Month: June 2014

Taking your blood pressure can help diagnose a problem that could increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. But if you take the reading yourself at the drug store or the mall, you might not get an accurate result, U.S. officials warn. That’s because the cuff might be the wrong size for you. Doctors can choose from many cuff sizes to get an accurate reading. But many public blood pressure machines have only one cuff. If the cuff is too small, the blood pressure reading may be too high, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. If it’s too big for you, the reading may be too low. Or maybe the machine won’t work at all. It may help to know the size of your upper arm so you can see if the kiosk’s cuff is the right size for you. The FDA said it’s important to remember that a diagnosis of high blood pressure is not based on just one reading.

A type of pacemaker can help more women with heart failure than men, and yet women are less likely to get the devices, a study finds. Researchers pooled results from 3 earlier studies. They included 3,198 men and 878 women. Normally, both sides of the heart beat (contract) at the same time. Among people in the study, one side of the heart contracted slightly later than the other. The original studies were designed to test pacemakers that help both sides beat at the same time. Success was measured by a reduction in the risk of death or fewer heart-failure events that required a hospital trip or more medicine. Women with the devices had a 60% reduced risk of these events. Men’s risk declined 26%. The study also raised questions about who should get these devices.

Testosterone products must carry a new warning about a possible risk of blood clots in veins. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the change June 20. It is prompted by reports of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among men taking testosterone treatments. Deep vein clots usually occur in the legs. A pulmonary embolism occurs if a clot travels to the lungs. Clots in the lungs can be deadly. Testosterone products already warn about a risk of clots in veins caused by polycythemia. This is an abnormal rise in the number of blood cells. But the more recent cases cited by the FDA were not related to polycythemia. The FDA also continues to investigate whether men taking testosterone products may have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death. Announced in February, this investigation was prompted by a research study that suggested a higher risk.

Teens and young adults took fewer antidepressants after the drug labels started warning about an increased suicide risk. And they also were more likely to attempt suicide, a new study says. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first required the warnings in 2004. They applied to antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa) and others. In 2007, the warning was expanded to include young adults. The new study used data from 11 U.S. health plans. Researchers looked at prescriptions for SSRI drugs. They also looked at cases of overdose with mind-altering drugs, such as tranquilizers and amphetamines. Researchers said overdoses were more likely to be reported consistently than the medical code for suicide attempts.