Heart Health – Dr. Walt Larimore

30Dec 2018 by Walt Larimore

New Year’s Resolution #2 – Have a small piece of dark chocolate daily

In the past I've blogged on How to Make Chocolate a Healthy Indulgence and on the Largest Study to Date Links Chocolate to Lower Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk. Now comes another study about the healthful benefits of chocolate. (more…)

12May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Meeting heart-health guidelines dramatically reduces risk of early death

General Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health

HealthDay reports, "People who follow seven recommended cardiovascular health behaviors are much less likely to die than those who follow few or none of the behaviors, according to a study that included nearly 45,000 US adults." (more…)

11May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Blueberries, apples linked to reduced risk of diabetes

Cancer, Heart Health, Nutritional Health

Fox News reports that, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, increased intake of blueberries, apples and pears may be associated with a reduced risk of diabetes. (more…)

08May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Lack of sleep opens door to health problems

General Health, Heart Health, Mental Health, Obesity

In his column in the Los Angeles Times, Davis Lazarus writes that "according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 75 million Americans - more than one-quarter of the population - say they don't get enough sleep.” (more…)

07May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Review of pycnogenol studies says most too flawed to prove efficacy

Alternative Medicine, Heart Health, Joint Health

The New York Times "Well" blog reports on research into pycnogenol, which is an extract from "French pine bark" that can be made into a supplement that users claim "strengthens cardiovascular systems and eases symptoms of chronic disorders like asthma, osteoarthritis and chronic venous insufficiency." (more…)

05May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Sugary drinks linked to increased heart attack risk

General Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health

The CBS Evening News reported that research published in Circulation suggests that "men who drink soda or other sugary beverages greatly increase their risk of heart attack." (more…)

05May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Red meat consumption linked to increased risk of premature death

General Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health

A study linking red meat to a higher risk of early death generated significant coverage online and in print, and was also featured on ABC World News, which reported that a "major medical study from the Harvard School of Public Health" is "raising a giant red flag about eating red meat." (more…)

03May 2012 by Walt Larimore

Research shows daily walk helps beat “obesity genes”

General Health, Heart Health, Obesity

The Los Angeles Times "Booster Shots" blog reports that a study to be presented at an American Heart Association meeting "shows that people who are genetically prone to obesity can offset that influence by half by walking briskly one hour a day." (more…)

17Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

Ten foods provide half of sodium eaten in US

Heart Health, Nutritional Health

New figures from a US food survey detail that nine out of ten adults in the US consume more sodium than is recommended. See if these data hit home at your house. (more…)

16Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

Citrus fruit consumption linked to reduced stroke risk in women

Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Woman's Health

The ABC News "Medical Unit" blog reports, "Eating citrus fruits can be considered a marker of healthy living, and may lessen the risk of stroke, according to research published in the journal Stroke." (more…)

15Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

Frequent walking helps regulate glucose, insulin levels

General Health, Heart Health

Reuters reoirts that according to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care, taking a walking break every twenty minutes, rather than prolonged sitting, could help regulate the body's glucose and insulin levels after meals. (more…)

14Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

How concerned should you be about the statin warnings?

Heart Health, Mental Health, Nutritional Health

This morning I had a detailed post on the FDA warnings on statins. Let me explain why this will NOT change my prescribing habits. (more…)

14Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

FDA adds new safety warnings to statins

Heart Health, Mental Health, Nutritional Health

Coverage of the FDA's decision to add warnings to the labels of statins was widespread and presented the warnings as acknowledging a serious danger, while repeating that statins are still useful and effective medications. (more…)

13Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: What’s best? Oral appliance or CPAP?

General Health, Heart Health, Mental Health

Surprise, surprise! An adjustable oral appliance was about as effective as continuous positive airway pressure. I was rather shocked by this study. But, it's good news for many patients. (more…)

05Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

Diet soda tied to heart attack, stroke risks

General Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health

Diet soda may benefit the waistline, but a new study suggests that people who drink it every day have a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke. (more…)

03Apr 2012 by Walt Larimore

FDA panel recommends new weight-loss drug

General Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity

A panel of experts for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a new diet drug called phentermine/topiramate [Qnexa] be approved. The recommendation comes despite concerns about heart and birth defect risks. (more…)

24Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Report on cholesterol screening in children still controversial

Children's Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting

In the New York Times "Well" blog, Perri Klass, MD, writes about the "Summary Report of the Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents," which addresses the question: "What do we know about how the hearts of children become the hearts of adults?" (more…)

23Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Researchers use stem cells to regrow heart muscle

Bioethics, Heart Health

ABC World News reported that in a new study, "heart attack patients were treated with their own stem cells injected directly into their hearts and they grew new heart muscle." (more…)

23Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

THE winning diets on all counts!

General Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity

The topic: What's the best diet? The answer may surprise you and here's information on why it should matter to you. (more…)

22Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Air pollution may be linked to an increased risk of heart attack

General Health, Heart Health

Reuters reports that, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, air pollution may be linked to an increased risk of heart attack. (more…)

19Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

FDA to review safety of inhalable caffeine

Children's Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting

The US Food and Drug Administration will review information brought to the agency's attention about an inhalable caffeine shot, which delivers 100 milligram shot of caffeine with each use. About the same as is in a cup of coffee. What’s their concern? (more…)

17Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Women more likely to die of heart attacks

Heart Health, Woman's Health

ABC World News reported "a groundbreaking study" that "hammers home critical points about women and heart attacks. A woman is less likely than men to experience that classic warning sign, chest pain. And she's less likely than a man to get immediate treatment – and more likely to die." (more…)

10Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Even for the overweight, exercise helps the heart

Heart Health, Obesity

Getting and staying physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a few pounds, new research suggests. (more…)

02Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Researchers warn consumers should “be wary” of buying statins on the Internet

Heart Health, Medical Economics

HealthDay reports, "Be wary of buying the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins on the Internet," British researchers said in a study published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety. (more…)

02Mar 2012 by Walt Larimore

Scientists closer to developing ‘red wine’ in a pill

Alternative Medicine, Heart Health, Mental Health

U.S. researchers believe they've discovered how resveratrol – a chemical found in red wine and other plant products – provides health benefits. (more…)

27Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Statins benefit women as much as men

Heart Health, Woman's Health

For the first time a study proves statins are as effective in preventing heart attacks in women as well as men. (more…)

26Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Healthy Fats? They Exist!

Heart Health, Joint Health, Nutritional Health

All fats shouldn't be treated equal. Your body craves certain "healthy" fats, which are unsaturated fats mostly found in plant-based foods. (more…)

25Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Fructose consumption linked to evidence of heart disease in teens

Children's Health, Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting

HealthDay reported, "Teens who consume large amounts of the food and beverage sweetener fructose show evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk in their blood," according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition. (more…)

24Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Blood pressure variation between arms linked to CV risk

Heart Health

MedPage Today reports, "A substantial difference in blood pressure from one arm to the other could be a warning sign for overall cardiovascular and mortality risk," according to a meta-analysis published online in The Lancet. (more…)

20Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

CV risk factors in midlife linked to risk of premature death from heart disease

General Health, Heart Health

The Los Angeles Times "Booster Shots" blog reports, "They're called 'risk factors' for a reason – people with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and/or a smoking habit are much more likely to have heart attacks, strokes and other manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including death," according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (more…)