Midday naps associated with reduced blood pressure and fewer medications

Posted: 31 Aug 2015 12:00 AM PDT

Midday naps are associated with reduced blood pressure levels and prescription of fewer antihypertensive medications, according to research presented at ESC Congress by Dr Manolis Kallistratos, a cardiologist at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens, Greece. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the effect of midday sleep on blood pressure (BP) levels in hypertensive patients.

Trans fats, but not saturated fats, linked to greater risk of death and heart disease

Posted: 12 Aug 2015 12:00 AM PDT

A study led by researchers at McMaster University has found that that trans fats are associated with greater risk of death and coronary heart disease, but saturated fats are not associated with an increased risk of death, heart disease, stroke, or Type 2 diabetes. The findings were published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Vitamin C related to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and early death

Posted: 07 Jul 2015 02:00 AM PDT

New research from the University of Copenhagen and Herlev and Gentofte Hospital shows that high vitamin C concentrations in the blood from the intake of fruit and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and early death. Fruit and vegetables are healthy. We all know that. And now there is yet another good reason for eating lots of it.

Nut consumption associated with reduced risk of some types of cancer

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 05:00 AM PDT

Cancer and type 2 diabetes are two of the most significant public health burdens facing the world today, and currently available data suggests their prevalence is expected to continue to increase. Nut consumption has long been hypothesized to have a role in preventing both of these diseases, but until now evidence has been inconsistent.

Bacteria may cause type 2 diabetes

Posted: 02 Jun 2015 02:00 AM PDT

Bacteria and viruses have an obvious role in causing infectious diseases, but microbes have also been identified as the surprising cause of other illnesses, including cervical cancer (Human papilloma virus) and stomach ulcers (H. pylori bacteria). A new study by University of Iowa microbiologists now suggests that bacteria may even be a cause of one of the most prevalent diseases of our time - Type 2 diabetes.

Caffeine intake associated with reduced levels of erectile dysfunction

Posted: 19 May 2015 11:00 PM PDT

Men who drink the equivalent caffeine level of two to three cups of coffee a day are less likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED), according to researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). The results of a study published recently in PLOS ONE found that men who consumed between 85 and 170 milligrams of caffeine a day were 42 percent less likely to report ED,

Scientists find new link between diabetes and Alzheimer's

Posted: 05 May 2015 12:00 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered a unique connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, providing further evidence that a disease that robs people of their memories may be affected by elevated blood sugar, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

United States first country to launch Saxenda®

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:00 AM PDT

Novo Nordisk today announced that Saxenda® (liraglutide 3 mg) is now available in the United States (US). Saxenda® is the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for weight management, approved in the US, EU and Canada.

Researchers question use of paracetamol for lower back pain and osteoarthritis

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 02:00 AM PDT

New research shows that paracetamol is ineffective in reducing pain, disability or improving quality of life for patients who suffer from low back pain or osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, and its use may affect the liver. The study published in the British Medical Journal provides new evidence that paracetamol is no better at treating low back pain than a placebo and its effect on osteoarthritis of the hip or knee is too small to be clinically worthwhile.

Hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women: Does it help or harm your heart?

Posted: 10 Mar 2015 02:00 AM PDT

New evidence published today in the Cochrane Library shows that hormone replacement therapy does not protect post-menopausal women against cardiovascular disease, and may even cause an increased risk of stroke. HRT, now more commonly known as hormone therapy, is widely used for controlling menopausal symptoms. It has also been used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women.

Safety and life-saving efficacy of statins have been exaggerated

Posted: 23 Feb 2015 04:00 AM PST

Hailed as miracle drugs when they hit the market two decades ago, statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to prevent heart attacks, are not as effective nor as safe as we have been led to believe, say Dr. David M. Diamond, a professor of psychology, molecular pharmacology and physiology at the University of South Florida, and Dr. Uffe Ravnskov, an independent health researcher and an expert in cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Short-term use of hormone replacement therapy associated with increased ovarian cancer risk

Posted: 12 Feb 2015 11:00 PM PST

Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the menopause, even for just a few years, is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing the two most common types of ovarian cancer, according to a detailed re-analysis of all the available evidence, published in The Lancet.

Another reason to drink wine: It could help you burn fat

Posted: 06 Feb 2015 01:00 AM PST

Drinking red grape juice or wine - in moderation - could improve the health of overweight people by helping them burn fat better, according to a new study coauthored by an Oregon State University researcher. The findings suggest that consuming dark-colored grapes, whether eating them or drinking juice or wine, might help people better manage obesity and related metabolic disorders such as fatty liver.

Add nature, art and religion to life's best anti-inflammatories

Posted: 04 Feb 2015 04:00 AM PST

Taking in such spine-tingling wonders as the Grand Canyon, Sistine Chapel ceiling or Schubert's "Ave Maria" may give a boost to the body's defense system, according to new research from UC Berkeley. Researchers have linked positive emotions - especially the awe we feel when touched by the beauty of nature, art and spirituality - with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that signal the immune system to work harder.

Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives is associated with an increased risk of brain tumors

Posted: 22 Jan 2015 01:00 AM PST

Taking a hormonal contraceptive for at least five years is associated with a possible increase in a young woman's risk of developing a rare tumour, glioma of the brain. This project focussed on women aged 15-49 years and the findings are published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is linked to reduced risk of heart failure

Posted: 20 Jan 2015 01:00 AM PST

Evidence already exists for the beneficial effects of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol on the risk of developing a number of heart conditions; however, the role it plays in the risk of developing heart failure has been under-researched with conflicting results. Now, a large study of nearly 15,000 men and women, published online in the European Heart Journal, shows that drinking up to seven drinks a week in early to middle age is associated with a 20% lower risk of men developing heart failure in the future when compared to people who did not drink at all, and a more modest 16% reduced risk for women.

Vitamin D protects against colorectal cancer by boosting the immune system

Posted: 19 Jan 2015 01:00 AM PST

A new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators demonstrates that vitamin D can protect some people with colorectal cancer by perking up the immune system's vigilance against tumor cells. The research, published by the journal Gut, represents the first time that a link between vitamin D and the immune response to cancer has been shown in a large human population.

An avocado a day keeps the cardiologist away

Posted: 07 Jan 2015 11:00 PM PST

Adding an avocado to your daily diet may help lower bad cholesterol, in turn reducing risk for heart disease, according to health researchers. Avocados are known to be a nutrient-dense food, high in monounsaturated fatty acids. Previous studies have suggested that avocados are a cholesterol-lowering food, but this is the first study - to the researchers' knowledge - to look at health implications of avocados beyond monounsaturated fatty acids.

Blueberries: Small fruit delivers big reward

Posted: 09 Jan 2015 01:00 AM PST

Thinking about topping your morning cereal with a cup of blueberries? Just one cup of blueberries per day could be the key to reducing blood pressure and arterial stiffness, both of which are associated with cardiovascular disease. "Our findings suggest that regular consumption of blueberries could potentially delay the progression of prehypertension to hypertension, therefore reducing cardiovascular disease risk,"

Researchers dispute warning that drugs for high cholesterol could impair memory, cognitive function

Posted: 13 Jan 2015 02:00 AM PST

Researchers question whether there is substance to the US Food and Drug Agency's recent warning that statins could affect the memory, attention span and other cognitive abilities of people who take this drug to control high cholesterol. This follows a systematic review of 25 clinical trials incorporating nearly 47,000 people.