https://medicalxpress.com/cardiology-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Cardiology People with obesity and type 2 diabetes are at high risk of blood vessel damage. This risk depends not only on the genes a person carries, but also on how they are "read." By changing the epigenetic reading signals in the thin fat layer surrounding arteries and veins, researchers led by the University of Zurich were able to reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel health in both mice and human tissue. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-epigenetic-drugs-blood-vessels-obesity.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:50:01 EDT news701015342 A team led by researchers from the UAB and the network of biomedical research centers in cardiovascular diseases CIBERCV has demonstrated that the fatty tissue surrounding the aorta actively participates in the regulation of vascular function in Marfan syndrome, and that its influence depends on both the anatomical region analyzed and sex. The study, conducted with murine models, has been published in Biochemical Pharmacology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-fat-aorta-play-key-role.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:00:01 EDT news701010588 A cross-university paper led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, published in the Journal of Physiology, shows how better "digital twins" could help doctors treat people with atrial fibrillation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-heart-digital-twins-treatment-atrial.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:20:03 EDT news700980542 A new gene therapy appears to be safe in patients diagnosed with Friedreich ataxia cardiomyopathy, a progressive and fatal inherited cardiac disease, according to a phase 1 clinical trial led by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers. The treatment may also reduce heart damage, although further investigation is needed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gene-therapy-life-threatening-inherited.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:00:06 EDT news700920001 Antiplatelet drugs are one of the main tools used to prevent thrombus formation in people who have had a heart attack or stroke or who have cardiovascular diseases with a high thrombotic risk. These treatments work by reducing platelets' ability to aggregate and form clots that can obstruct the arteries. However, their use also increases the risk of bleeding, a common complication that limits their use in certain patients and remains one of the major challenges in cardiology today. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-therapeutic-thrombi.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:40:08 EDT news700916641 Dysfunction in the lymphatic system has been identified as a hidden driver of life-threatening heart valve disease in patients with Marfan syndrome, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-lymphatic-dysfunction-heart-valve-disease.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:20:01 EDT news700915681 A reality TV star's claim that a beta blocker dulled their emotions and made them appear calm on camera has sparked a wave of social media commentary. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-beta-blocker-heart-drugs-anxiety.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:40:02 EDT news700910401 Women who lift weights may have a lower risk of major heart disease, especially when combined with aerobic exercise, according to a new study published in JACC. Findings show that heart health is better understood by looking at overall movement habits, rather than focusing on single behaviors alone, and resistance training can result in additional health benefits when incorporated into an active lifestyle. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-strength-linked-heart-disease-women.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:09 EDT news700901161 Smartphone apps, fitness trackers and wearable devices help people with heart disease get more physical activity in their daily lives, according to an analysis of previous research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-smartphone-apps-wearable-trackers-people.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:00:04 EDT news700736521 A machine-learning model based on Transformer architecture, a form of artificial intelligence originally developed for language processing, can be used to detect heart disease from electrocardiograms (ECGs), according to research published in the International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics. Tests show it works well with data from several well-known medical datasets. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-language-based-ai-early-heart.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:40:04 EDT news700834080 It is a common misperception that electrocardiograms (ECGs) simply contain data about heart activity. However, modern ECGs enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) can contain data about a patient's sex, age, race and even exact identity derived from ECG signals, raising fresh privacy concerns. To address these worries, researchers from the University of Kansas have developed a privacy-preserving AI model called (PP-VAE) to protect personally sensitive data. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ecg-privacy-shields-age-sex.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:40:07 EDT news700844762 Men are overrepresented when it comes to heart disease, but there are certain conditions that mainly affect women, such as "broken-heart syndrome." Stress and anxiety are common in this group. A new study led by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet shows that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms and help patients manage their emotions better. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-online-cbt-eases-stress-broken.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:03 EDT news700833866 The use of AI in health care is challenging because sensitive patient data is scattered across different systems, and its use requires strong privacy protection. The new concept developed in the international Secur-e-Health project combines secure data processing, careful consent practices and privacy-preserving AI tools to support both disease prevention and the monitoring of patient care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-privacy-solution-ai-cardiovascular.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:40:05 EDT news700822156 The largest-ever U.K. trial of a urine test used across the NHS to spot when patients skip their medication has shown it may improve adherence to treatment. Led by researchers at the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the study investigated the efficacy of a urine test that detects the presence or absence of blood pressure-lowering medications—known as chemical adherence testing, or CAT. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-urine-drug-boost-adherence-blood.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:30:01 EDT news700482962 Among patients with preexisting hypertension taking antihypertensive medications, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use is associated with an increase in hypotensive-related events, according to a study presented at ENDO 2026, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, held from June 13 to 16 in Chicago. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-endo-glp-receptor-agonists-higher.