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Work schedules influence nurses' risk factors for obesity
Date: 2012-08-06 00:00:00

The hours that nurses work may have an impact on their likelihood of developing obesity, according to researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This is worrisome in light of the fact that obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other conditions which may be identified with the help of a blood test.... Full Story

Youngsters' cholesterol levels are improving, but need more work
Date: 2012-08-08 00:00:00

The cholesterol levels of children and adolescents in the U.S. have improved over the course of the last two decades, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These findings may be relevant for young patients who undergo cholesterol tests.... Full Story

Study compares egg yolk consumption to smoking
Date: 2012-08-14 00:00:00

Cholesterol testing could help may individuals assess lifestyle factors that may elevate levels of this waxy substance within their arteries. Recently, researchers from the University of Western Ontario discovered that consumption of egg yolks, which are high in cholesterol, is about two-thirds as powerful as smoking in promoting coronary artery disease.... Full Story

Study reaffirms link between family history and heart disease
Date: 2012-08-21 00:00:00

In addition to undergoing a lab test to assess the risk of heart disease, an individual may want to consider the impact of factors such as family history. Recently, a team of scientists from Denmark concluded that having a parent or sibling who died young from heart disease is associated with a greater likelihood of developing the condition, as reported by HealthDay.... Full Story

Sedentary behavior, childhood obesity among adults' biggest concerns for kids
Date: 2012-08-22 00:00:00

The 2012 University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health revealed that the two biggest concerns that adults have for kids' health are a lack of physical activity and the ubiquity of childhood obesity. These findings may have implications for youngsters who undergo a blood test for cardiovascular risk factors.... Full Story

Strength of statins is tied to incidence of muscular side effects
Date: 2012-08-24 00:00:00

Cholesterol tests can help individuals figure out whether they need to make lifestyle adjustments or take medications in order to improve their cardiovascular health. This includes prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins.

Experts have estimated that up to 15 percent of patients who take statins develop muscular side effects, such as pain or weakness. Now, researchers from the University of California, San Diego have found that the incidence of these complications may depend on the potency of these drugs.

This conclusion is based on a review of more than 147,000 reports detailing patients' experiences of muscular side effects while taking statins, collected from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System.

Results showed that the stronger that statins were, the higher the rates of muscular problems.

"These findings underscore that stronger statins bear higher risk - and should be used with greater caution and circumspection," said investigator Beatrice Golomb, M.D., Ph.D.

This research, published in the journal PLoS ONE, is relevant to people who undergo cholesterol tests. Those who have abnormally high levels of cholesterol may want to discuss all of their treatment options with their healthcare providers.

... Full Story