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Monday, May 11, 2009
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Sleep Apnea may be Linked to Heart Disease
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Sleep apnea may be causing blood vessels to thicken which can cause heart
disease. In general people with sleep apnea the viciously obstructive
sleeping disorder has bothered many people alongside the possibility of
inducing vascular and coronary ailments. One in every 50 women and one in
every 25 men is said to have sleep apnea, and this research done by Emory
University has been published *American Journal of Respiratory Cell and
Molecular Biology.*
According to Science Daily, "Cyclically depriving mice of oxygen –
researchers call this "chronic intermittent hypoxia" -- in a way that
simulates obstructive sleep apnea gives them pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension, which can be life threatening, is a condition in
which the right side of the heart has trouble pumping blood because of
resistance in the lung's blood vessels."
Physicians have urged high-risk heart disease patients to get yearly scans
of their heart for early detection and prevention, and now patients with
sleep apnea may find it a wise decision to also get heart scans.
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Friday, May 08, 2009
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Aspirin, Apples and Heart Disease
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We've all heard an apple a day can keep the doctor away, but what about an
aspirin a day? For years now cardiologists and researchers have promulgated
the use of aspirin to prevent heart disease, but is the touted pill really a
wonder for prevention? Aspirin is an anti-platelet drug that aids in blood
circulation and allows blood to move smoothly without clotting through
narrow veins.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force said in a panel discussion
according to the National Post, "Men in the 45-to-79 age range should take
Aspirin daily if their 10-year risk of suffering a heart attack exceeds
four, nine or 12%, depending on whether they are 45 to 59, 60 to 69 or 70 to
79 years old, respectively. Women age 55 to 79 should take Aspirin on a
regular basis for stroke prevention if that 10-year risk exceeds the risk of
bleeding from the digestive tract, or is greater than three, eight or 11%,
depending on whether they are 55 to 59, 60 to 69 or 70 to 79 years old,
respectively."
Alongside the use of Aspirin many have urged high risk patients to have
regular heart scans to prevent cardiovascular disease and heart attack. Both
initiatives should be taken on by your physician however.
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
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Colon Cancer and Body Fat
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Clearly we are all aware of the adverse and detrimental health affects of
being over-weight, yet so many of us still fall victim to over-indulgence
and massive weight gain. Researchers in Michigan State University may have
found yet another side-effect of body fat. The studies done show a link
between fat and colon cancer. Fat has always been considered a huge risk
factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many other ailments, so it's
almost no surprise researchers have found yet another dangerous link.
Natural News reported on the research, "A fat cell-derived hormone that
helps regulate body energy, leptin is higher in obese individuals. Dr.
Fenton's study, just published in the journal *Carcinogenesis* is the first
to demonstrate that leptin, when at high levels, induces precancerous colon
cells to produce more of a growth factor. This growth factor, in turn, can
increase blood supply to early malignant cells -- and that promotes the
growth and spread of cancerous tumors."
Each year hundreds of thousands of people in the US are diagnosed with colon
cancer. Doctors hope that such research can aid in prevention, early
detection and force many high risk patients to get year virtual
colonoscopies.
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
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Kidney Stones and Heart Disease
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A study has found evidence that older women with kidney stones may have
increased chances of developing cardiovascular disease. The physicians
found that cardiovascular disease was far more prevalent in women with
kidney stones.
Medpage Today reported on this research, "Myocardial infarction, angina, and
congestive heart failure all occurred significantly more often in women with
a history of nephrolithiasis, Brian Eisner, M.D., of the University of
California San Francisco, reported at the American Urological Association
meeting. "Historically, it has been assumed that kidney stones form in the
urine," said Dr. Eisner. "We now realize there are a lot of different
disease processes that may have a common pathway with kidney stone disease."
Patients at high risk, those of which in this case have kidney stones and
are older women, should be ones getting regular annual heart scan checks to
assure they are tackling early detection and prevention methods.
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
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Women and Lung Cancer
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Recent research has been conducted on lung cancer patients, a link between
women and lung cancer was detected in the evidence. The study said there is
a chance that women develop lung cancer at an earlier age than men; that
women are more susceptible and vulnerable to the debilitating disease.
The UKs Daily Mail reported on the study, "Research into patients with the
disease found women tended to be diagnosed at a younger age than men - even
though they had smoked fewer cigarettes. It found that female smokers were
statistically most likely to develop adenocarcinoma - a common form of lung
cancer - and were more likely to be diagnosed with the disease at an earlier
age. Study leader Dr Martin Frueh, from St Gallen Canton Hospital in
Switzerland, said: 'Our findings suggest that women may have an increased
susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens.'"
