Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of suffering prematurely from cardiovascular disease in adulthood, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. In the first study to investigate the long-term health of childhood cancer survivors by means of systematic and comprehensive clinical evaluation of their health in comparison to the […]
Category: Cardiology
Shorter time between first medical contact to restoring blood flow in heart attack patients is linked to saving more lives: experts call for immediate action
Heart experts are calling for immediate action following new research that shows every minute counts for patients who suffer the most severe type of heart attack. The study shows numbers of deaths rise steadily and rapidly the longer the time between patients’ first contact with a medical professional and when they are treated in hospital […]
Blood-thinning drugs appear to protect against dementia as well as stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation
Blood-thinning drugs not only reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) but are also associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia, according to new research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Among 444,106 patients with atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), those who were taking anticoagulant drugs […]
E-cigarettes linked to increased arterial stiffness, blood pressure and heart rate in humans
Milan, Italy: New research has shown for the first time that e-cigarettes with nicotine cause a stiffening of the arteries in humans. This has important implications for the use of e-cigarettes, as arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in later life. Presenting the research at the European Respiratory […]
Researchers identify a common genetic variant linked to muscle pains in statin users
People who have been prescribed statins to lower their cholesterol levels sometimes complain of muscle aches and pains and therefore stop taking their medication in the belief that it is causing their symptoms. This puts them at higher risk of developing diseases of the heart and blood vessels which the statins had been prescribed to […]
Long working hours increases the risk of developing atrial fibrillation
People who work long hours have an increased risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation, according to a study of nearly 85,500 men and women published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study showed that, compared to people who worked a normal week of between 35-40 hours, those who worked […]
Vaccine that lowers cholesterol in mice offers hope of immunising against cardiovascular disease
A vaccine to immunise people against high levels of cholesterol and the narrowing of the arteries caused by build-up of fatty material (atherosclerosis) may be possible following successful results in mice. Now, a phase I trial in patients has started to see if the findings translate to humans. The study, which is published in the […]
Obesity can cause cardiovascular ill-health, even in the young
Copenhagen, Denmark: Higher than normal body mass index (BMI) is known to lead to cardiovascular ill-health in mid-to-late life, but there has been limited investigation of its effect in young, apparently healthy, adults. Researchers have now shown that having a higher BMI can cause worse cardiovascular health in those aged as young as 17, according to […]
Link between alcohol consumption and cardiac arrhythmias found in drinkers at the Munich Octoberfest
Researchers who studied beer drinkers at the Munich Octoberfest have found that the more alcohol consumed the higher was the likelihood of developing abnormal heart rhythms called cardiac arrhythmias. The research, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1], is the first study to investigate the link between acute alcohol consumption and cardiac arrhythmias […]
Cardiac arrest patients do better if taken immediately to a specialist heart centre – regardless of how far away it is
People who suffer cardiac arrest outside of hospital have a better chance of survival if they are taken immediately to a specialist heart centre rather than to the nearest general hospital, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study found that distance needed to travel to a specialist heart centre was […]