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Women With Depression At Risk For Osteoporosis
A study from the National Institute of Mental Health has found that women who suffer from depression are more likely to enter menopause with an increased risk of bone fractures. Researchers report that 17% of women with depression had decreased bone mass in the femoral neck, compared to 2% of women who did not have depression. Additionally, low bone mass in the lumbar spine was found in 20% of depressed women, compared to 9% who were not depressed. The researchers theorized that women with depression have overactive immune systems that produce a chemical known as IL-6. This chemical is associated with bone loss as well as promoting inflammation. During adolescence, bone mass reaches its peak and begins to decline through the rest of life, thinning at a faster rate after a woman undergoes menopause. (Read more about Women With Depression At Risk For Osteoporosis)
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Restless Legs Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke
A study published in the latest issue of Neurology found that people with restless leg syndrome (RLS) have double the risk of heart disease and stroke. The study included nearly 3,500 community based participants of average age 68 years from the Sleep Heart Health Study. The researchers used information provided by participants through detailed questionnaires to establish who had RLS and who had received a diagnosis for symptoms of angina, myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure to help determine the presence of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease including reports of stroke or heart failure. (Read more about Restless Legs Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke)
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Aspirin Has Little Benefit for Many With Heart Disease
Close to 20 percent of patients taking aspirin to lower the risk of suffering a second cerebrovascular event do not have an anti platelet response from aspirin, the effect expected to be protective. The University of Buffalo conducted a strictly controlled study over 29 months with 653 patients to confirm the 20 percent rate of aspirin resistance. Lead researcher, Francis Gengo, states, "Millions of people use low-dose aspirin for prevention of a second stroke, second heart attack, or second episode of peripheral artery disease. In those indications, it's crystal clear that aspirin reduces the risk of a second heart attack or stroke in most patients. But we have known for years that in some stroke and heart attack patients, aspirin has no preventative effect." (Read more about Aspirin Has Little Benefit for Many With Heart Disease)
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What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Dr. Sattesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses Peripheral Arterial Disease, who is at risk, why it is important to be screened and current treatments. (Read more about What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?)
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What is Carotid Stenosis?
Dr. Sateesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses "What is Carotid Stenosis?", the treatments, who should be screened and future developments, such as new stenting techniques. (Read more about What is Carotid Stenosis?)
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Reducing Stress Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Problems
A Review in The Lancet reveals the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to reduce stressors related to cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore examined records between 1990 to 2006. They observed how stress affects the sympathetic nervous system, impacts physiology, and the effect it has on the cardiovascular system. Lead author, Daniel Brotman, claims "Acute physical stressors such as sugery, trauma, and intense physical exertion are well known triggers of cardiovascular events. Emotional stressors are increasingly recognized as precipitants of such events." (Read more about Reducing Stress Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Problems)
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Research Suggests Ways to Slow Alzheimer's
A new study released at the International Conference on Prevention of Dementia on June 11th suggests that treating other health factors - like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can help slow the onset and severity of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.
This research further links heart and brain health. Cardiovascular problems like heart attacks or stroke may also increase the onset of dementia. Taking positive actions, like treating high blood pressure, exercising, and changing diet can all help reduce dementia. (Read more about Research Suggests Ways to Slow Alzheimer's)
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Women & Heart Centers
“My grandmother died at 67 of heart disease and she was a diabetic, my mother died at 59 from heart disease, my sister who was two years older than me died at 51 from heart disease, my oldest sister who is five years older than me had her first heart attack in 91,” says Cheryl Walters.
Having tragically lost so many loved ones to heart disease, Cheryl Walters refuses to be its next victim. She had a pulling sensation in her chest and was completely fatigued…doctors dismissed her complaints. But, instinctively Cheryl knew something was wrong. She went for a comprehensive heart health check-up at the Women’s Heart Center at St. Joseph’s. (Read more about Women & Heart Centers)
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holiday headaches
But that’s where the question lies: at what point does one really get life-protecting benefit from exercise--beyond the benefits of a better figure? (Read more about holiday headaches)
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ASPIRIN AND ELDERLY CONCERNS
There is a warning out tonight by medical researchers that individuals over the age of 70 need to think twice about using aspirin on a daily basis.
It’s important to realize that as benign as certain drugs. Maybe, and even if they’re available over the counter, there are risks and side effects. This study says that those risks become markedly significant in those over 70…so much so that maybe, it’s not worth it to use it. (Read more about ASPIRIN AND ELDERLY CONCERNS)
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