New research finds that the banned appetite suppressant drug may cause damage to heart valves long after use has stopped. The new study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, reviewed the history of 5,743 people who had not taked the drug fenfluramine for more than a decade.
“Valve problems were common in individuals exposed to [...]

11 percent possibility of failure after 3 years.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — PLEASANTON, CA — October 24, 2008—Thoratec Corporation is initiating a worldwide medical device correction of all serial numbers of the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Systems (HM II LVAS) having Catalogue No. 1355 or 102139, which have been distributed since the beginning of clinical [...]

The interaction between cholesterol and heart medication can cause a “muscle injury called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure or death”, says FDA warning.
Patients are at risk of the life threatening condition when taking the anti-cholesterol drugs containing simvastatin are taken with the drug amiodarone, used to manage heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).
The widely used drugs [...]

A traditional herbal remedy may become a component in combating the rapidly rising cases of obesity and associated heart disease.
Scientists from Germany have recently discovered that extracts of a traditional herbal remedy derived from Tabebuia impetiginosa can act to delay the absorption of dietary fat in animal models. The researchers believe that the extract could [...]

If you did not already know it, a healthy diet is better for you than a not so healthy one, says this study.
A new study reported by HealthDay news finds that a diet ow in saturated fats and sugar and high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains translates into lower death rates from from heart [...]

Another study finds that vitamin D is a key component of good health.  The study ads toa mountain of evidence supporting the need for adequate amounts of the “sunshine” vitamin’s.  Some experts estimate that 15 minutes daily in the sun without sunscreen provides adequate vitamin D.
Individuals with lower blood levels of vitamin D appear to [...]

More good news for those who love.blueberries
Canadian researchers find that blueberries may significantly lower cholesterol and help with heart health.  The research was done on pigs fed different kinds of blueberry-supplemented diets. The study is published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
“In feeding trials, we found that blueberry supplementation reduced plasma cholesterol levels more effectively [...]

“This multicenter study was conducted to determine the effects of Xuezhikang (XZK), a partially purified extract of red yeast rice..” write researchers.  THe study found that the Chinese herbal remedy appeared to significantly reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack in heart patients.  The study is published in the American Journal of Cardiology
Researchers wrote, [...]

Yet another study finds AVANDIA puts the heart at risk. A second study finds ACTOS also increases heart risks.
The diabetes drug Avandia has been found in another study to significantly increase the risk of heart attack. The alternative, ACTOS also increase the risk of serious heart failure, but may reduce risk of stroke.
The study is [...]

Last month, New York City outlawed the use of partially hydrogenated oils, known as trans fats, in restaurants, a ban now under consideration in other cities, including Boston and Chicago. But novel research conducted in Malaysia and at Brandeis University shows that a new method of modifying fat in commercial products to replace unhealthy trans [...]