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Hatha yoga introduced to individuals with hypertension appears to lower blood pressure, and while the reductions in blood pressure aren't earth-shattering, they might just be enough to avoid starting antihypertensive medications, say researchers.
New data from the Symplicity HTN-2 study confirm the long-term efficacy of renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension. At 30 months, there was a sustained reduction in systolic blood pressure, but researchers say this is only the beginning in terms of understanding the potential of the procedure.
It calls for a reappraisal of health recommendations that focus on cutting saturated-fat intake levels, as "mechanisms for adverse health effects are lacking."
A new analysis of BARBER-1 suggests that physician inertia might be the reason African American men failed to reduce their blood pressure lower than hoped.
If you don't use it, you're going to lose it—the old chestnut is supported by a new VA Medical Center study showing that fit elderly patients with hypertension had a lower risk of death than those with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness.
Earlier this week, the Institute of Medicine stirred up controversy when it stated the data are insufficient to recommend lowering sodium levels beyond 2300 mg per day. The AHA came out against the IOM report, but hypertension experts heartwire spoke with say the recommendations are right on the money.
Citing a lack of evidence linking lower sodium targets to a reduction in hard events, the IOM concludes that while Americans are consuming more sodium than required for health, the low limits set for certain high-risk groups are not supported by current evidence. The AHA respectfully disagrees.
The data suggest that owning a dog increases physical activity, but there are also good data on pets decreasing mental stress and decreasing blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
Hormone therapy given to transsexuals during gender reassignment appears to be associated with a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease in men who subsequently become women.
A new study published today showed that while the sodium content of processed foods declined from 2005 to 2011, the overall reduction was just 3.5%. Restaurants, on the other hand, fared even worse, with researchers reporting that sodium levels actually increased by 2.6% over the same six-year period.
N-3 fatty-acid supplementation had no effect on the study's primary end point in this group of patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerotic disease, but no previous MI. Researchers also saw no effects on the rate of death from coronary causes or sudden death from cardiac causes or major ventricular arrhythmias.
One of the Lancet papers reviews the successes, failures, and ongoing challenges in beating back the "global tobacco epidemic," including a report from FDA scientists touting the impact of the 2009 Tobacco Control Act in the US.
Current eligibility criteria for gastric bypass and other bariatric surgeries mean it isn't offered to many patients for whom it might provide remission from diabetes, say researchers presenting at the PDMS sessions.
In a lighthearted debate on whether everyone needs more vitamin D, endocrinologists here agreed, at least, that there are specific groups of people in whom sufficient vitamin D is mandatory.
Experts who commented on the study, conducted by Canadian naturopathic physicians, said cardiologists should keep their minds open to whatever strategies might help patients do better at reducing their risk of future events.
Salaries for US cardiologists climbed in 2012, making them the second-highest paid specialty, according to the 2013 Medscape Physician Compensation Report. Some intriguing new numbers suggest changes to healthcare delivery in the US may be influencing income.
Drinking a can of sugary soda a day can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 22%. This latest rigorous research from Europe corroborates the findings of numerous other studies, say scientists.
Experience at a single busy center over a recent four-year period suggested one-fourth of patients are cured of diabetes. But there are limitations on the definition of "cure," and that's only one way diabetes-management-response terminology isn't straightforward.
More than half of patients reported not filling their statin prescriptions because of concerns about side effects, while two out of every three patients expressed general concerns about taking the lipid-lowering medication. A majority of patients also decided to try making changes to their lifestyle before filling the prescription at the pharmacy.
From the group that recently demonstrated links between dietary carnitine, gut bacteria, and atherosclerosis comes a study with analogous findings on a different molecule found in meat and eggs and a graphic demonstration that gut flora participate in human metabolism.
The AHA is predicting that more than eight million Americans will have heart failure by 2030 and that the total direct costs associated with the disease will rise from $21 billion in 2012 to $70 billion in 2030.
One CDC doctor has given his support to a new initiative from the American Medical Association to help prevent cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, calling it "a big endorsement."
Drs. Ezekowitz, Halperin, Becker, Eikelboom, and Lip discuss data regarding antithrombotic therapy for patients with nonvalvular AF, including issues of bleeding risk, dosing, and renal function.