Mutation affects kidneys, brain and inner ear, study finds. A new syndrome that features seizures, lack of coordination, developmental delay and hearing loss has been identified by Yale University researchers. The syndrome was identified during a genetic analysis of 600 people for causes of salt-handling defects in the kidney that lead to high or low blood pressure. Five people from four families in Afghanistan, Canada, Great Britain and Turkey were found to have a range of neurological problems, in addition to a salt-handling defect.

'Ambulatory' measures are better than readings in doctor's office, study says.  Round-the-clock blood pressure measurements, especially those during the night, are better predictors of major cardiovascular problems than readings taken in a doctor's office for people whose high blood pressure is hardest to treat, a Brazilian study shows.

Adding it to clot-busting drug eased the blockages, study found.  A combination of ultrasound waves and clot-busting drugs may help dissolve blood clots quicker than drugs alone in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), according to an Emory University School of Medicine study. DVT refers to a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body, most often in the lower leg or thigh.

It's one of medicine's mantras: If you have high blood pressure, taking steps to lower it will have a dramatic impact on your risk of stroke, heart disease and more. But 70 percent of people with high blood pressure still aren't doing a good enough job controlling it, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

And for those hospitals without dedicated units, telemedicine can bridge gap, study says. Stroke patients treated at community hospitals with specialized stroke care and telemedicine support from major stroke centers are more likely to survive and live independently than patients treated at hospitals without stroke units, a German study finds.

American Cancer Society urges people to stop for a day, then for life. But just last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the United States won't meet the Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the adult smoking rate to 12 percent or less.

Poverty, social deprivation among factors boosting odds of preeclampsia, hypertension. Living in a rural area may increase a woman's chance of developing preeclampsia and other pregnancy-related blood pressure disorders by 56 percent, a new study says.

Adds little to other diagnostic measures, British researchers report. Performing an electrocardiogram (EKG) -- the standard test for measuring the activity of the heart -- is of little use in predicting future coronary problems for people who are examined because of chest pain, a British study suggests.

Avoid the stimulant while you're expecting Caffeine is a stimulant. When you consume it, it is delivered across the placenta to your baby, whose metabolism can't process the stimulant like an adult's metabolism.

Cost analysis finds procedure often doesn't bring enough benefit to offset expense. The high cost of angioplasty may not justify the marginal benefit, a new study suggests.

Studies had found blacks twice as likely to skip medicines, compared to whites. A patient education program that included encouragement and occasional gifts improved medication adherence -- taking medicines consistently and correctly -- among black Americans with high blood pressure, a new study found.

Researchers in Detroit say it detected additional cardiovascular damage. Scientists have used the novel idea of a "pollution vest" to determine that individual exposure to air pollution can harm a person's heart health beyond whatever damage that community-level exposure can cause.

Study says triglyceride tests done without fasting simpler, better define those in danger. A Danish study links high levels of the blood fats called triglycerides with an increased risk of stroke -- and the way those levels were measured could change a basic medical practice, one of the researchers says.

Researchers point to obesity epidemic in explaining the troubling trend. Three decades of a pronounced reduction in risk factors for heart disease is slowing considerably.

These particles carry cholesterol and triglycerides throughout the body. High levels of lipoprotein particles may increase the risk of high blood pressure in women who currently have normal blood pressure.

Tests showed their carotid artery walls as thick as that of a middle-aged person. According to research presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association's annual scientific sessions in New Orleans, obese adolescents had arteries more representative of someone three decades older.

It recruits blood vessel cells as a kind of heart-healthy coating, experts explain. A new generation of stents shows promise in avoiding the late-onset problems that have plagued drug-eluting stents in patients with heart disease, researchers say.

Italian study shows that gains with shorter intervention programs aren't sustained. Heart attack survivors can significantly reduce their risk of non-fatal coronary recurrence by participating in an intensive, long-term prevention program, according to an Italian study that included 3,240 patients.

