Heart Health Headlines

  Dark chocolate is often seen as a healthier choice than milk chocolate. This is because of its higher cocoa solid content. Cocoa solids contain flavanols which help to lower blood pressure. Dark chocolates contain varying amounts of cocoa solids and it’s not possible to know the amount of flavanols being consumed as it is not listed on packaging. Flavanols can also be found in green and black tea, grapes and berries. More here

    “Holiday heart” or alcohol-induced atrial arrhythmia, is an irregular heart beat caused by excessive or binge drinking. For more information and strategies to reduce the risk of developing this heart condition click HERE.

A man in his 50s who drank eight energy drinks a day suffered a stroke, with lasting consequences. Doctors think that his high caffeine and sugar intake from the drinks were responsible and are calling for tighter regulation and advertising of energy drinks. Read more here 

Cheese provides a good source of protein and calcium but can contain high levels of saturated fat and salt, which can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, depending on the varieties that you eat. HERE is a useful guide for cheese lovers

As we age our risk of cardiovascular disease increases. A polyphenol-rich diet slows the increase in cardiovascular risk. Polyphenols are found in tea, coffee, berries, cocoa, nuts, wholegrains and olive oil. Click HERE to find out more.

Exercising outside in cold weather can put extra strain on your heart. By doing a few warm-up exercises first, you can reduce that strain. Always check with a medical profession, if you have a heart condition, before starting a new fitness regime. Click HERE to read more   

 New research suggests that consuming one tablespoon of nigella seeds (black cumin seeds) daily can lower cholesterol and heart disease risk. They were also shown to stop the creation of new fat cells which could help. Click HERE to read more.

 The 10,000 steps a day originated from a 1960s Japanese advert for the world’s first pedometer. This didn’t take intensity of the exercise into account. It is now thought that few steps at higher intensity are more beneficial in preventing heart disease. Click HERE to read more. 

 Root canal treatment may be needed if you have an infection under the root of a tooth. New research shows that as well as resolving the infection it also significantly lowers blood sugar levels and improves the patient’s cholesterol and fatty acid levels which are associated with heart disease. Click HERE to read more

  A new American study has shown that even light smoking, 2-5 cigarettes a day, can double your risk of heart disease compared with those who have never smoked. Once you stop smoking it can take up to 30 years to achieve the same level of health as someone who had never smoked. Read all about HERE

    A new point-of-care troponin test, can diagnose a suspected heart attack in just 15–20 minutes by analysing a drop of blood on a cartridge. British Heart Foundation Patients who received the rapid test spent, on average, 47 minutes less in the emergency department compared to traditional lab testing.  Importantly, a 30-day follow-up showed that outcomes (death or further heart attacks) were similar between the rapid‐test and standard-test groups, indicating the faster test is both safe and effective.  Read more HERE

 Apart from being high in fibre and therefore being good for your gut, beans are good for your cardiovascular system. The high fibre helps to lower bad cholesterol which reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Beans are a good substitute for red meat, providing a good source of protein. If variety is what you like, the good news is that there are over 400 varieties of edible beans. Read HERE to find out more

  A study, by University College London, has found that ‘higher but normal’ or rapidly rising blood pressure from your mid-30s can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke later in life. Lifestyle changes including a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight management can help to lower blood pressure. To read more click HERE

There are concerns that this winter's flu virus mutation could give us a bad flu season and pose particular risks for those with underlying health conditions & the elderly.  Click HERE to find out more.

A review of many studies from across the world shows that if you catch flu or covid it can increase your risk of serious heart problems particularly straight after the illness. Click HERE to find out more.

This study shows that people with gum disease and dental decay have an 86% higher risk of stroke and a 36% higher risk of a major cardiovascular event compared to those who visit their dentist regularly and have a healthy mouth. Click HERE to find out more.