The research was presented just yesterday in Europe at an Oncology
conference. Women are often times more aware of the dangers associated with
breast cancer, and tend to think lung cancer is a man's disease. Which now
we can see is not a wise choice; high risk patients of any gender should be
having regular lung scans as forms of prevention and early detection.
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Thursday, May 07, 2009
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Silent Killer making Noise
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Heart disease is the #1 killer of women contrary to popular belief that
breast cancer is the leader. According to a survey by the Heart Foundation
4 out of 5 women were unaware of this fact (in Australia). Just like women
undergo cervical cancer and mammogram tests yearly, they too should be
checking their heart health. Prevention and early detection are keys to
survival and treatment of heart disease.
News.com.au reported saying, "Today the foundation launches a six-week
campaign, Go Red for Women, aimed at changing women's attitudes to the
chronic but treatable and reversible medical condition. The campaign was
first run in 2003 in the US, where heart disease is also the leading cause
of death and disability, and is now held in 33 countries. Dr Mitchell said
the message about ways to control risk factors - such as healthy eating,
stress reduction, exercise and avoiding smoking - was relevant to women of
all ages because damage to blood vessels accumulated from adolescence."
After menopause is considered the peak of developing cardiovascular disease,
however this program hopes to promulgate lifestyle changes in women in their
20s, 30s and 40s. Often times when the disease strikes it's only symptom
may be a fatal heart attack, so with hopes of bringing awareness into the
forefront women and physicians all around the world want to make some noise
about the silent killer.
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Friday, May 01, 2009
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Obesity and Colon Cancer
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Recent research, though it is quite preliminary is showing a link between
obesity and colon cancer. Abdominal fat was found in the research to have
shown the highest risk and chance of developing cancer. The goal of the
research is to learn about the risks, links and chances of developing colon
cancer since it strikes hundreds of thousands of patients each year. Also
the research was focused on colon cancer because it adversely affects both
genders, unlike prostate cancer and breast cancer.
Science Daily reported on the research saying, "Leptin – a fat cell-derived
hormone regulating body energy – is higher in obese individuals. Fenton's
study is the first to demonstrate that, at higher levels, leptin induces
precancerous colon cells to produce more of a growth factor that can
increase blood supply to early cancer cells – promoting tumor growth and
cancer progression."
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
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Women and Colon Cancer
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Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be linked to preventing colorectal
cancer in women. Research has shown a 28% reduction in numbers. Hormone
therapy is used by women going through menopause; however since the research
is only preliminary doctors are urging women not to use HRT to protect
themselves from colon cancer. HRT may have adverse affects on some women, so
it is important women consult their physicians prior.
Forbes said, "Dr. David Limsui, lead author of the study and a fellow in the
department of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic, said that "the ideal
situation would be that we find the pathway by which estrogen may protect
against colorectal cancer risk and find a drug or a therapy that can provide
protection through that pathway without the adverse effects of estrogen. We
need to figure out how and why."
Such links between HRT and colon cancer were found in the first of these
studies in 2002. So researchers are optimistic this may lead to further and
maybe even more promising research.
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
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Lung Cancer Drug Hope
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A Spanish biotechnology company Zeltia has announced that its preclinical
trials of Irvalec a lung cancer medication have shown positive results. The
company has said the experiments have shown 'efficiency' in treating lung
cancer. This brings hope to the lung cancer awareness and treatment arena.
Reuters released the report saying, "The results were presented at an
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in Denver from
April 18-22, where Zeltia said it also presented promising data on other
drugs in its pipeline."
Although this is great preliminary news on the medication treatment front,
it is vital to lung health and prevention that people at high risk get
regular lung scans and check-ups. The key to treating lung cancer is early
detection.
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Monday, April 27, 2009
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Walk for Heart Disease
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In light of heart disease awareness month and promoting the education of
heart disease related ailments, the American Heart Associations Heart Walk
Sunday went on yesterday. A sea of red shirts flooded around counties in
New York. Increasing awareness is key to funding, research and prevention.
People must realize the importance of healthy lifestyles, regular heart
scans if you are a high risk candidate (smoker, high cholesterol, family
history etc), and exercise.
News 10 in New York said, "Right now we're reaching $200,000, but we're on a
great track right now," said Hartmann. As survivors swapped stories,
organizers were hoping to pull in big bucks for future research and
education. But the walk's about more than just raising funds, it's also
about raising awareness. Including some of the best ways to prevent heart
disease, such as proper diet and plenty of exercise."
Physicians and patients alike are hoping heart awareness, heart walks and
educational programs will aid in prevention for many baby-boomers. If you
are keen on learning more about heart prevention methods and scans, inquire
at scandirectory.com.
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