Study: Pregnancy Complications Lead To Heart Risks For Kids, Later
Complications like diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy are linked to giving birth to children who develop heart health complications at a young age, scientists found. Separately, a study linked even mild cases of flu with a doubling of heart attack and stroke risk in older patients.
The New York Times:
Children Whose Mothers Had Pregnancy Complications May Face Heart Risks
Women who develop high blood pressure or diabetes in the course of pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children who develop conditions that may compromise their own heart health at a young age, scientists reported on Monday. By the time they are 12 years old, these children are more likely to be overweight or to be diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar, compared with children whose mothers had complication-free pregnancies. (Rabin, 2/12)
CIDRAP:
Even Mild Flu Tied To Double Risk Of Heart Attack, Stroke In Older Patients
The risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke in patients aged 50 and older more than doubled in the 2 weeks after even mild influenza in those with few risk factors and more than quadrupled in high-risk patients with severe cases, with elevated risk persisting for 2 months, according to a self-controlled case series in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. (Van Beusekom, 2/12)
CBS News:
In Battle Against Heart Disease, Coronary Heart CT Scanning Technology Continues To Improve With AI-Assisted Software
Interventional cardiologist Dr. Joseph Puma is founder and president of Sorin Medical. He has helped pioneer coronary heart CT scanning technology that continues to improve with AI-assisted software. "Our practice has actually been able to reduce by almost 50% the need for invasive heart catheterization or angiogram, reducing almost 50% the need to bring patients into the hospital to try and figure out if they have heart disease," Puma said. A three-minute scan can show plaque and blockages before an invasive procedure. (Carlin, 2/12)
Stat:
Study Gives Hint On South Asians’ Higher Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
A growing body of data show that South Asians are at greater risk of developing heart disease than white people, and they tend to get complications at younger ages, but it’s not been fully clear what explains this disparity. A new study suggests one potential reason is that South Asians have a decreased ability to repair blood vessels that get injured from cardiovascular problems. (Chen, 2/12)
NBC News:
Swapping In A Salt Substitute May Significantly Lower Risk Of High Blood Pressure, Research Suggests
People who lower the amount of salt in their diets by using a salt substitute may significantly decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure, a study published Monday suggests. The report, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, analyzed data from hundreds of men and women, ages 55 and older, who were in elder care facilities in China. ... The researchers found that cutting salt back by more than a third by swapping in another mineral supplement — salty-tasting potassium chloride — along with other flavorings, such as mushroom, seaweed and lemon, was protective against high blood pressure over a two-year period. (Carroll, 2/12)
In other health and wellness news —
CNN:
Cheese, Yogurt And Dairy Recall: Here’s A List Of Items Linked To Listeria Outbreak
Multiple large retailers, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have recalled items containing dairy products from Rizo-López Foods Inc. due to possible Listeria contamination. Rizo-López Foods Inc. initially recalled dozens of dairy products last week after an investigation identified them as the source of a multistate Listeria outbreak that led to two deaths and 23 hospitalizations. (Cheng, 2/12)
Minnesota Public Radio:
New Program Aims To Help Immigrant-Owned Hair And Nail Salons Switch To Safer Products
Have you ever checked the ingredients in a bottle of nail polish? How about hair dye or chemical straighteners? Many of these products do what they do thanks to strong chemicals that can be bad for our health. (Wurzer and Elder, 2/12)
