Handgrip strength is a tool used by researchers to estimate an individual’s overall fitness level. A study that reviewed health records of over 3,000 middle-aged and older adults identified an association between reduced grip strength and greater … [Read more...]
Many Women Are Unaware of Heart Attack Risk
The American Heart Association reports that, between 2009 and 2017, the percentage of women who knew that heart disease was the top killer of women fell from 65% to 44%. Circulation, September 2020 … [Read more...]
New Advice Regarding Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Individuals with a genetic predisposition for elevated low-density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol) levels have traditionally been instructed to reduce their consumption of saturated fats to lower their risk for heart disease. However, a team of … [Read more...]
Metabolic Syndrome May Raise Odds of Recurring Blood Clots
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—obesity, high blood pressure, problematic cholesterol, impaired metabolic function, and excessive waist circumference—that occur together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 … [Read more...]
Stay in School!
An analysis of data gathered between 1971 and 2012 concerning more than 75,000 people found that failure to complete high school is associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Study author Dr. Rita Hamad adds, “Overall, people with more … [Read more...]
Evidence Lacking for Statin Use in Healthy Seniors?
In this study, researchers analyzed data concerning nearly 47,000 elderly adults with no history of heart disease and found that statins were not associated with a reduced risk of heart disease or death from any cause in healthy people in this age … [Read more...]
Nearly 1.5 Billion Adults Worldwide Face Disease Because of Inactivity
Living a sedentary lifestyle has put more than one-quarter of adults worldwide at risk for serious disease. Current guidelines call for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity … [Read more...]
Duration of Obesity Linked to Heart Disease Risk
An analysis of health data regarding over 9,000 adults found that the longer an individual was overweight or obese, the more likely they were to test positive for a protein called troponin that is released when heart muscle has been damaged, such as … [Read more...]
Waistline May Predict Heart Disease
A new study involving diabetic patients suggests that an increasing waist size is a stronger predictor of serious heart disease than either body weight or body mass index. Researchers evaluated the heart function of study participants and found that … [Read more...]
Kidney Stones Increase Risk of Heart Disease
A new study suggests that kidney stones can increase an individual's risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. The results of the study found that patients with kidney stones have a 19% increased risk for coronary heart disease and a 40% higher … [Read more...]
Eat More Fruit to Reduce Heart Disease Risk
A study including 450,000 participants in China revealed that eating fruit every day lowers an individual's risk for cardiovascular problems by up to 40%. The authors recommend adding fruit to your cereal, keeping an apple with you for a snack, or … [Read more...]
Exercise Crucial for Women’s Heart Health
Lack of physical activity appears to be the strongest indicator of a woman's risk for heart disease, even more so than smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist and medical director of the Women's Heart Program at … [Read more...]
Health Alert: Less Salt, More Potassium
Reducing salt intake can lower blood pressure, which ultimately reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Results show that four or more weeks of modest salt reduction leads to notable decreases in blood pressure. Increased potassium intake was … [Read more...]
Diet: Heart Disease and Red Meat
Carnitine, a compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks, has been found to promote atherosclerosis (hardening or clogging of arteries). Nature Medicine, April 2013 … [Read more...]