Heartbeat: Common Condition Doubles Heart Attack Risk
By: Megan Dobbs
Updated: June 25, 2010
New research finds having diabetes doubles the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Researchers in the U.K. reviewed the medical records of 700,000 adults, and found diabetes significantly increases the risk of blood vessel diseases and is now responsible for one in every ten heart disease-related deaths. Researchers say their findings stress the need for better diabetes prevention and more studies on how diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A new study finds gastric bypass surgery can lower cholesterol levels.
The study of nearly two hundred fifty bypass patients showed that just six months after surgery, almost all patients who had high cholesterol dropped their levels by 20%. 91% of those on cholesterol medications before surgery no longer needed them, even six years later. Researchers say the surgery seems to give people the jump-start they need to lower cholesterol and reduce their risk of heart disease.
