Air pollution could be causing double the number of excess deaths a year in Europe than has been estimated previously, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Using a new method of modelling the effects of various sources of outdoor air pollution on death rates, the researchers found that it caused […]
Category: Cardiology
Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity each linked to unhealthy brains
Factors that influence the health of our blood vessels, such as smoking, high blood and pulse pressures, obesity and diabetes, are linked to less healthy brains, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study examined the associations between seven vascular risk factors and differences in the structures of parts of the […]
‘Broken heart’ syndrome may originate in the brain
Scientists have shown for the first time that the brain is involved in the development of a heart condition called Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). They found that regions of the brain responsible for processing emotions and controlling the unconscious workings of the body, such as heart beat, breathing and digestion, do not communicate with each other […]
Too much or too little sleep linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death
The amount of time you sleep, including daytime naps, is linked to your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and death, according to a study of over 116,000 people in seven regions of the world, published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The researchers found that people who slept for longer than the recommended duration of […]
Healthy? Stay fit to avoid a heart attack
Even if you are a fit and healthy person with no signs of any heart or blood vessel disease, low cardiorespiratory fitness could be a warning sign of future problems, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to the ability of the blood circulation and respiratory systems to […]
Endurance but not resistance training has anti-aging effects
Researchers have discovered evidence that endurance exercise, such as running, swimming, cross-country skiing and cycling, will help you age better than resistance exercise, which involves strength training with weights. In a study published in the European Heart Journal [1], researchers in Germany looked at the effects of three types of exercise – endurance training, high […]
Residual inflammation risk affects outcomes in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention
Patients who have persistently high levels of inflammation following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease are significantly more likely to die from any cause or to have a heart attack within a year, according to a study of 7,026 patients published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Residual inflammatory risk (RIR) refers to […]
Bullying and violence at work increases the risk of cardiovascular disease
People who are bullied at work or experience violence at work are at higher risk of heart and brain blood vessel problems, including heart attacks and stroke, according to the largest prospective study to investigate the link, which is published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Although the study is observational and, therefore, cannot show […]
Elevated blood pressure is linked to increased risk of aortic valve disease: analysis of 5.4 million adults
People who have long-term raised blood pressure have an increased risk of aortic valve disease (AVD) – problems with the valve that controls how blood is pumped from the left ventricle of the heart out into the main artery, the aorta. In a study of 5.4 million adults in the UK, published in the European […]
Death rates from stroke are declining overall in Europe, but are levelling off or increasing in some countries
New research, published in the European Heart Journal [1], has shown deaths from conditions that affect the blood supply to the brain, such as stroke, are declining overall in Europe but that in some countries the decline is levelling off or death rates are even increasing. Cerebrovascular disease includes strokes, mini-strokes, and narrowing, blockage or […]