Happy events can trigger a heart condition known as takotsubo syndrome, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is known as “broken heart syndrome” and is characterised by a sudden temporary weakening of the heart muscles that causes the left ventricle of the heart to balloon out at the […]
Category: Cardiology
Negative news stories about statins are linked to people discontinuing treatment and an increase in heart attacks and early death
Researchers in Denmark have found that negative news stories about statins are linked to some people choosing to discontinue their statin treatment, which, in consequence, is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and dying from heart disease. The study, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1], shows that for every negative […]
New research suggests not all trans fatty acids are bad for you
New evidence suggests that low levels of trans fatty acids (TFAs) may not be as harmful to human health as previously thought, even if industrially produced, and may even be beneficial if they occur naturally in foods such as dairy and meat products, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Artificial […]
New cardiovascular disease death rates show stark inequalities between European countries
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are the most common cause of death in Europe, resulting in over four million deaths a year (45% of all deaths) according to the latest available figures published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Although deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are declining in most of Europe, there are […]
Get up for your heart health and move for your waistline
More time spent standing rather than sitting could improve your blood sugar, fats in the blood and cholesterol levels, according to a new study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study also shows that replacing time spent sitting with time walking could have additional benefits for your waistline and body mass index (BMI). […]
Experts call for ‘all hands on deck’ to tackle global burden of non-communicable disease
A group of some of the world’s top doctors and scientists working in cardiology and preventive medicine have issued a call to action to tackle the global problem of deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart problems, diabetes and cancer, through healthy lifestyle initiatives. They say that identifying the enormous burden caused by NCDs […]
Discovery of new genetic mutation in aortic disease allows better diagnosis and brings personalised medicine a step closer
Glasgow, United Kingdom: Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD), an enlargement or tearing of the walls of the aorta in the chest, is, together with abdominal aortic aneurysms, responsible for about 2% of all deaths in Western countries. The aorta is the largest artery in the body, and carries blood from the heart. About one […]
Endurance athletes should be tested for potentially fatal heart condition while exercising rather than at rest
Some athletes who take part in endurance exercise such as marathon running, endurance triathlons or alpine cycling can develop irregularities in their heartbeats that can, occasionally, lead to their sudden death. Now, new evidence published in the European Heart Journal [1] has shown that doctors who try to detect these heartbeat irregularities (known as arrhythmias) […]
Digoxin increases the risk of death in patients with heart problems, according to the largest study of the evidence so far
There is conflicting evidence about whether digoxin, a drug that has been used worldwide for centuries to treat heart disease, might contribute to an increase in deaths in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or congestive heart failure (CHF). Now, the largest review of all the evidence to date shows that it is associated with an […]
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases the risk of sudden cardiac death
People suffering from the common lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), according to new research published online on Wednesday in the European Heart Journal [1]. When compared with people of the same age and sex who do not have the disease, those with COPD have […]