Increased risk of stroke a major issue in analysis of 33 research projects. An analysis of 33 studies on drugs known as beta blockers has concluded that they are not useful in any surgical procedure other than heart surgery. In fact, using beta blockers for non-coronary surgery may actually increase the risk of stroke, the scientists say.

Study found some low-risk patients can wait for tests. No one doubts the need to rush to the hospital if someone is having a heart attack or even chest pains, but do doctors and nurses need to keep rushing once the person has been admitted?

Someone who has taken the clot-preventing drug Plavix less than five days before having bypass surgery runs a higher risk of excess bleeding, is more likely to require a second operation, and will spend more time in the hospital, says a study that buttresses current guidelines.

Were safer, more effective than bare metal ones, study shows. Drug-coated stents appear to be superior to bare metal stents in both efficacy and safety in patients with diabetes, new research shows.

British researchers suggest harnessing that energy could lead to cardiac devices that last longer, do more. In a new twist on the concept of renewable energy, British researchers report that harnessing the heart's own energy may provide power for pacemakers and implanted defibrillators to work.

Epidemic linked to hypertension, obesity, diabetes, study shows Hospitalization rates for heart failure among older Americans have increased dramatically in the past three decades, an epidemic that represents a mounting burden on the health-care system, a new study has found.

Second study found vitamins E, C did little to protect healthy men, either. Two large studies released Sunday cast doubt on the cardiac benefits of either low-dose aspirin or vitamin supplements.

Even though they have risk factors that could lead to coronary problems, study finds. Despite certain risk factors, Hispanic patients were 57 percent less likely than Caucasians to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) one year after successful angioplasty to open blocked coronary arteries, a new study found.

The finding is especially true for blacks, study suggests. Consuming too little potassium may be as big a risk factor for high blood pressure as eating too much sodium, especially for blacks, new research says.

Study shows appetite suppressant fenfluramine may damage cardiac valves years later. One of the "fen/phen" drugs once widely prescribed to help fight obesity has been tied to heart valve damage that develops years after a person has stopped taking it, a new study reports.

Eating these foods and reducing intake of high-fat dairy, eggs improve odds against disease. Keep eating whole grains and reduce your consumption of eggs and high-fat dairy food to improve your odds against suffering heart failure, a new long-term study shows.

But mortality rate has declined over past 3 decades, study shows.  The risk of sudden death after a heart attack has improved significantly over the past three decades, but the first 30 days remain a period of great danger, an historical study shows.

Cox-2 drugs, like Celebrex, less safe than Cox-1 drugs, like naproxen, study says.  The increased risk of heart attack that comes with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat arthritis pain is directly related to the specific pain-causing molecule they act against, a new study finds.

They're more than twice as likely to die sooner, study finds. Having diabetes or high blood pressure may hasten the death of people with Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.

Women need not be frightened, but should limit consumption of stimulant, experts say Even consuming low amounts of caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of having a low birth weight baby, new research shows.

Study found inflammation, malnutrition raised risk in this group. Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death among kidney failure patients, and inflammation and malnutrition are major risk factors for fatal heart attacks in these people, Johns Hopkins researchers report.

Study shows help with diet, tobacco use boosted employees' overall fitness. Workplace environmental interventions designed to reduce employee obesity led to modest health improvements, including weight management, decreased tobacco use and lower blood pressure, say Emory University researchers.

Finding could lead to new treatments for stroke victims, study suggests. A little of jolt of electricity to the brain could improve dexterity, a finding that could hold promise for stroke victims.

But it's not clear if the cholesterol-lowering drugs protect against the disease.  A new study shows that men who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins have lower blood levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker for prostate cancer risk.

These include lung diseases, heart disease, pneumonia and gastrointestinal woes. In 2007, six major illnesses among Americans age 65 and older resulted in medical and lost productivity costs of more than $196 billion, according to researchers who analyzed Medicare and National Health Interview Survey data.

CRP may only reflect existing cardiovascular trouble, study finds.  High blood levels of C-reactive protein do not increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study suggests.

Obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease can all cloud symptoms, study says The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be delayed in people if they have other medical conditions, a new Canadian study suggests.

They are 4 times more apt to develop the lung artery disorder, study shows. Women are four times more likely to develop a debilitating and potentially lethal lung disorder known as pulmonary hypertension, a new study shows.

Warning letters issued for Bayer Heart Advantage, Bayer Women's Low Dose Aspirin + Calcium Drug giant Bayer HealthCare is illegally marketing two unapproved over-the-counter aspirin medications, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in warning letters issued Tuesday.

Study did find connection between salt intake and diabetes incidence. Elevated sodium levels in the blood aren't related to the future risk of high blood pressure, say U.S. researchers who looked at almost 2,200 people.

Attacks are also less severe among people who are active, researchers say. Recovering from a stroke is easier if you were physically active before the attack, a new Danish study finds.

Mouse study finds 'rotten egg'-smelling gas relaxes arteries, may have broader applications. Cells inside the blood vessels of mice -- and probably humans -- naturally make the gas hydrogen sulfide, which helps regulate blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, according to an international team of scientists.

Study finds increased risk of death, heart attacks. The death rate for people given beta blockers before non-cardiac surgery was 10 times higher in the 30 days after an operation than for those not getting the drugs

But study also finds 'Oriental' pattern little benefit either way because of salty sauces. The fried foods, salty snacks and meats that are staples of the Western diet account for about 30 percent of heart attack risk across the world, a new report suggests.

Researchers say finding calls for better osteoporosis screening, treatment in these patients. People with heart failure face a higher risk of fractures, particularly of potentially crippling breaks in the hip bones, new Canadian research finds.

Tighter control of levels may prevent complications, study suggests. People face a higher risk of stroke after surgery if they have low blood pressure during their operation, a new report shows.

Experts offer guidance during hypertension meeting. To protect long-term heart health, children as young as 3 and diabetics should have their blood pressure checked regularly, experts say.

Study contradicts current recommendations; expert suggests change is needed. Contradicting current recommendations, a new trial finds that aspirin does not reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for people with diabetes or peripheral arterial disease.

Collagen in some parts of chicken acts like a hypertension medication, study suggests. Chicken soup, which has been dubbed Grandma's penicillin for its purported cold-fighting abilities, may also help to lower high blood pressure, a new study suggests.

Cardiac stress tests show whether a patient even needs the procedure, experts say. More than half of Americans who undergo non-emergency artery-opening procedures for heart disease don't get the recommended cardiac stress tests beforehand, Medicare records show.

Large study did discover link with benign breast disease, or when tumor was larger. Drinking coffee or consuming other caffeine-laden foods does not appear to boost breast cancer risk, new research indicates.

More people being treated for hypertension than ever before, study finds. More Americans than ever are being treated for high blood pressure, say researchers from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Blood pressure, brain oxygen levels might modify severity of some deficits, study says. Brain oxygen levels and blood pressure may play a role in the complex relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cognitive problems in children, a U.S. study finds.

Finding suggests need for more careful screening for these patients, researcher says.  Patients coping with metabolic syndrome have a 75 percent higher risk for developing colorectal cancer sometime in their lives, a new study suggests.

But Italian researchers warn only the lowest-risk patients can benefit. Artery-opening procedures can be safely done in some cases without using the anti-clotting drug heparin, reducing the risk of excess bleeding, Italian cardiologists report.

But it's not clear if the popular extract would be effective in humans.

Three leading medical associations have created guidelines to help heart disease patients cut their risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding from the condition's most common treatments -- antiplatelets and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.

They had 32% more microbleeds in several different areas, study finds. Blacks are more likely than whites to have small bleeds within the brain, increasing their chances of having a stroke, according to a new study.

Small study finds their levels correlate with cardiovascular trouble. A test that measures the activity of genes in white blood cells might someday help doctors determine the proper treatment when someone complains of chest pain, researchers report.

 For patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tiotropium (Spiriva) improves lung function and quality of life but does not significantly slow progression of the disease, a new study finds.

