cardiovascular diseases
Let's drink to good health
Red wine is thought to be particularly beneficial and could be responsible for the ‘French Paradox’ i.e. although the French eat a lot of saturated fat and smoke more than we do, they have much lower cardiovascular risks (but wit...read more
Listen to your waistline
The health of your heart can be seen when you use a tape measure. Measuring your waist has been found to be a much better indication of the health of your heart rather than weighing yourself. This way of combating heart disease was found when an Internationa...read more
Making up for mother nature: folic acid
What if I told you that according to an authoritative government survey, there is an essential nutrient which is deficient in the diets of 8% to 23% of normal healthy Brits – but which can influence their risk of heart disease, some ty...read more
Men with metabolic syndrome around three times more likely to die of heart disease
A prospective study in Finland has shown that the metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance, raised lipids, abdominal fat accumulation and raised blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease after a median of eleven and half y...read more
Migraine and stroke
Migraine is a severe type of headache which often occurs with other symptoms such as nausea. It is thought that migraine can increase the risk of stroke, particularly in younger women. This factsheet explains more about the link between migraine and stroke ...read more
Migraines may increase stroke risk
People who have migraines know only too well how challenging the condition is. To make matters worse, a recent study has confirmed an association between migraine and elevated stroke risk. And researchers found this risk to be considerably higher if a migrai...read more
More information on HIV, HAART and heart disease
Treatment with HAART has been accompanied by a decrease in cardiovascular-related deaths in HIV-positive US veterans according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. However, HIV-positive people suffering a heart attack are more likely to experience a s...read more
Obstruction Defects ( Atresia/ Coarcation/ Stenosis)
Sometimes one of the hearts valves is narrowed, blocked or missing, or the main artery to the body (aorta) is narrow. These conditions may be found in association with other defects and the problems caused will depend on where and how severe the blockage is and what the othe...read more
Omega-3 polyunsaturates and the cardiovascular system
The cardiovascular system is the network of tubes which circulates blood around the body. The movement is created by the heart, acting as a pump. Blood is pumped into the arteries for delivery to the cells where it is needed, then drawn back through the veins to the heart to...read more
Ovarian veins in women
The ovaries are the female gonad, this means that they are the equivalent to the male testicle. Not surprising same place in the foetus - up by the kidney. As the baby girl develops, the ovaries move down into the pelvis - taking their veins - the ovarian veinsread more
Patent Foramen Ovale
This defect is present in every newborn baby. It is a gap in the wall between the upper two chambers of the heart, which should close soon after birth.Whilst a baby is in the womb, oxygen is supplied by the placenta via the umbilical cord and the baby’s lungs are not e...read more
Physiotherapy after a stroke
After your stroke you are likely to need help to regain old abilities, learn new skills and to cope with any remaining disabilities. This process is known as rehabilitation, and physiotherapy is one of its main tools. This factsheet explains how physiotherap...read more
Policosanol: cholesterol : to lower, or not to lower...
Policosanol, a compound of fatty alcohols derived primarily from sugar cane or beeswax, is fast gaining a reputation as a natural alternative to statin drugs for lowering cholesterol. However, there is more to this supplement than meets the ...read more
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease increased in HIV-positive women
HIV-infected women have increased risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, United States researchers warn in the 1st May edition of The Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. They report that most of these risk factors may be influenced primarily...read more
Risk factors for heart disease widespread among HIV patients
Risk factors for heart disease other than lipid elevations among people with HIV need close attention, according to an analysis of 394 patients at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Cholesterol and triglyceride elevations after starting anti-H...read more
Salt and stroke
Most of us don’t think twice about adding salt to our food, but there is now mounting evidence that too much salt can lead to higher blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke. This factsheet explains how much salt really is in our food, the link between salt and <...read more
Salt: how much do we need?
Vegan diets have been proven to be characteristically low in saturated fats, high in beneficial fibre and free from harmful cholesterol. But when it comes to salt, in itself a very harmful mineral if taken in excess, what is the true state o...read more
Silent heart disease found in 10% of HIV patients
A study among patients receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) at a French hospital has revealed that more than ten per cent of patients had heart disease that was causing no physical symptoms, but which places them at increased risk of stroke or heart attack....read more
Smoking and stroke
Smoking is the single biggest cause of ill health and premature death in the UK, responsible for nearly one in five deaths. But it is never too late to stop – about five years after quitting, your risk of stroke and other smoking-related illnesses are greatly reduced....read more
Some information about subarachnoid haemorrhage
Most strokes happen because of a blockage in an artery leading to the brain, however about 20% are due to bleeding in or around the brain. A suarachnoid haemorrhage is when there is bleeding over the surface of the brain and 5% of strokes happen in this way. This factcheet e...read more
Steps to reduce your risk
Get your blood pressure checked High blood pressure causes the arteries to fur up (atherosclerosis) and puts extra strain on the blood vessels. You may not know if you have high blood pressure, so you should have it checked regularly. (A normal healthy adult blood pressure is less than 140/...read more
Stroke and children
Most people associate stroke with elderly people, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and babies. Strokes tend to happen for different reasons in children, but often the outlook for recovery is better. This factsheet explains some of the causes of stroke in chil...read more
Stroke can happen to anyone
A stroke can happen with no obvious cause, to people of any age - but there are factors known to increase the likelihood of it happening. Some of these factors are things that can't be changed. Other risks may be reduced by lifestyle changes or medication. ...read more
Stroke in younger adults
Many younger adults are affected by stroke each year. Although the effects of stroke are the same in different age groups, younger people are likely to have different concerns about their family, their finances, and social and employment issues. This factsheet explains the c...read more
Testicular veins in men
For thousands of years, doctors have known about a condition in men, where they have varicose veins surrounding one or both of their testicles. This is called a varicocele. It is also described as a bag of worms as this is the feeling of the dilated veins ha...read more
