Research we’re watching: New blood pressure guidelines released
New guidelines raise the threshold for drug treatment of high blood pressure to 150/90 mm Hg in adults ages 60 and older.
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Tea: Drink to Your Health?
Drinking tea provides a number of health benefits, from lowering heart disease and stroke risk, to protecting against several types of cancer. The less processed tea leaves are, the more health-promoting compounds they contain.
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If you want to avoid colonoscopy, you still have effective options
Colonoscopy is the most effective way to prevent colon cancer, but it is more inconvenient and carries more risks than other options.
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In the journals: Diverticulitis is less common than we thought
A study done at a large hospital found that the lifetime risk of painful complications from diverticulosis may be lower than experts thought.
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On call: Do any memory supplements work?
There is no good proof that dietary supplements are helpful for enhancing memory. A healthy lifestyle is associated with brain fitness.
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New techniques for treating atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a fast irregular rhythm in the heart’s upper chambers. It is a major risk factor for stroke. A host of new devices and technologies offer promise to people with atrial fibrillation who are not helped by medications.
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Understanding angioplasty: When you need it and when you may not
Angioplasty and stent placement, which widens a narrowed coronary artery, quickly restores blood flow during a heart attack or unstable angina.
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In the journals: Mediterranean eating linked to lower diabetes risk
A Mediterranean diet rich in extra-virgin olive oil cuts the chance of developing diabetes by almost a third.
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Ask the doctor: Exercise versus pharmacologic stress testing
A pharmacological stress test is a good alternative to a standard exercise stress test when a condition makes exercise difficult. Both can help detect heart problems, but the exercise test can also help a doctor determine a safe level of exercise.
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Mini-stroke: What should you do?
The symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) often go away on their own, but they are a warning that a person is at greatly increased risk for a true stroke.
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