February 6, 2013
February is American Heart Month and a time to focus on what remains the nation’s number one killer — heart disease — which is responsible for one in three deaths in the United States every year. Why heart disease is so deadly has a lot to do with lifestyle and diet in America. Obesity, even among [...]
January 24, 2013
You probably know that smoking and excessive drinking are bad for you. But did you know that your genetics also factor into how much those vices can impact your health? Healthy lifestyle choice — like avoiding cigarettes — make you less susceptible to a host to diseases. For instance, non-smokers live, [...]
October 2, 2012
A study in the journal Lancet regarding a new blood thinning drug brings to mind the difficulty doctors and patients have in using anticoagulants to prevent clots that could otherwise lead to heart attacks or strokes. The mostly commonly used blood thinner, warfarin (Coumadin®) has proven to be a godsend [...]
September 13, 2012
A study published in March in the journal PLoS ONE suggests that having more African ancestry is associated with higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States, affecting about 26 million people and more than 25% of the population over the [...]
January 18, 2012
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder that, while not usually life-threatening on its own, can lead to more serious complications such as heart attack and stroke. AF can be caused by underlying heart problems but high blood pressure, being overweight, and having type 2 diabetes also [...]
February 25, 2010
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common irregular heart rhythm, affecting one in four people over the age of 40. While not usually life-threatening on its own, individuals with the condition are at increased risk of stroke and heart failure. AF appears most frequently in older, male individuals with a [...]
July 21, 2009
SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide [...]
