american heart association

Low-dose ‘pill’ may have less stroke risk for young women

Newer, low-dose birth control pills seem to carry less stroke risk than high-dose pills for young women, but should be prescribed with care, according to an Australian study published in today’s rapid access issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. The oral contraceptive pill (OCP) was introduced in the 1960s and, nearly simultaneously, researchers raised the possibility that it might induce stroke, says lead author Sasitorn Siritho, M.D. She conducted the study while a visiting research fellow at the National Stroke Research Institute, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre in West Heidelberg, Australia.

Japanese kids gaining body fat, heart risks like Western counterparts

Japanese children are getting fatter – thus increasing their heart disease risk, researchers report today at the American Heart Association’s Second Annual Asia-Pacific Forum. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta showed that an increase in body fat is linked to a rise in cholesterol levels – which is occurring in both U.S. and Japanese children. Historically, children in Japan have been leaner than their Western counterparts.

An enzyme puts the ‘good’ in good cholesterol

An oxidation-fighting enzyme called paraoxonase (PON1) can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, according to research reported in today’s rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The enzyme attaches itself to high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is known as “good” cholesterol. When PON1 is highly active, the risk for heart attack is cut by 43 percent, says study author Michael Mackness, Ph.D., of the University Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Trio of trouble: Infection, autoimmunity & inflammation gang up on heart

Chronic infections, autoimmune conditions and inflammation work together to increase the risk of heart disease, according to the first study to examine a possible relationship between the three conditions and the development of heart attacks. It’s reported in today’s rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

New blood pressure guidelines say start early, treat aggressively

New recommendations for tighter control of high blood pressure may drastically reduce the number of individuals who die each year from hypertension-related illnesses, according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VII).

Gene therapy during angioplasty improves blood flow

In the first study of its kind, researchers show that gene therapy given during angioplasty is safe and improves blood flow to the heart muscle more than angioplasty alone, according to a report in a recent rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The trial is the first to transfer copies of the gene for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the arteries of heart patients during angioplasty. It’s also the first human study that compared two different approaches to inserting the gene into heart cells.

Sesame oil helps reduce dose of blood pressure-lowering medicine

Cooking with sesame oil in place of other edible oils appears to help reduce high blood pressure and lower the amount of medication needed to control hypertension, researchers reported today at the XVth Scientific Meeting of the Inter-American Society of Hypertension. The meeting is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association’s Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

Depression may worsen high blood pressure

Depressed people with high blood pressure are less likely to have their blood pressure under control than those who are not depressed, researchers reported today at the XVth Scientific Meeting of the Inter-American Society of Hypertension, which is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association’s Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

Sudden death not surprising in many women

Most women who die from an abrupt loss of heart function (called sudden cardiac death) have no prior history of heart disease. However, 94 percent of these women have at least one cardiac risk factor such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity, according to a report in today’s rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.