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:20:03 EDT news700747199 For years, flavor additives in e-cigarettes have been largely viewed as a secondary concern compared with nicotine. Research and regulation have focused on addiction, nicotine delivery and, more recently, the respiratory effects of vaping. But as evidence accumulates, researchers are increasingly asking whether certain flavoring ingredients have health effects of their own. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-cooling-ingredients-vapes-irregular-heartbeats.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:00:01 EDT news700740302 Fruits and vegetables are an important part of our diet. They provide nutrients and fiber, and many contain additional compounds (known as bioactives) that can improve health. But not all foods are created equal—with big differences in the amount of bioactives we get from cabbages, carrots, pulses and peppers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-fruits-vegetables-equal-heart-health.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:40:06 EDT news700740062 Researchers are warning that obesity is reshaping the global cardiovascular disease crisis, as trend data covering 204 countries reveal that heart disease now peaks in people ages 50–54 rather than the elderly and increasingly in South Asia, where rates have grown more than three times faster than global averages, according to a study being presented Monday at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-obesity-rewrites-global-heart-disease.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:20:08 EDT news700737076 Synthetic cooling ingredients added to e-cigarettes caused abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) and increased cardiovascular risk measures in mice and lab-grown human heart cells, according to new independent research published today in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-cooling-ingredients-cigarettes-irregular-heartbeat.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:03 EDT news700486563 A straightforward blood-based assessment developed at the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, can help assess how effectively high-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes cholesterol from blood vessel walls, a function known as cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). The study linked low CEC to high-risk coronary plaque, supporting the broader clinical use of this method for predicting cardiovascular risk and improving preventive strategies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-simple-blood-unveils-hidden-unstable.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:30:04 EDT news700318343 A study of a new AI model examining 30 years of routine electronic health records (EHR) data could improve screening for primary aldosteronism, a leading cause of high blood pressure that is often unrecognized but increases patients' risk of cardiovascular complications, according to a study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ai-patients-underdiagnosed-high-blood.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:30:03 EDT news700464340 Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a safety concern associated with GLP-1 drugs. Using health record data, the research team tracked more than 42,000 adults already taking at least two types of blood pressure medications. After starting GLP-1s, these patients experienced higher rates of dizziness, fainting and other events related to low blood pressure, also known as hypotension. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-glp-1s-elevated-fainting-dizziness.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:30:01 EDT news700464381 A new study led by UCLA Health physician-scientists suggests that subtle changes in heart structure and function may signal an increased risk of developing certain cancers years later. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, could eventually help physicians identify patients who may benefit from earlier prevention strategies aimed at both cardiovascular disease and cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-early-heart-cancer-years-diagnosis.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:40:04 EDT news700479121 Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is strongly recommended after heart events and procedures, yet remains underused, with only 20%–50% of eligible patients participating—despite well-established recovery benefits. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-cardiac-rehab-south-australia-million.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:01 EDT news700464361 Many people cross bread, pasta and potatoes off their menus, hoping to drop pounds and improve their heart health. But there's a controversy behind this multibillion-dollar wellness phenomenon: Research is divided on carbohydrate-restricted diets. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-consuming-moderate-amount-carbs-cardiovascular.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:00:01 EDT news700389666 Allowing patients to measure and record their blood pressure at home has been linked to a drop in the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, shows a study recently published in the European Heart Journal–Digital Health. Patients who were able to self-monitor their blood pressure, with the data shared directly with doctors, had a significantly lower risk of hospitalization and death than those who received standard care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-home-blood-pressure-heart.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:00:02 EDT news700414802 Researchers from Amsterdam UMC have overturned a key assumption in the biological pacemaker field. In a new preclinical study, they show that the transcription factor TBX18 does not generate true biological pacemaker activity, while the ion channel Hcn2 does produce robust pacemaker function in the heart. The findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-biological-pacemaker-dogma-tbx18-hcn2.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:01 EDT news700321047 Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed an artificial model of the mitral heart valve that faithfully mimics the valve's complex mechanical behavior in the human heart. The study could help researchers better understand valve disease and develop new treatment approaches. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-synthetic-mitral-valve-replicate-heart.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:20:09 EDT news700391222 A novel study among Indigenous communities in Canada utilizing sharing circles as the primary method of qualitative data collection shows that heart health is shaped by emotional, spiritual, social, and systemic factors, with trauma strongly influencing how care is accessed and trusted. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-visual-storytelling-circles-reveal-community.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:01 EDT news700296875 Reducing the damage sustained by the heart during a myocardial infarction remains one of the major challenges in cardiology, even when the blocked coronary artery is reopened in a timely manner. Part of the myocardial injury continues to be difficult to prevent despite advances in reperfusion therapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-iv-atorvastatin-myocardial-infarction-pre.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:40:05 EDT news700296770