Poor heart health can reduce blood flow to the brain resulting in memory loss and confusion. This 25-year study of nearly 1 million people in the UK studied the level of troponin in the blood. Troponin is released into the blood when heart muscle is damaged. Those people with higher levels of troponin at the beginning of the study had a 38% higher chance of developing dementia. Click HERE to read more

Women are less likely, than men, to meet their physical activity targets but the good news for them is that they can achieve substantial cardiac health benefits with only a moderate amount of exercise compared to men.  Click HERE to find out more.

Some people find it difficult to exercise on a daily basis. This study show that walking on just one or two days a week can dramatically reduce your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.  Click HERE to find out more.

  How to take your blood pressure, understand the numbers and how simple steps can improve them. Click HERE to find out more.

It brings to life the reality of cardiovascular deaths in the UK. The shocking truth is that someone dies every three minutes from cardiovascular disease.   Click HERE to find out more.

 Forty lives a day are lost due to smoking-related heart disease. It’s not easy to quit but help is out there, from your local pharmacist and elsewhere.  Click Here to find out more.

  A study has found that healthy habits such as avoiding nicotine and eating healthy foods in young adult life can slash your risk if cardiovascular disease. Click HERE to find out more.

 Heart valve disease is a common and serious but very treatable condition. It effects about 1.5 million people over the age of 65 in the UK. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for a positive outcome. Click HERE to read more.

 In areas with worst levels of pollution the risk of stroke is 7% higher and of heart failure is 27% higher compared with the least polluted areas. Sm?all particle pollution levels, in the UK, have reduced by 30% in the last 10 years but there are still, on average, 22 days a year which exceed World Health Organisation targets. Click here to read more

A trial has been carried out to test an AI stethoscope which can detect three heart conditions in 15 seconds.AF is a common abnormal heart rhythm which increases the risk of having a stroke. The electronic device is worn for two weeks and slightly increase the diagnosis rate compared to normal monitoring methods. It is also a practical method of monitoring, with less disruption to both patients and medical staff. Click here to read more. 

AF is a common abnormal heart rhythm which increases the risk of having a stroke. The electronic device is worn for two weeks and slightly increase the diagnosis rate compared to normal monitoring methods. It is also a practical method of monitoring, with less disruption to both patients and medical staff. Click here to read more. 

   For decades aspirin has been the go-to drug for preventing heart attacks and strokes. Recent research has shown that Clopidogrel reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death by 14% compared with aspirin. Click here to read more. 

 A recent study has indicated that for people who regularly eat a diet rich in potassium, their risk of heart failure may be 24% less. Potassium rich foods include bananas, avocados and spinach.    Read more here.

Research has shown that for adults above 18 years old, the shingles vaccine may reduce their risk of having a stroke or heart attack by as much as 20%. Read more here.

A woman of 97 who is a heart patient has just broken the record as the oldest person to complete 250 of the 5km Parkruns. Read more here.

A British Heart Foundation analysis indicates that 125,000 heart attacks and strokes over the next 10 years could be prevented by identifying and testing millions of people in the UK living with undiagnosed high blood pressure. Read more here.

 A vagus nerve stimulator, worn for 30 minutes a day over one week, increased oxygen uptake during exercise and improved key indicators of fitness. Discover more here

 Much is known about the benefit of walking 10,000 steps a day but this study showed that picking up the pace for a relatively short time can hugely benefit heart and other health. Learn more here

Cleveland Clinic has successfully performed the world’s first transcervical robotic aortic valve replacement (AVR) procedures on four patients—without making a single incision in the chest. This  accesses the heart through a small neck incision. Patients experienced rapid recovery, minimal pain, and resumed normal activities within days—some even returning to gym workouts and farmwork within weeks. Read more here

10,000 steps a day is often perceived as the benchmark to reach. Now 7,000 steps, a more manageable number, has been shown to be sufficient to protect against heart disease, cancer and dementia. Learn  more here.

   This diet is particularly high in saturated fats which is not advisable, particularly for those with cardiovascular disease. The Mediterranean diet could be a much better choice U.S. study finds fewer dying from heart attacks, while deaths from arrhythmias, heart failure, and hypertension rise—linked to growing rates of obesity and diabetes.  Read more here.

