All articles tagged with #cardiovascular risk
A Finnish study of 3,321 adults finds that irregular bedtimes significantly raise the risk of major cardiovascular events, especially in those sleeping under eight hours, likely due to circadian disruption. The researchers urge maintaining a consistent wake and bedtime, limit evening caffeine/alcohol, and screen exposure to support heart health.
A long-running study of 3,231 adults from Northern Finland found that large swings in bedtime significantly raise the risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack or stroke), especially for those sleeping less than eight hours. Irregular wake times did not show a clear link. Variability in the sleep midpoint also correlated with higher risk, highlighting the importance of consistent bedtimes and circadian alignment for heart health over a decade of follow-up.
A 12-year study of 6,814 U.S. adults found that those averaging about nine servings per day of ultra-processed foods had a 67% higher risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or related death) than those eating ~1 serving. Risk rose about 5.1% with each additional daily serving. The relationship is observational, not causal, with stronger signals among Black participants. The practical take: limit ultra-processed foods and emphasize whole, minimally processed options, aiming for a Mediterranean-style pattern.
The 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guidelines call for earlier, more personalized cholesterol screening (even in children for familial hypercholesterolemia), broader risk assessment including genetic factors like Lp(a), and introduce a new PREVENT calculator to estimate 10- and 30-year cardiovascular risk, with expanded treatment options and lower LDL targets to prevent heart disease decades down the line.
A study of over 50,000 adults followed for about eight years found that small, coordinated changes across sleep, exercise, and diet (SPAN) steadily lower major cardiovascular event risk, with higher SPAN scores linked to greater protection—up to a 50% reduction for the top scorers. Even modest tweaks, like 10 extra minutes of sleep, a bit more daily activity, and minor diet improvements, can yield meaningful risk reductions, suggesting small, sustainable changes may outperform sweeping lifestyle overhauls.
A Washington University study of more than 333,000 U.S. veterans with type 2 diabetes found that continuous GLP-1 therapy reduced cardiovascular risk by about 18% after three years; stopping the medication for six months raised risk by 4%, after one year by 14%, and after two years by 22%, with restarting yielding only partial protection, highlighting the importance of long‑term use and accompanying lifestyle changes.
A BMJ Medicine analysis of about 333,000 adults with diabetes found that consistent GLP-1 use lowers cardiovascular risk by 18% over three years, but stopping for as little as six months can raise risk by up to 8%, and pausing for one to two years can increase risk by roughly 22%, erasing the drug’s protection. Weight regain and a rebound in inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol accompany interruptions, which can leave a lasting “metabolic whiplash.” With many patients stopping or pausing due to cost, side effects, or shortages, the findings underscore the importance of maintaining GLP-1 therapy where possible.
A study of death records shows hypertensive heart disease deaths among women aged 25–44 have quadrupled from 1.1 to 4.8 per 100,000 between 1999 and 2023, with over 29,000 deaths in two decades; experts say underdiagnosis, lower treatment rates for women, and a historical focus on older men may contribute, prompting a call for targeted prevention, earlier screening for hypertension in younger women, and consideration of pregnancy-related cardiovascular risks and lifestyle factors like sedentary behavior and high salt intake as potential contributors.
A Washington University study of more than 333,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found that even short gaps in GLP-1 therapy (such as six months) erase much of the cardiovascular protection these drugs provide, with longer interruptions raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and death; discontinuation due to side effects and access barriers remains high, underscoring the need for sustained treatment and better strategies to keep patients on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic/Wegovy.
New guidelines from the ACC, AHA and other medical groups say treating high cholesterol may begin as early as age 30 for people with LDL cholesterol of 160 mg/dL or higher, a strong family history of premature heart disease, or a high 30-year cardiovascular risk, with statins plus lifestyle changes recommended to lower lifetime risk of heart attack and stroke. The article discusses what treatment might look like, why doctors urge earlier action, and what the target cholesterol levels might be, inviting readers to share questions for CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
A European Heart Journal study shows that artificial intelligence can quantify breast artery calcification on routine mammograms to flag women at higher risk of heart disease, potentially enabling a scalable dual-use screening tool. While promising, researchers stress the approach should complement—not replace—standard cardiovascular risk monitoring, and further trials are planned to validate how BAC scores might inform prevention and treatment.
A Flinders University–led study finds methotrexate, a long-used rheumatoid arthritis drug, lowers systolic blood pressure by about 7.4 mmHg in newly diagnosed RA patients compared with sulfasalazine, a reduction that could meaningfully reduce risk of heart attack and stroke. The blood-pressure drop did not track with improvements in joint symptoms or arterial stiffness, suggesting other pathways (such as reduced systemic inflammation) may be involved. Genetic factors may help predict who benefits most, paving the way for personalized therapy, though more research is needed.
A Health feature explains that erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, with reduced night-time erections and less rigidity as early clues; underlying issues like high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity may be involved, and lifestyle changes (more exercise, Mediterranean-style diet, good sleep) plus medical treatments (Viagra/Cialis and vacuum devices) can help improve function and potentially avert serious health problems.
A long-term study of 5,112 people followed for about 34 years found that men’s risk of cardiovascular disease starts rising in their mid-30s—earlier than women—with coronary heart disease driving most of the difference. After accounting for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, smoking, activity, and weight, the gap narrows but persists. Men reach a 5% CVD incidence around 50.5 years vs 57.5 for women, and CHD reaches 2% roughly a decade earlier for men. Stroke risk shows little difference, while heart failure differences emerge later. Experts call for earlier heart health screening and preventive care for men.
A long-term CARDIA study shows men reach a 5% cardiovascular disease risk around age 50.5—about seven years earlier than women (57.5)—driven largely by coronary heart disease; traditional risk factors explain only part of the gap, suggesting other biological or social factors. The findings imply heart screening and prevention may need to start earlier in adulthood, especially for men.