Mediterranean Diet May Slow Atherosclerosis Progression and Prevent CHD   Recently updated !

A Spanish secondary prevention study suggested that Mediterranean diet might reduce neutrophil levels and slow the progression of atherosclerosis and was superior to a low-fat diet in preventing major events of coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 1002 CHD patients were randomly assigned to follow either a low-fat diet […]

2024 Strategies and Criteria for the Diagnosis and Management of Myocarditis

Top 10 key takeaway points of the report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee for the diagnosis and management of myocarditis: 1. Be aware of the 3 classic presentations of myocarditis: chest pain, heart failure/shock, and/or symptoms related to arrhythmia (eg, presyncope or syncope), especially in […]

Irregular Sleep Linked to Higher CVD Risk

A UK device-based prospective study suggested that irregular sleep was associated with higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), regardless of whether individuals met sleep duration recommendations or not. The study included 72 269 individuals aged 40–79 years and followed for 7.8 years, without a previous history of MACE and […]

Early-Life Sugar Restriction Protective on T2D and High Blood Pressure

A study comparing UK adults conceived just before or after sugar rationing ended found that early-life sugar rationing reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and high blood pressure (HBP). The sugar rationing ended in September 1953 restricted sugar intake to levels within current dietary guidelines, but consumption nearly doubled […]

Cold Weather Linked to Higher MI Risk

A Chinese nationwide case-crossover study revealed that lower temperatures were associated with higher risks of myocardial infarction (MI), and that the risk was more pronounced in MI with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) than that of MI with obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD). The study included 83 784 MINOCA patients and […]

Brighter Nights and Darker Days Predict Higher Mortality Risk

A prospective cohort study suggests that personal exposure to brighter nights and darker days causes circadian disruption with poor health outcomes and increased mortality risk. Avoiding night light and seeking daylight may promote optimal health and longevity. From 2013 to 2016, 88,905 UK Biobank participants (mean age 62.4 years, 56.9% […]

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Par with Escitalopram for Anxiety Disorders

Both clinician-rated and patient-reported outcomes suggested that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was well-tolerated with comparable effectiveness to the first-line medication escitalopram for patients with anxiety disorders in a US randomized clinical trial. The trial included 276 participants (women 75%, men 25%; mean age 33 years; Asian 19%, Black 15%, Hispanic […]

Key Messages of 2024 ESC Guidelines for High BP

The number of individuals with high blood pressure (BP) is increasing worldwide. The trajectory of BP control appears to be worsening in North America, some European countries, and elsewhere around the world. The risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) attributable to BP is on a continuous log-linear exposure variable scale, not […]

CRP, LDL Cholesterol, and Lipoprotein(a) Levels Predictive of CVD

A single combined measure of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) levels among initially healthy U.S. women predicted incident cardiovascular events over a 30-year period. High-sensitivity CRP, LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) levels were measured at baseline in 27,939 healthy U.S. women with mean age of 54.7 […]