    Honey is a natural sugar, made by bees from flower nectar, but being natural doesn't necessarily mean that it is healthy.   Read more here.

  U.S. study finds fewer dying from heart attacks, while deaths from arrhythmias, heart failure, and hypertension rise—linked to growing rates of obesity and diabetes.  Read more here.

For people who have limbs affected by a stroke or those with missing upper limbs, recording blood pressure accurately can be problematic. This new method of measuring blood pressure from the ankle improves accuracy and can ease the mind of stroke survivors. Read how here.

  BHF, Tesco and 2 leading health charities are urging the government to make it compulsory for  supermarket and  food business to report on the healthiness of their food and drink sales . 

More transparency in food can help reduce  obesity  which is costing the NHS £6.5 billion a year.

To  learn more click here 

A study shows that people with metabolic syndrome who ate 320 calories of almonds a day, rather than crackers, had lower levels cholesterol levels and improved gut health. .   Click HERE to read more .

  Cannabis use may double the risk of dying from heart disease and increase the risk of stroke by 20% according to a new study.  Click HERE to read more .

..and a cup of black beans a day lowers inflammation. This small study was carried out with participants with pre-diabetes. 

People with pre-diabetes have impaired lipid metabolism and chronic low-grade inflammation both of which can contribute to the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 

Read more here

 The device works in a similar way to facial recognition by calculating fluid in the feet and ankles. It will automatically alert hospital staff if heart failure is worsening helping patients to receive treatment earlier and reduce their chance of being admitted to hospital. Learn more here

A recent study has shown that women, ethnic minorities and those living in deprived areas of England are less likely to be referred for specialist treatment or to undergo aortic valve replacement. 

More detail is here 

  For most people, up to 400mg of caffeine per day is safe. Some people chose to drink decaf. This article provides useful in formation about both caffeinated and decaf drinks.Click HERE to read more .

The reasons for this decline in UK heart health are complex but an increasingly unhealthy population and widening health inequalities are significant factors.

The British Heart Foundation, who commit approximately £100 million per year to research, is driving a research revolution to reverse this worrying trend and to save more lives than ever.  Click HERE to read more .

About 300,000 people in the UK have aortic stenosis. Hundreds of patients are dying while waiting for a life-saving non-surgical procedure to replace the damaged heart valve.

The good news is that the NHS is now taking steps to reduce the waiting time for this procedure, thereby saving lives. Click HERE to read more .

 The amount and frequency of drinking alcohol can have different effects on blood pressure. Click HERE to read more.

 Researchers say that vast numbers of lives could be saved with patients receiving pre-emptive treatment years in advance.  Click HERE to read more .

This figure has risen dramatically in recent decades. The report also found that only 61.3% of diabetics received the recommended care.    Click HERE to read more .

  The use of these drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy have been described as being part of “an exciting new world”. As well as helping with weight loss they could also play a role in treating other diseases, including cardiovascular disease.  Click HERE to read more .

 Several newspapers reported on a study which suggested that statins 

reduce the risk of dementia as well as lowering cholesterol. This article 

checks out these claims.   Click HERE to read more .

 This clever tech allows doctors to diagnose patients with suspected heart 

disease by turning a CT scan into a personalised 3D image which is 

analysed using AI. It has also saved the NHS millions of pounds.   Click HERE to read more .

This study found that anaemia in the first 100 days of pregnancy increase the likelihood of congenital heart disease by 47%. click HERE to find out more.

A recent study has identified 56 non-clinical risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). One surprising way of reducing one’s risk of SCA, amongst many others, is to drink champagne and white wine, in moderation of course. For the full article click HERE.

This trial used existing drugs but gave larger doses within the first two weeks of commencement of treatment rather than gradually increasing the dose over several months. It cut deaths by 62%.  Click  HERE. to read more.

An observational study has shown that brisk walking is linked to a lower risk of heart rhythm problems. The study of 420,000 Britons suggests that walking at speeds of at least 4mph can lower the risk by 43%.  Click  HERE. to read more.

