Month: May 2014

The risk of future health problems for people with high blood pressure depends on which type they have, a new study shows. Systolic pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading. Diastolic is the bottom number. In the study, high systolic pressure (140 or more) was linked with the most problems. Researchers looked at health records for more than 1 million people. They were at least 30 years old and did not have heart disease when the study began. Researchers kept track of them for about 5 years. People with high systolic blood pressure were more likely to have bleeding strokes, stable angina (chest pain) and narrowed arteries in the legs. High diastolic pressure (90 or more) was linked only with abdominal aortic aneurysm. This is a swelling of the body’s largest artery in the belly area.

Many people don’t start taking prescribed blood thinners right away after getting a stent inserted in an artery near the heart. And those who delay are more likely to have heart attacks and die, a new study shows. Stents are tiny metal mesh tubes. They are placed inside narrowed arteries that are opened with balloon angioplasty. The stents help keep the arteries open. People need to take blood thinners for a month to a year after receiving a stent. This helps to prevent heart attacks during healing. Researchers looked at records for more than 15,600 people who had stents placed. About 30% did not fill their prescriptions for the blood thinner clopidogrel (Plavix or generics) within 3 days of hospital discharge. In the 30 days after discharge, they were 3 times as likely to have heart attacks as people who started taking the medicines right away.

A structured exercise program can help older adults remain able to walk on their own, a new study finds. The study included more than 1,600 adults in their 70s and 80s. They did little or no regular exercise before the study started. All were able to walk one-quarter mile without help. But they were considered at high risk of becoming disabled. People were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group went to a clinic twice a week for group exercises sessions. They also exercised at home 3 to 4 times a week. The program included brisk walking and exercises for strengthening, flexibility and balance. People worked up to a total of 150 minutes each week. The other group went to workshops on healthy aging. They occurred twice a week for 26 weeks and monthly after that. The study lasted an average of 2.6 years.

Many pregnant women don’t get enough iodine, which is important for babies’ brain development, a group of children’s doctors says. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published the statement. It recommends that pregnant and breastfeeding women take supplements that contain potassium iodide. The thyroid uses iodine when it makes thyroid hormone. Among other functions, this hormone is critical for normal brain development. About one-third of pregnant U.S. women have at least a mild iodine deficiency, the policy statement says. Only about 15% of pregnant and breastfeeding women take supplements. The AAP recommends that they take a daily pill containing at least 150 micrograms of iodide. They also should use iodized table salt, the statement says. Total intake should be 290 to 1,100 micrograms a day.