Ankle-Arm Blood Pressure Test Predicts Heart Disease Risk “A seldom-used test that measures blood pressure in the ankle and the arm can help improve assessment of the risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems, an international research group reports. It has a distinct advantage in that it is extremely easy to perform and doesn't require expensive, sophisticated equipment, Gerry Fowkes, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, said of the ankle brachial index (ABI). The device is the subject of a report in the July 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The index is the ratio between the blood pressure measurements in the ankle and the arm.”

The clinical significance of abnormal diurnal blood pressure variation in healthy late middle-aged and older adults. (Blood Press. 2008)

Calcium supplementation and vascular disease. (Climacteric. 2008)

Do patients with angina alone have a more benign prognosis than patients with a history of acute myocardial infarction, revascularisation or both? Findings from a community cohort study (Heart 2008) “Conclusions: Prognosis for patients with angina alone was similar to those with previous AMI and/ or revascularization and /or angina. The clinical importance of angina should not be underestimated in primary care. Further descriptive research is needed amongst representative community cohorts of people with angina.”

Heart Disease Linked to Poor Cognitive Function in Middle Age

Prehypertension by Age 35 Clogs Arteries “Young adults with prehypertension (blood pressure measurements slightly above normal) are more likely to have clogged arteries later in life. The American Heart Association defines prehypertension as a systolic (top) blood pressure measurement of 120 to 139 mmHg or a diastolic (bottom) number of 80 to 89 mmHg, or both.“

Study Sparks Uncertainty About Cardiovascular Effects of Calcium Supplements in Postmenopausal Women “The results of the study, titled "Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomized controlled trial," suggest a link between calcium supplementation and increased rates of adverse cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women. The study's authors urge clinicians to balance this new information against the acknowledged benefits of calcium on bone health. … Although many calcium supplementation studies do not mention vascular events, the authors of this study report found three other studies that showed slight trends similar to those uncovered in the current study. The authors write, "Taken together, these four studies raise major concerns about the cardiovascular safety of calcium supplementation, particularly with respect to myocardial infarction in older postmenopausal women."”

Relations between dietary sodium and potassium intakes and mortality from cardiovascular disease: the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risks1 (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Conclusions: A high sodium intake and a low potassium intake may increase the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.”

Eating fish may explain very low levels of heart disease in Japan“"The Japanese eat a very high level of fish compared to other developed countries," said Dr. Sekikawa. "While we don't recommend Americans change their diets to eat fish at these quantities because of concerns about mercury levels in some fish, increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids in the U.S. could have a very substantial impact on heart disease. Given the similar levels of atherosclerosis in Japanese Americans and white Americans, it also tells us that lower levels of heart disease among Japanese men are much more likely lifestyle related than a result of genetic differences," said Dr. Sekikawa. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat found primarily in fish. The two most potent omega-3 fatty acids are known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and are usually found in oily fishes, such as mackerel, salmon and tuna. “

Endothelial function after high-sugar-food ingestion improves with endurance exercise performed on the previous day (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Background:Endothelial function deteriorates after glucose ingestion. This may be attributed to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress. Acute endurance exercise might improve postprandial endothelial function by enhancing glucoregulation and reducing postprandial hyperglycemia.”

Flavonoids and cardiovascular health: which compounds, what mechanisms?

Garlic supplements help lower high blood pressure “When the researchers pooled the data from the trials, they found that garlic reduced systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by 4.6 mm Hg, on average. An analysis limited to people with high blood pressure showed garlic reduced systolic blood pressure by 8.4 mm Hg, on average, and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by 7.3 mm Hg. The higher a person's blood pressure -was at the beginning of the study, the more it was reduced by taking garlic. The effects were similar to those of widely used drugs for treating hypertension, for example beta blockers, which reduce systolic blood pressure by 5 mm Hg, and ACE inhibitors, which produce an 8 mm Hg average drop in systolic blood pressure, the researchers note. The 600 mg to 900 mg dosage used in the studies is equivalent to 3.6 mg to 5.4 mg of garlic's active ingredient, allicin, Ried and her team point out. A fresh clove of garlic contains 5 mg to 9 mg of allicin. “

Green Tea Lowers Risk of Heart Disease: Drinking Green Tea Boosts the Health of Blood Vessels Within Minutes “Drinking green tea rapidly improves the health of the delicate cells lining the blood vessels and helps lower one's risk of heart disease. Researchers writing in the latest issue of the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation have found that people who drink green tea have better blood vessel function just 30 minutes later. Specifically, green tea improves the function of endothelial cells. Endothelial cell dysfunction plays a key role in the development of clogged arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests that powerful antioxidants in green tea called flavonoids may protect the heart. Other flavonoid-rich foods include red grapes, red wine, and dark chocolate. The study authors say their results are the first to show that green tea offers a short-term improvement in the health of arteries. Black tea has previously been linked to short- and long-term improvements in endothelial function.“