Category: Conditions
Scientists uncover genetic risks for stroke
Thursday, 16 April, 2009 06:06 Written by admin
Scientists have found important genetic differences that significantly raise the risk of stroke, and they are found in millions of people.
The study is the first to identify common genetic variants influencing stroke risk in the United States and may lead to better treatments, they reported on Wednesday.
While other stroke-related genes have been discovered, none involved such a wide portion of the population, said Eric Boerwinkle of The University of Texas Health Science Center.
Traffic Triples Heart Attack Risk
Friday, 13 March, 2009 20:30 Written by admin
Whether you drive, take the bus, or bicycle, being in heavy traffic triples your risk of heart attack within one hour.
Air pollution from car fumes is the likely culprit, suggest Annette Peters, PhD, and colleagues at the Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany.
In a previous study, Peters and colleagues found that a sizeable proportion of heart attacks — about 8% — could be attributed to being in traffic.
To follow up, the researchers interviewed 1,454 people who survived heart attacks. In the hour before their heart attack, many of the survivors had been in heavy traffic.
7 Ways to Alleviate Your Allergy Symptoms
Sunday, 15 February, 2009 06:12 Written by admin
Short of living in a bubble, there are no cures for allergies.
Even with shots and medicines, patients living with allergies still experience flare-ups and symptoms, especially if their allergies are seasonal.
Dr. Clifford Bassett, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Long Island College Hospital, offered these seven tips, which may alleviate the severity of allergy symptoms, making it a little easier for allergy sufferers to enjoy life.
Doctors Re-Examine Blood Thinners to Prevent Strokes
Monday, 12 January, 2009 07:00 Written by admin
Warfarin is an anticoagulant — or “blood thinner” — that’s frequently prescribed for people with atrial fibrillation.
An estimated 2.2 million Americans have the cardiac condition, which causes the heart’s two upper chambers to flutter, rather than beat efficiently. This leaves people vulnerable to a blood clot in the brain that can result in an ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke.
That’s where warfarin comes in — helping to prevent those clots.
But, ironically, as use of warfarin has risen in recent years, so has the number of another type of stroke called hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain.
Two asthma drugs risky but Advair OK
Saturday, 13 December, 2008 21:30 Written by admin
GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) widely prescribed drug Advair is safe enough for treating asthma but two lesser-used medicines are too risky, a U.S. advisory panel ruled on Thursday.
Evidence of asthma-related deaths and serious complications led the panel of experts to warn against continued use of Glaxo’s Serevent and Novartis AG’s (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Foradil for adults, adolescents and children with asthma.