Month: February 2013

About 8% of stroke survivors have thought about suicide or thought they’d be better off dead, a survey suggests. Researchers said the percentage of those pondering suicide after stroke was higher than for people who had heart attacks, cancer or other health problems. The study was based on a large national health survey taken during the years 2005 through 2010. It included a total of 17,000 people. In all, 678 reported having a stroke at some time in the past. People were asked: “Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself?” About 6% of heart attack survivors, 5% of people with diabetes and 4% of people with cancer reported such thoughts. A stroke damages the brain.

The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will nearly triple in the next 40 years, a new report predicts. The study estimates that there will be 13.8 million people with the disease by 2050. Nearly 5 million Americans are affected now. The U.S. government and the Alzheimer’s Association funded the study. A future study will estimate the health care costs. The Alzheimer’s Association predicts they will rise to more than $2 trillion. The new study is based on information from 10,802 Chicago residents. All were ages 65 or older when the study began. Researchers kept track of them up to 18 years. They were assessed for dementia every 3 years. The estimates also include data from the 2010 census. Much of the increase in Alzheimer’s is tied to the aging of the huge baby boomer generation. The census estimated that the population of people 65 and older will more than double by 2050.

A common blood pressure medicine may also help people with leg pain from clogged arteries, a new study suggests. The study included 212 people with peripheral artery disease. People with this condition have plaque inside the arteries in the legs. This narrows the channel where blood flows. A common symptom is pain in the legs while walking. People were randomly assigned to receive either ramipril or a placebo (fake pills). Ramipril is a type of blood pressure medicine called an ACE inhibitor. These drugs lower blood pressure partly by making blood vessels wider. People were given a treadmill test at the start of the study. After taking ramipril for 6 months, people were able to walk more than 4 minutes longer. There was little change (about 21 seconds) for those taking the placebo.

Men — but not women — who take calcium pills may face a higher risk of dying from heart disease, a new study suggests. The study looked at data on 388,000 men and women. They were part of a study on diet and health. They were 50 to 71 years old when the study began in 1995. Researchers kept track of people for an average of 12 years. In that time, about 7,900 men and 4,000 women died of heart disease or stroke. Of this group, 51% of men and 70% of women were taking calcium pills. Researchers calculated that men taking 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily had a 20% increased risk of heart-disease death. There was no increase in risk for women who were taking calcium pills. Calcium obtained from food or drinks did not affect death risk for men or women. The study could not show whether taking calcium pills actually caused the increased risk. Researchers said more study was needed.