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In fact, the researchers showed that greater religiosity was associated with obesity. At the present time, however, it is unknown whether the obese are more likely to seek out religion and spirituality or if these activities lead to obesity.
Chicago, IL - Increased religious involvement, including more frequent prayer and meditation, is not associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile or reduced cardiovascular disease events, a new study shows [1]. The findings do not support past studies suggesting better overall health among the more religious and in fact showed that greater religiosity was linked with higher levels of obesity, report investigators.
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Inside: Prevention
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Little success has been realized in achieving target levels for glycemic control, lipids, and blood pressure, as a result the number of patients with diabetes in the U.S. with these risk factors has increased. Drs. Davidson, Blumenthal, and Svec discuss appropriate treatments to guide the physician in the prevention of CVD.
Join Drs. Davidson, Sabatine, Sacks, Chapman, and Foody in an exciting discussion about the advances in genetic markers in assessing cardiovascular risk and targeting therapy.
The following test-and-teach case is an educational activity modeled on the interactive grand rounds approach. The questions within the activity are designed to test your current knowledge. After each question, you will be able to see whether you answered correctly and will then read evidence-based information that supports the most appropriate answer choice. Please note that these questions are designed to challenge you; you will not be penalized for answering the questions incorrectly. At the end of the case, there will be a short post-test assessment based on material covered in the activity.
Genetic findings that affect the course of diseases have been increasing geometrically. Cardiology is one of the specialties that has benefited from recent discoveries. David Danar, MD, Scientific Director, MedscapeCME, interviewed John P. Kane, MS, MD, PhD, about the role of genetics in determining the risk for and management of heart disease.
The treatment options for oral anticoagulation therapy are constantly evolving. Join our expert panel, Drs. Graham Turpie, Jessica L. Mega, Jeffrey Weitz, as they discuss the new data and clinical implications of new anticoagulant medications for patients with ACS
Providing patients with their global coronary heart disease risk appears to improve the accuracy of their risk perception, and repeating risk information improves outcomes slightly, according to a review of 20 studies.
Two doctors from Mozambique are calling for concerted efforts to foster multidisciplinary research into neglected cardiovascular diseases that predominantly occur in Africa. These include newly emerging cardiac manifestations of infectious diseases, say the authors.
UPDATED WITH COMMENTARY // A link between gout and AMI has been previously documented in men: now a new cohort study suggests gout may be even more important as a comorbidity in women.
A study comparing cardiovascular outcomes at the "best hospitals," according to two popular hospital ranking systems, shows that the systems do identify high-quality hospitals, but not all of them.
The number of deaths predicted would be half as high, if the US population met goals set out 10 years ago in the Healthy People 2010 report, researchers say. Obesity and diabetes have proved to be the major obstacles.
More than 15 million people in the US alone take herbal remedies and/or vitamins at doses that may be interacting with their cardiovascular medications, potentially putting them at risk.
Most experts agree that reducing salt intake will cut blood pressure and in turn reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes. But messages to limit the amount of salt added to food have had little impact on sodium intake in the West, as more than 75% of salt in the diet there is contained in readily prepared foods. The UK has recently gotten tough with the food industry and cut salt intake by 10%; is it time the US and others took a similar stance? heartwire examines the issues.
The study is one of the first to compare rates of thin-cap, or vulnerable, plaques in AMI survivors and stable-angina patients, identifying important differences.
This structure could be a source of thrombi and could explain the occurrence of many ischemic strokes, particularly in younger patients, researchers believe.
A new review of the use of beta blockers as second-line therapy for primary hypertension has shown that they appear to lower BP differently from thiazide diuretics, with less of an effect on pulse pressure.
Does seeing the physical damage caused by an unhealthy lifestyle get individuals to change their behavior? Results are mixed, according to researchers, with behavior changing in certain circumstances, such as seeing the arterial damage caused by smoking or the damage to skin caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
The role of lipids in women for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is a challenging issue for all providers. Join Drs. Foody, Mora, and Welty as they discuss limitations to current risk stratification models, recent clinical trial data, and the changing paradigm in the management of lipids in women.
We know there are sex and biological differences in the manifestation of CVD. How do these pathophysiological differences affect the diagnosis and treatment of our female patients? Drs. Hayes, Johnson, Manson, and Piña provide their insight.
Despite increased awareness of CVD in women, contemporary studies demonstrate gender differences in outcomes. Differences in age and comorbidities account for some, but not all of these disparities. Join Dr. Foody as she discusses these issues with Drs. Mieres and Redberg.
Join Dr Robert Califf for a thoughtful and timely interview with Dr Ray Gibbons on the core values he learned in his career in science and medicine and why they are imperative for physicians to keep in mind when contemplating the future of healthcare reform.
AHA president Dr Clyde Yancy and CEO Nancy Brown share insights from the recent sessions and discuss ongoing initiatives with heartwire's Shelley Wood.