Bananas and broccoli are high in potassium. New research shows that 

increasing potassium consumption as well as reducing sodium intake is 

more effective at controlling high blood pressure. Click  HERE. to read more.

Statins are commonly prescribed soon after heart attacks. A new study shows that if ezetimibe is taken too then approximately 5,000 heart attacks could be prevented in the UK over a 10 year period.  Click  HERE. to read more.

 This simple and cheap blood test is already used in hospitals to diagnose heart attacks after they have occurred. New research suggests that it could be used to predict a patient’s future risk of heart attacks and strokes. Click  HERE. to read more.

The monitor which is usually used to diagnose the cause of unexplained fainting is only worn for 48 hours. In this trial, the wearable patch is worn for two weeks. It is much smaller and can even be worn in the shower. It produced better diagnostic results too. Click HERE to read more.

 This depends on the type of heart condition you have. For certain heart conditions some NHS hospitals are using a system called “Patient Initiative Follow Up” (PIFU) instead of offering routine follow-up appointments. To read more click    HERE.

  Different types of medicines are available to treat hay fever. This article explains how they work and whether they are safe for heart patients to take. If you are unsure, you can always ask a pharmacist.. see article HERE.

In a nutshell, it is due to expanding waistlines. Researchers are calling for urgent action to combat unhealthy lifestyles.  See article HERE.

Eggs were thought to be unhealthy due to their high cholesterol content but this study shows the reverse to be true. The good news is that cholesterol in foods is poorly absorbed by the body. It is saturated and trans fats which are responsible for raising blood cholesterol levels. Click HERE to read more.   See article HERE.

Replacing butter with certain plant oils could significantly lower risk of mortality, a new study has shown. The study doesn’t suggest completely cutting butter out of your diet. Even a modest reduction in butter consumption, replacing it with oils derived from seeds or olives, may have significant benefits. See article  HERE.

 Limiting time in front of the TV to less than an hour a day may lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. This is also true for people with a high genetic risk of type 2 diabetes. See article  HERE.

 German researchers are in the early stages of trialling patches grown in the lab from stem cells. If successful, this treatment could be a game changer for patients with heart failure.  HERE.

 New uses have been found for lateral flow tests, similar to the ones used for Covid-19 testing. A finger-prick blood test used to detect the deadliest type of stroke is being trialled by ambulance crews in Cambridgeshire.  HERE.

A study has looked at young adults and found an association between stress and strokes in younger women. It doesn’t prove that stress causes strokes but shows there is a link. Read the full article HERE.

A newly discovered rare heart condition, triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy, has responded well to tricaprin which is found in coconut oil and dairy products. The condition leads to heart failure. Improvement in heart failure symptoms are seen with this treatment. See full article HERE.

Researchers have found that tea leaves trap lead, cadmium and other contaminants during the brewing process. There is a link between heavy metals and cardiovascular disease. Different types of teas were studied. The longer the tea was brewed the greater the benefit. HERE.

 Including plenty of wholegrains in your diet can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. The article explains the different types of wholegrain foods and how to include them in your diet. Read the full article HERE.

This quote is from a new research project looking at widespread problems with admin within the NHS. It demonstrates how poor admin is impacting large numbers of patients.  Read the full article HERE.

It has been known for a long time that risk factors such as smoking and physical activity influence our chances of developing health problems. This study shows just how important these risk factors are compared to our genetic makeup and that the government should be working on ways to reducing inequalities in the nation’s health. Read the full article HERE

RevivR is a short, 15 minute, online CPR training course. It is easy to follow and includes video clips. All you need is a mobile phone for tablet. Find the course HERE.

Recent reports in some UK newspapers suggested that drinking cow’s milk could be bad for your heart. Closer analysis of the research indicates that this is in fact not the case. Even so, it is still important to swap full-fat products for skimmed or semi-skimmed to cut down on saturated fat.

Read the full article HERE