic wristwatch and powered by heart motion was presented at ESC Congress 2014 today by Adrian Zurbuchen from Switzerland. The prototype device does not require battery replacement.

1 Sep 2014

Combination of moderate wine drinking plus regular exercise protects against CVD

Wine only protects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people who exercise, according to results from the In Vino Veritas (IVV) study presented at ESC Congress today by Professor Milos Taborsky from the Czech Republic.

1 Sep 2014

Complete revascularisation leads to better outcomes in patients with heart attack

In patients being treated for heart attack, complete revascularisation of all significantly blocked arteries leads to better outcomes compared to a strategy of unblocking just the "culprit" artery responsible for the heart attack, according to a new study presented today at ESC Congress 2014.

1 Sep 2014