They face twice the risk of second cardiac event 1 to 2 years later. A new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) emphasizes the need to screen heart patients for depression.

That raises risk of death from hemorrhagic stroke, researchers say. The amount of bleeding in the brain that occurs when a blood vessel bursts and causes a stroke is greater for some people who take the clot-preventing drug warfarin (Coumadin), a new study shows.

Procrit, Aranesp already bear warning labels due to cancer concerns, experts note. Preliminary results from a German study suggest that stroke patients' use of anti-anemia drugs such as Aranesp, Procrit and Epogen might end up boosting their risk for death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned on Friday.

 The vast majority of people at risk of stroke because the main artery to the brain is partially blocked but have no symptoms are better off if they don't have surgery to restore blood flow, a new study contends.

Those greater than 13 millimeters in width twice as likely to burst, study finds. The risk of a brain aneurysm rupturing over time depends on the location and size of the aneurysm, according to a new Mayo Clinic study.

Study says drug therapy better option for 95% of patients, since stroke risk is low. The risk of stroke has become so low for patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS), 95 percent of them would be better off receiving medical therapy rather than surgery or stenting, according to a Canadian-led study.

Fivefold difference in 10 North American sites.  From city to city, there is a more than fivefold difference in the odds that someone will survive sudden cardiac arrest, with the chances resting on whatever emergency response system is in place, a new study finds.

More smoking, hypertension, diabetes may explain statistics, study says. American Indians have a higher incidence of stroke than blacks or whites, and their first strokes may be more deadly, a new study suggests.

Reasons for slowed time to treatment remain unclear, experts say.  Poorer Americans, including those on Medicaid, are more likely to take much longer to get to the hospital when a heart attack strikes compared to more affluent people, a new study finds.

They face 69% increased risk for heart disease, 56% risk of ischemic stroke, study finds. Women exposed to secondhand smoke at home or in the workplace had a 67 percent increased risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared to women who weren't exposed, a new study says.

People with elevated readings should restrict their salt intake, experts say. Too much salt can contribute to resistant high blood pressure despite taking several medications to control it, University of Alabama researchers report.

Proper treatment often not started among middle-aged men, study finds.  Too many family doctors don't start treatment of middle-aged men with high blood pressure when they should, a new study indicates.

Approaches could supplement other therapies to treat the condition, study says. Listening to relaxation tapes or classical music by Mozart might reduce your blood pressure if you listen for three times a week or more.

Technique accurately found bleeding within walls of diseased carotid arteries. Canadian researchers say that three-dimensional MRI may prove to be a useful screening tool for patients at high risk for stroke, a new report suggests.

Who should avoid the pain relievers Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are pain relievers, many of which are available without a doctor's prescription. They include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.

The strategy might someday help humans recover from similar events, scientists say. Human stem cells derived from bone marrow can cut the brain damage caused by an interruption in blood supply, such as what happens after a heart attack, scientists report.

No more effective than other drugs, increased stroke risk, study finds. Beta blocker drugs don't prevent development of heart failure in people with high blood pressure and should not be used as first-line treatment for the condition, an analysis of studies indicates.

But condition doesn't hasten hardening of arteries, researchers say.  Migraine patients face a higher risk for developing a blood clot in their veins, a team of Austrian and Italian researchers reports.

tPA can be safely given beyond the current 3-hour limit, international researchers find. European researchers who showed that the clot-dissolving drug tPA could safely be used within three hours after a stroke now say the limit can be extended to four-and-a-half hours.

And that lack of knowledge could cost you your life. If that nagging pain in your chest just won't go away, and suddenly you feel like you're having trouble catching your breath, it's time to call 9-1-1.

 In the treatment of patients with symptomatic narrowing (stenosis) of the carotid artery, angioplasty with stenting and endarterectomy (surgical removal of the obstruction) are similarly effective in preventing ipsilateral stroke at two and four years after the procedure, according to two studies.

