News tagged with 'Heart Attack'

A newly released study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests radiation from a high-tech CT heart scan can increase cancer risk. And many radiologists don't employ enough protective measure to reduce exposure to radiation.

How hard is it to quit the most highly addictive drug nicotine?  The Today Show is partnering with the American Legacy Foundation to produce a series on quitting smoking. Joe and Maurice are hooked up in a lab to see exactly what they inhale when they smoke.

Today the FDA notified healthcare professionals that Plavix, (clopidogrel bisulfate) is less effective in preventing blood clots in some patients than others and it will try and determine whether the differences are due to genetic factors or mixing Plavix with other drugs. The news comes after studies found that the blockbuster drug had mixed reviews on effectiveness.

Heart disease is still the leading killer in the U.S., but first time heart attacks are becoming less severe and more survivable than in the past, according to this long-running survey from several rural areas in the U.S. Better preventive measure and improved hospital care may be the reason.

"Eat This and Not That," is a new book that teaches grocery store shoppers to make better choices by reading labels. Slight alterntions to the typical American diet with foods available in the grocery store, can translate to weight loss, the authors say. 

Implementing smoke free laws in public places in Pueblo, Colorado, appeared to cut down on the number of hospitalizations for everyone by 41 percent, according to a study by the CDC. The findings echo similar results in other cities.

Obesity is considered a risk factor for a variety of ills, so choosing a diet plan from this Top 10 Healthiest Diets list might make weight loss a bit more pleasant as well as effective.    

Researchers have long known that lack of sleep is bad for your health. Now a new study suggests an extra hour of sleep each night may lower the risk of developing calcium deposits in the arteries, a precursor to heart disease.

New analysis of a large federal study suggests menopause hormones taken for five years doubles the risk of breast cancer, revealing compelling findings of the dangers associated with these still-popular pills.

A British analysis finds Avandia and Actos, widely prescribed for type 32 diabetes, doubles the risk of fractures in women (not men). The drugs have already been in the news because of concerns about the risk for heart failure. Women should consider other options, says researchers. 

The gender bias continues in the treatment of heart attack patients rushed to the ER. The quality of your care may depend on your gender this Baylor College of Medicine study finds.  Women with severe symptoms are nearly twice as likely as men to die within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. 

Who knew the "Sunshine Vitamin" could do so much?   The latest findings link a deficiency of vitamin D to the risk of heart attack and stroke. Half of adults, and at least 30 percent of children are deficient in this vitamin that is so easy and inexpensive to acquire. 

Cardiac patients who are depressed are less likely to exercise, which increases their risk of a cardiac event such as a heart attack or stroke, a new study in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests.

A neck ultrasound to examine the carotid arteries can help to identify people at the higher end of a low risk range for heart disease, according to new research presented at the the American Heart Association’s annual meeting.

Using the power of the heart beat, energy may be used to supplement the power needed for pacemakers and defibrillators, reducing or even eliminating the need to replace the batteries. Initial tests on a pig have been successful it's revealed at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.