Cardiovascular

Physician urges greater recognition of how "misfearing" influences women's perceptions of heart health risks
While more women die from heart disease each year than all forms of cancer combined, many are more fearful of other diseases, particularly breast cancer. This phenomenon, referred to as "misfearing," describes the human tendency to fear instinctively and according to societal influences rather than based on facts. This trend may be a contributor to the reasons why many women fail to take enough steps—such as changing diet and fitness habits or risk-taking behaviors—to guard against heart disease. MedicalXpress

Daily walk of just 3km can reduce risk of hospitalization for respiratory problems
New research in Respirology shows that suffers of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can reduce their risk of being hospitalized with severe attacks, by maintaining an exercise regime of walking between three to six kilometers a day.  Wiley

Study discovers new way to prevent some strokes
The results – unveiled on Feb. 14 at the American Heart Association's International Stroke Conference in San Diego, Calif. – found that the device detected atrial fibrillation in 30 percent of people with cryptogenic stroke who were monitored. Using standard techniques, physicians only found atrial fibrillation in about 3 percent of these patients. Because of these results, the 30 percent patients were almost all switched to blood thinners which should protect them better from having another stroke, said Bernstein, who is also a professor of neurology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. MedicalXpress

Sodium Intake in Populations: Assessment of Evidence
The CDC asked the IOM to examine the designs, methodologies, and conclusions in this latest body of research on dietary sodium intake and health outcomes in the general U.S. population and among individuals with hypertension; pre-hypertension; those 51 years of age and older; African Americans; and those with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. The IOM committee also was asked to comment on the implications of this new evidence for population-based strategies to gradually reduce sodium intake and to identify gaps in data and research and suggest ways to address them. IOM

Study points out inequalities in prescribing blood pressure meds
Primary care doctors are not quick to prescribe antihypertensive medication to young people even after an average of 20 months of high blood pressure. Young adults who are white, male, not on Medicaid and not frequent clinic visitors are especially less likely to receive medication. These are the results of a study¹ by a research team at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the United States led by Heather Johnson. It appears in the Journal of General Internal Medicine², published by Springer.  Springer