News for your Heart

Following up on the news that women with hysterectomy are 26% more likely to have cardiovascular disease, I figure it's a good idea to keep an eye on things.

Simple Blood Test May Help To Predict Cardiovascular Risk In Older Women - this study showed that white blood cell levels in post-menopausal women may indicate heart disease because of atherosclerosis.

Women in the fourth quartile (highest WBC) had a doubled risk for coronary heart disease death compared with women in the first quartile (lowest WBC), after statistical adjustment for other risk factors, the researchers found. "Women in the upper quartile … also had a 40 percent higher risk for nonfatal myocardial infarction [heart attack] a 46 percent higher risk for stroke, and 50 percent higher risk for total mortality," the authors write. "In multivariable models adjusting for C-reactive protein, the WBC count was an independent predictor of coronary heart disease risk, comparable in magnitude to C-reactive protein (CRP)."

New 30 second Bone Density Test - here's a new, non-invasive and instantaneous way to find out your bone density. Maybe someday it'll be as easy for your doctor to check your bone density as it is to check your blood pressure.

Fight Osteoporosis - Stock up on B12 - speaking of osteoporosis, there's some cool news that keeping up your B12 can help keep your bones strong. There's also new info that compounds found in onions can also keep your bone density.

Posted by Elizabeth M. on April 5, 2005 7:33 PM