Sir James Black and Dr. John Collins: Figureheads in cardiology
I would like to take a moment's pause to remember two of our colleagues and friends who passed away recently, Sir James Black and Dr. John "Jack" Collins. Both were instrumental in the field of cardiology... Advocacy & Policy
Social class, risk factors, and stroke incidence in men and women
Social class exerts an independent negative influence on the risk of experiencing a stroke, separate from the effects of other established stroke risk factors. The adverse influence of socioeconomic status was most apparent among individuals in the lowest social class strata of unskilled men and women... Journal Review
Secondhand smoke levels in Israeli bars, pubs and cafes before and after implementation of smoke-free legislation
This study examined the change in indoor air pollution in bars, pubs, and cafes after the implementation of a smoking ban. As this study reveals, even though there has been some improvement in air quality in the cities evaluated, there still remains more enforcement to do... Journal Review
Event rates, hospital utilization, and costs associated with major complications of diabetes: A multicountry comparative analysis
Findings from this study show the major complications of diabetes greatly increase hospital use and costs in the 20 countries studied and impose a high economic burden on health care systems that is likely to increase as the diabetes epidemic develops... Journal Review
Global CVD and global violence commentary
Developing countries bear the greatest share of the global burden of cardiovascular disease as well as violent conflict. Conflicts intensify existing public health dilemmas like scarce health resources and poor access to health information and to healthcare, and create new challenges like displaced persons and refugees... Advocacy & Policy
Neighborhood socioeconomic context and long-term survival after myocardial infarction
In addition to assessing individual socioeconomic status (SES), this study documents the influence of neighborhood SES on survival after a myocardial infarction (MI). As expected, the influence on survival by neighborhood SES is as strong as or stronger than individual SES... Journal Review
Childhood obesity, other cardiovascular risk factors, and premature death
This study shows that among a group of American Indian youths, obesity was associated with a rate of death in young adulthood and middle age that was about twice that of individuals without diabetes... Journal Review
Consumption of fruit and vegetables among elderly people: a cross sectional study from Iran
Studies show that low consumption of fruit and vegetables is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. In Iran, chronic diseases are the primary cause of death and morbidity... Journal Summary
Associations of advertisement-promotion-sponsorship-related factors with current cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Zambia
Children's exposure to tobacco advertising continues unabated in Zambia. A recent study confirmed a close association between advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco on television and cigarette smoking among adolescents in that country... Journal Summary
Earthquake on the Haitian border
Rhonda Martin, a Boston-based nurse, was providing volunteer health services in poor, rural in the Domincan Republic villages when she experienced the earthquake the earthquake that devastated nearby Haiti... Advocacy & Policy
Projected effect of dietary salt reductions on CVD
New data suggest that reduction in dietary salt of 3 grams per day would have approximately the same effect on rates of CHD events as a 50% reduction in tobacco use, a 5% reduction in body-mass index among obese adults, or the use of statins to treat persons at low or intermediate risk for CHD events... Journal Summary
Learning from Mexico on trans fatty acids
The authors of the study note that even though the public health context seemed to be appropriate to promote TFA policy, the issue is not on the political agenda because it lacks legitimacy and support as a health or regulatory issue... Journal Summary
Smoker sensitivity to tobacco displays
As the tobacco industry faces greater advertising restrictions worldwide, they have shifted their marketing strategy toward effective point-of-sale (POS) advertising... Journal Review
Overweight, obesity, and SES in urban Africa
Results from this study can be considered an early warning that obesity, as a disease in its own right, and as a risk factor for other diseases, is on the increase among urban populations of sub-Saharan Africa, with a higher rate of increase among the "urban poor"... Journal Summary
Support for smoke-free policy among Mongolian restaurant owners
Most restaurants owners would support a smoke-free law but public health campaigns are required to help them understand how and why smoke-free environments are implemented.... Journal Review
Single cigarette use among Mexican adults
The sale of single cigarettes, illegal in Mexico since 1999, remains prevalent. Likelihood of purchasing single cigarettes is associated with low income, smoking less regularly, intending to quit, controlling tobacco consumption... Journal Review
Meta-analysis of studies on salt, stroke, and CVD
The results of this comprehensive meta-analysis demonstrate a strong and biologically plausible association between a high intake of salt and an increased risk of stroke and other CVD related outcomes in adult men and women... Journal Review
Evidence for a tobacco epidemic among Cambodian women
Chewing tobacco was found to be highly prevalent among Cambodian women in this study. Implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control must address all forms of tobacco use... Journal Review
US forecast: Effects of increasing BMI will overwhelm positive effects of declines in smoking
The negative effects of increasing obesity on the health of the US population are forecasted to outweigh the benefits of reductions in smoking during the next decade.... Journal Review
Principles for a comprehensive health care system
According to the World Health Organization, the US ranks 37th among 191 countries in health outcomes. This is not merely a statistic. Embedded in the number are despair, grief, tears, and shortened lives.... Advocacy & Policy
