Cardiovascular events, of course, include heart attack, stroke or death due to diseased heart and blood vessels.
Researchers from the US looked for evidence of benefit from Ginkgo biloba. Continue reading Does Ginkgo reduce cardiovascular events?
Category Archives: Heart Disease
Hydrotherapy + endurance training in elderly patients with heart failure
Researchers at IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, in Italy report the combination is better than endurance training alone. Continue reading Hydrotherapy + endurance training in elderly patients with heart failure
Cold therapy to manage cough pain after heart surgery
Coughing is the most painful experience following heart surgery.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa, in Canada used cold therapy to help manage sternal incisional pain. Continue reading Cold therapy to manage cough pain after heart surgery
Benefits of yoga for lowering blood pressure in cardiac-rehab pateints
Just don’t call it yoga!
Klinik Roderbirken der Deutschen Rentenversicherung, in Germany reported their findings during the EuroPREVENT 2010 meeting. Continue reading Benefits of yoga for lowering blood pressure in cardiac-rehab pateints
B vitamins to treat diabetic kidney disease?
Hyperhomocysteinemia (high blood levels of homocysteine) increases the risk of blood vessel complications in people with diabetes. Supplementation with B vitamins (pyridoxine, folic acid, B12) reduces these levels.
Researchers in Canada report the results of the (Diabetic Intervention with Vitamins to Improve Nephropathy [DIVINe]) study, which was designed to determine whether B-vitamin therapy might slow progression of diabetic kidney disease and prevent vascular complications. Continue reading B vitamins to treat diabetic kidney disease?
Long-term benefits of exercise during pregnancy
Compared with women who stop weight-bearing exercising during pregnancy, women who exercise are more likely to continue their exercise routine afterward and enjoy the benefits of better cardiovascular health, according to researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio. Continue reading Long-term benefits of exercise during pregnancy
Value of a cholesterol-lowering diet for hypercholesterolemia
A cholesterol-lowering diet has been suggested as a management approach — independently or in addition to drug therapy — in children and adults with familial (passed down through families) high cholesterol blood levels.
Researchers from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, in Chandigarh, India, provide this Cochrane review of the evidence. Continue reading Value of a cholesterol-lowering diet for hypercholesterolemia
Inactivity is bad for patients with heart disease
Abe Gubegna the Ethiopian novelist wrote, “It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running.”
Now, researchers from California and Germany report that in patients with heart disease, there’s an increased risk of heart-related complications in people who are physically inactive as a result of being depressed. Continue reading Inactivity is bad for patients with heart disease
Vitamin D and the metabolic syndrome in adults
Researchers from China and the UK studied a group of Chinese people. Continue reading Vitamin D and the metabolic syndrome in adults
Risk of taking herbals in people with heart disease
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona collaborated to review the risks of herbal:drug interactions.
The abstract is a bit skimpy on details, but the American Pharmaceutical Association has a nice summary, which will be summarized further here. Continue reading Risk of taking herbals in people with heart disease
Functional foods and cardiovascular risk
Researchers from the University of Milano, Italy, list what we know. Continue reading Functional foods and cardiovascular risk
Does soy lower the risk of chronic disease?
Epidemiological studies suggest that soy might be associated with a lower risk of certain chronic diseases. This has lead health regulatory agencies worldwide to approve food-labeling health claim for soy proteins.
Dr. Chao Wu Xiao at the University of Ottawa in Canada finds the data lacking. Continue reading Does soy lower the risk of chronic disease?
Vitamin D and the risk of heart disease
Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, looked at Vitamin D levels and found that about two-thirds of patients had low levels.
And, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to results presented during the 59th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology. Continue reading Vitamin D and the risk of heart disease
Vitamin D of no benefit in older patients with heart failure?
Researchers from Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, United Kingdom report no benefit from vitamin D in their patients. Continue reading Vitamin D of no benefit in older patients with heart failure?
Reviewing the omega-3 evidence
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio have reviewed what we know about the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on triglyceride levels and in preventing arrhythmias, reducing inflammation, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and lowering blood pressure. Continue reading Reviewing the omega-3 evidence
Homeopathic A. montana + B. albain in aortic valve surgery
Arnica montana and other homoeopathic extracts have been used to control inflammation, swelling, and blood loss, with controversial result, say researchers from Université de Lyon, in France.
They are the first to study A. montana + Bryonia albain (for irritability and aches) in cardiac surgery, which is often followed by blood loss and involves substantial systemic inflammation. Continue reading Homeopathic A. montana + B. albain in aortic valve surgery
The Training and Cimicifuega racemosa Erlangen study
Researchers from the University of Erlangen, in Germany studied the effect of adding black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) to exercise.
They were looking for evidence of greater benefit with black cohosh over exercise alone in bone mineral density and coronary heart disease risk during early post menopause. Continue reading The Training and Cimicifuega racemosa Erlangen study
Relaxation and Mozart lower blood pressure
But are the patients healthier?
Here are results from a study presented during the 2008 American Heart Association’s Fall Conference for High Blood Pressure Research.
Music therapy: Does it matter if you like what you hear?
Researchers from Italy and the UK report that different music selections have similar cardiovascular effects, regardless of a person’s music preferences and training.
This has implications for treating blood pressure and rehabilitation. Continue reading Music therapy: Does it matter if you like what you hear?
Using Tai Chi to improve sleep in older adults
Researchers from the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology in Los Angeles report tai chi chih improves sleep quality in older adults. Continue reading Using Tai Chi to improve sleep in older adults