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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.

Women who have only the lump removed in early-stage breast cancer may have better survival rates than women who get a mastectomy, a study suggests. Researchers looked at records for more than 112,000 women. All of them had early breast cancer, Stage I or II. Most women with early breast cancer can have the lump removed (lumpectomy) instead of the whole breast (mastectomy). In the study, 55% chose lumpectomy, followed by radiation. The others had mastectomies. Researchers kept track of the women for a median of 9 years. Half were followed for a longer time, and half for less time. More than 31,000 women died during follow-up. About 40% of the deaths were from breast cancer. Women who had a lumpectomy and radiation were more likely to survive than those who had mastectomies. The difference was greatest for women over 50 with a type of cancer that grows in response to hormones.

Not nearly enough U.S. adults are getting recommended vaccines, health officials say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the new estimates. They are based on a national survey taken in 2011. Adult vaccines protect those who get them. They also help to protect people’s close contacts, including children. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against some forms of pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections. It’s recommended for people ages 65 and older. About 62% had received this vaccine, the CDC said. The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Vaccination rates were up in 2011. But still only 13% of adults had ever received this shot. Another type of tetanus shot is also given, but it does not protect against whooping cough. Cases of whooping cough have greatly increased in recent years.