Atorvastatin as beneficial in those over 65 as in younger patients, study says. Taking a cholesterol-lowering drug after a stroke or mini-stroke reduces an older person's risk of another stroke much as it does in younger patients, according to a U.S. study.

Bryostatin may also work in patients with Alzheimer's and traumatic injury, study says. A little-used cancer drug called bryostatin can repair brain tissue if it's administered within 24 hours after a stroke, according to U.S. researchers.

But parents shouldn't worry, researchers say. Children who gain weight rapidly in the first five months of life and from ages 2 to 5 have higher blood pressure as adults, a new study finds.

Study found telmisartan offered slight benefit for those unable to take ACE inhibitors. A new study offers a possible alternative to heart patients and diabetics who need to keep their blood pressure under control but who cannot tolerate the standard treatment of ACE inhibitors.

And patients with dementia face a more than 3-fold danger, study finds. All antipsychotic drugs can increase the risk of stroke, but the risk is greatest among older patients with dementia, British researchers report.

Function improved even after conventional therapy, study found.  Working out on a treadmill improves brain function and fitness for people who have survived a stroke and gone through the usual rehabilitation program, a new study found.

Warfarin could cut stroke risk by 67%, but patients and doctors say drug is hard to manage. Only 40 percent of patients with atrial fibrillation, a known risk factor for stroke, who did suffer a stroke were taking the anti-clotting drug warfarin, a new study found.

Patients may need to be on telmisartan longer to see positive effect, researchers say. The blood pressure drug telmisartan does not lower the rate of stroke, cardiovascular events or diabetes better than a placebo in patients who have had a stroke, a new study finds.

Allopurinol, used to cut uric acid levels, could work better than current options, study says. The drug allopurinol -- a drug used to lower uric acid levels -- may lower blood pressure in adolescents with high blood pressure, a new study shows.

Aphasia is like a prison, but new research offers hope of escape. No one understands what you're saying. You can't comprehend a word. The best you can do is point and gesture, and hope the other person understands what you're trying to get across.

It details risk factors for recurrent blood clots. A new study identifies some women -- but not men -- who might be able to stop taking blood-thinning medication for the clotting condition called venous thromboembolism.

Findings may lead to novel drug targets for stroke, infectious diseases, study says. U.S. researchers have identified 170 more proteins to add to the 91 already known to be associated with programmed cell death, or apoptosis.

Brain attacks can even happen in the womb, and new guidelines address issue. Dawn Marie Perkins wasn't even seven months pregnant with her twin boys when she knew something had gone terribly wrong.

Rate can be 5 times higher than for women without pregnancy complication, study finds. Women who've experienced the pregnancy complication known as preeclampsia face a much greater risk of end-stage renal disease, new research suggests.

At least 20% of adults are obese in every state except Colorado. The obesity epidemic in America has gotten worse -- not better -- in the last year, despite public service campaigns warning about the health risks posed by carrying too much weight, a new report found.

In fact, new study hints they might be hazardous. A study to determine whether folic acid and vitamin B supplements help the heart has been cut short, because the pills weren't doing any good and might have even caused participants harm.

Though procedure is used less often, it reduces bleeding problems, study finds. Threading a catheter into the heart from the wrist rather than the groin reduces the incidence of bleeding problems during angioplasty, a new study finds.

Similar results have been found in studies of adults. Teens who don't get enough sleep or have poor-quality sleep run the risk of elevated blood pressure, a new study finds.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce closing of heart arteries, study shows. Statins reduce the perils facing obese people after they have the bypass surgery that restores blood flow to an endangered heart, a study finds.

Tibolone should not be used by those 60 and older, study says. Women 60 and older taking the hormone-replacement therapy drug tibolone to relieve menopausal symptoms are at an increased risk for stroke, a new study finds.

Benefit disappears within three years, study finds. There are some advantages to artery-opening angioplasty over drug treatment for people with heart disease, but those advantages disappear within three years, according to the latest report on a pivotal study on the subject.

Beijing Olympics focuses attention on health problems outside the lungs, researchers say. Air pollution has sho