FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BLOG
Includes over 800 monographs reporting on emerging studies in the medical and scientific literature of practical clinical importance, easily searched for content.
Unresolved PTSD promotes adverse cardiovascular and brain effects
PTSD is associated with a 50% to 60% increased risk of incident CVD and elevated stroke and dementia risk.
Prediabetes is linked to heart attacks
Prediabetes is a major a risk factor for myocardial infarction (heart attack). There are excellent resources to reverse prediabetes and its associated vascular damage.
Women's heart risk lower with exercise 2-3x/week than daily
A large study using data from 1.1 million women recently published in the journal Circulation offers evidence that strenuous physical activity 2-3 times per week significantly lowered their coronary heart disease risk while more frequent strenuous exercise actually increased it.
Low-normal thyroid function and cardiometabolic disorders
Observational studies suggest that low-normal thyroid function may be implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD. Low-normal thyroid function could also play a role in the development of MetS, insulin resistance and CKD...
Prediabetes also damages the heart
A study just published in the journal Circulation demonstrates that prediabetes causes unfelt damage to the heart that substantially raises the risk of future coronary artery disease and heart failure regardless of cholesterol levels.
Magnesium: insulin, brain, heart and inflammation
Magnesium may be the critical nutrient most commonly drained by modern environmental stress to suboptimal levels... Recent studies add evidence to its indication for insulin resistance, diabetes, cognitive impairment, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease, and neurogenic inflammation.
Metabolic health status and aging determined by inflammation, not weight
Metabolic health is not reliably determined by weight or BMI (body mass index). Lean individuals can suffer from cardiovascular and other diseases involving metabolism, and evidence has been mounting that supports the notion of a subtype of obesity that is metabolically healthy. Inflammation can determine metabolic health in both obese and non-obese populations.
Aspirin Cardiovascular/Gastrointestinal Risk Calculator
Aspirin has been shown to be worthy of consideration for secondary, and in some cases primary, prevention of heart attacks and strokes but carries known risks for gastrointestinal side effects. If you're not certain whether to recommend low-dose aspirin to a patient, the aspirin cardiovascular/gastrointestinal risk calculator can help with the clinical decision. A paper recently published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics describes the development and use of this practical tool.
Erectile Dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality
More evidence that erectile dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease is presented in a study just published in PLoS Medicine (Public Library of Science). This should come as no surprise considering that health of vascular endothelium is one of the elements necessary to ensure blood delivery to the 'periphery'. The authors added to literature on this topic by examining the degree of erectile dysfunction in relation to cardiovascular risk.
More evidence supports restraint with calcium supplementation
An extensive study just published in BMJ (British Medical Journal) offers more evidence* that higher levels of calcium intake can increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and all causes.
Data shows high intake of omega-6 fatty acids is not advised for cardiovascular health
Research recently published in BMJ (British Medical Journal) examines accumulated data to reveal that advice given by the American Heart Association to increase consumption of omega-6 fatty acids, particularly linolenic acid found in corn, sunflower, safflower, and soybean oils, is misguided for cardiovascular health.
Insulin resistance correlates with blood vessel damage leading to heart attack and stroke
Insulin resistance correlates with blood vessel damage evidenced by carotid intima-media thickness, a well-recognized index of vascular damage and is widely utilized surrogate marker for cardiovascular disease.
Coronary artery inflammation is reduced by coenzyme Q10
Coronary artery inflammation is reduced by coenzyme Q10
Dried apples and plums lower cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women
Dried apples and plums lower cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women
A low carbohydrate diet can increase cardiovascular disease
A low carbohydrate high protein diet can increase cardiovascular disease
Magnesium reduces death from cardiovascular disease
Magnesium reduces death from cardiovascular disease
The important role of autoimmunity in cardiovascular disease
The important role of autoimmunity in cardiovascular disease
Stroke risk is greater with both higher and lower than normal blood pressure
Stroke risk is greater with both higher and lower than normal blood pressure
Patients with psoriasis are at increased risk for vascular disease
Patients with psoriasis are at increased risk for vascular disease