Medical Informations

Healthy Living Still Eludes Americans
Study Shows Recommendations on Diet and Exercise Aren’t Getting Through

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

May 29, 2009 — Americans know what they need to do to ward off cardiovascular disease and live longer, but despite health recommendations, most still aren’t making smart lifestyle choices, new research indicates.

Only a small proportion of adults are engaging in physical activity on a regular basis, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables , or working hard to maintain a healthy weight, researchers report in the June 2009 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Breastfeeding Cuts Moms’ Heart Risk
Study Shows Breastfeeding Cancels Increased Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD,FACC

April 21, 2009 — Breastfeeding cuts a woman’s risk of heart disease and diabetes long after her infant has grown up, new data strongly suggest.

Pregnancy increases a woman’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. But breastfeeding cancels out this risk, says Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Low Birth Weight Linked to Heart Risk
Higher White Blood Cell Count for Low-Birth-Weight Babies May Explain Heart Disease Risk

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

April 2, 2009 — Low-birth-weight babies have been shown in numerous studies to have an elevated risk for heart disease in adulthood, and now a new study may help explain why.

Heart Screening for Diabetes Patients?
Study Shows Screening Doesn’t Reduce Heart Attacks Among People With Diabetes

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD,FACC

April 14, 2009 — Heart disease is a major killer of type 2 diabetes patients, with fatal heart attacks and strokes often occurring with few warning signs.

Routine screening for coronary artery disease has been suggested as a way to identify diabetes patients who are most at risk, but a new study shows no evidence to support the practice.

Blueberries May Banish Belly Fat
Diet Rich in Blueberries May Boost Heart Health

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

April 19, 2009 — Busting belly fat may be yet another of blueberries’ health benefits.

A new study shows rats who ate a diet rich in blueberries lost abdominal fat — the kind of fat linked to heart disease and diabetes — as well as experienced other health benefits like lowered cholesterol and improved glucose control even if their diet wasn’t otherwise heart-healthy.

Not All Diets Pass the Heart-Healthy Test Despite claims that many foods and diets are heart healthy, a new review shows only some show strong evidence of lowering heart disease risk.

Exercise Prescription Coming Your Way? When doctors prescribe exercise for sedentary adults, those patients boost their physical activity, a Spanish study shows.

Blueberries May Banish Belly Fat A new study shows rats who ate a diet rich in blueberries lost abdominal fat — the kind of fat linked to heart disease and diabetes — as well as experienced other health benefits.

Very Low Blood Sugar Linked to Dementia New research that suggests a link between dangerously low blood sugar and dementia in older patients with type 2 diabetes raises more questions about the strategy of aggressively treating diabetes patients to achieve tight glycemic control.

Laughter Healthy for Diabetes Patients Watching a funny video for 30 minutes per day could lower heart disease risk factors for high-risk diabetes patients, researchers report.