(THEPALMER/E+, Getty Images) Young American Indians with early signs of plaque in their arteries may be especially vulnerable to heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions later in life, according to new research that calls for earlier interventions. Atherosclerosis is a common and potentially dangerous condition because it reduces blood flow wherever plaque develops, be…
(Ebrahim Alshawy/EyeEm, Getty Images) Acrolein, crotonaldehyde and styrene, compounds found in everything from cigarette smoke to plastics, were associated with higher blood pressure measurements for both the top, systolic, and bottom, diastolic, numbers. “Acrolein is a well-known cardiotoxic chemical, and styrene had a causative signal with diastolic blood pressure,” said lead researcher Katlyn E. McGraw,…
(recep-bg/E+, Getty Images) Young Asian women with diabetes, obesity or polycystic ovary syndrome may be more likely to have high blood pressure than their peers without those conditions, according to new research that calls for increased medical attention in this population. Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension, including 46% of…
(Oksana Smith/EyeEm, Getty Images) At a time of increasing legalization of marijuana, a growing number of people under 50 diagnosed with cannabis use disorder were later hospitalized for a heart attack, new research has found. The rising trend from 2007 to 2018 was most pronounced in three groups: ages 18 to 34, men and African…
(Obencem/iStock, Getty Images) Two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may help improve brain function in older adults who have a type of heart disease known to put people at risk for cognitive decline. A new study found that DHA and EPA, given in a combined supplement at prescription levels, improved cognitive function in…
(FatCamera/E+, Getty Images) Lifestyle change is a powerful, proven way for a person to prevent heart disease. But to make healthy changes stick, people often need a little help. Primary care doctors could offer crucial assistance in connecting patients with counseling that’s been shown to make a difference. But because of time constraints or other…
(kali9/E+, Getty Images) A COVID-19 vaccine has finally arrived for children ages 5 to 11 – and with it, some important questions from parents. Many are wondering about safety, said Dr. Donna Curtis, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. Others are asking whether the coronavirus is enough of a threat…
Four-year-old congenital heart defect survivor Molly Tittsworth (right) with her big brother, McCoy. (Photo by R. Dodson Photography) When 4-year-old McCoy Tittsworth met his sister, Molly, hours after she was born, he held her swaddled body and kissed her on the cheek. She was the little sister he’d prayed to have. A day later, while…
(lemono/iStock, Getty Images) Lea en español When then-college student Lumiere Rostick learned their grandfather, who had dementia, needed help, Rostick volunteered to move in with him. Rostick, whose pronouns are they/them/their, worked on remote college classes and in between helped their grandmother clean and cook, as well as feed, dress and change their grandfather –…