Research that followed nearly 15,000 people in Scotland has shown that a class of older generation anti-depressant is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study showed that tricyclic anti-depressants were associated with a 35% increased risk of CVD, but that there was no increased risk with the newer anti-depressants, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). T ...

Researchers from the UC Davis Health System have found that compared with healthy controls, blood levels of vitamin D are significantly reduced in patients in the Sacramento, California area with metabolic syndrome - a constellation of disease risk factors that affects about one in three U.S. adults and predisposes them to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. ...

Is cardiovascular health in middle age and beyond a gift from your genes or is it earned by a healthy lifestyle and within your control? Two large studies from Northwestern Medicine confirm a healthy lifestyle has the biggest impact on cardiovascular health. The studies will be presented Nov. 15 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010 in Chicago. ...

Mothers of children with severe heart disease are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than mothers of healthy children, even once any medical interventions are over. Every year some 500 children with congenital heart defects are born in Norway. Most of them survive, but how does the children’s illness affect the mental health of their mothers? ...

Regular exercise can reduce around two dozen physical and mental health conditions and slow down how quickly the body ages, according to a research review summarising the key findings of 40  papers published between 2006 and 2010. The paper provides an invaluable source for both news and feature editors as it is divided into a number of key sections, ranging from: "Why should I exercise" to "I'm too busy, I ...

People affected by anxiety and depression should receive an additional cardiac test when undergoing diagnosis for potential heart problems, according to a new study from Concordia University, the Université du Québec à Montréal and the Montreal Heart Institute. The study results are published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. ...

Numerous studies have shown that cocoa has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. The reason for this has now been uncovered by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden. When a group of volunteers devoured a good-sized piece of dark chocolate, it inhibited an enzyme in their bodies that is known to raise blood pressure. The findings, now being published in Journal of Cardiovascular Pharma ...

Hypertension is of epidemic proportions affecting 29% of the US population 18 and older and 67% of those over 60 years of age, making it one the single largest health concerns. [Data from NHANES 2005-2006, summarized in the January 2008 issue of the NCHS Data Brief]. ...

Researchers at The University of Western Ontario have provided the first direct evidence using a biological marker to show chronic stress plays an important role in heart attacks. Stressors such as job, marital, and financial problems have been linked to the increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attack - but there has not been a biological marker to measure chronic stress. ...

Changing how a person perceives and thinks about others was the most effective intervention for loneliness, a sweeping analysis of previous research has determined. The findings may help physicians and psychologists develop better treatments for loneliness, a known risk factor for heart disease and other health problems. The results were published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review. ...