A form of home blood pressure monitoring may show which older adults are most at risk for a form of dementia, a new study suggests. The study included 72 people. Their average age was 82. Doctors gave them 2 tests. Each person wore a monitor for 24 hours. It measured their blood pressure at regular intervals, day and night. People also got magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain. They got the same tests again 2 years later. In the MRI, researchers looked for white spots known as white matter hyperintensities. These spots are signs of damage to small blood vessels. They have been linked with a reduction in memory and thinking skills. Some people’s home-measured blood pressure got worse during the 2-year study. They tended to have more white spots in the brain than people with lower blood pressure. They also did worse on tests of mental function.
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An increase in the number of infections in people receiving implanted heart devices means caregivers need to make prevention of infection their priority.
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A specifically tailored exercise program may help people with heart failure regain strength without overworking the heart.
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There is growing evidence of a link between depression and increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
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Holiday meals present an increased risk for food-borne illnesses, but a few simple precautions can prevent illness.
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I was very interested in your article on aspirin and cancer. You commented that aspirin may help prevent cancer, but I can’t take aspirin, even in low doses. I use Tylenol for pain and fever – can it also help against cancer?
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Certain activities and situations can trigger heart attacks in those at risk, but researchers are showing how these risks need to be placed in the proper context.
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For people with peripheral artery disease, any sort of physical activity is better than not doing anything.
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Beta blockers are useful in treating a variety of cardiovascular conditions including angina, heart failure, and hypertension.
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People who wait more than 24 hours after a heart attack to get an angioplasty do not benefit from it.
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