Going Green Could Help Your Heart

But war movies aren't

(NEWSER) - To give your heart a boost, turn on The Hangover—but make sure you avoid Halloween. Movies that make you chuckle are good for your vascular function, while stressful war and horror movies hurt your system, a study finds. Researchers showed bits of funny movies one day and the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan another day. When subjects viewed the comedies, the lining of their vessels expanded. More»

Antioxidants aren't as good for you as advertised

(NEWSER) - If you're one of the “worried well” chowing down on Vitamin C and E supplements because you think antioxidants are good for you, think again. A new study suggests that abnormally high levels of antioxidants might actually increase your cancer risk. Stem cell researchers discovered the danger by accident, the Daily Telegraph reports, when they tried adding antioxidants into the cells to reduce oxidative damage. Instead, the genetic damage increased. More»

(NEWSER) - In a result defying popular opinion, the human heart regenerates about half of its cells over the course of a normal lifespan, the New York Times reports. A study used levels of a radioactive isotope in the earth’s atmosphere released by aboveground nuclear tests, and found in our bodies, to gauge turnover. Cells damaged in heart attack do not regenerate, and scientists hope the discovery might lead to new drug therapies. More»

Scientists hope chemical compound holds key to curbing heart disease

(NEWSER) - A bar of chocolate a day may keep heart disease away, Reuters reports—or so goes the theory British scientists want to test by recruiting 150 postmenopausal women willing to do their part for science. Eating one bar each day for a year will help study whether a key chemical compound can curb heart disease risk for menopausal women with type 2 diabetes. More»

Doctors say improvement is dramatic, but could be short-lived

(NEWSER) - Deaths from heart disease and strokes have dropped by a quarter since 1999—the biggest decrease on record, reports ABC News. An estimated 160,000 lives have been saved. "This is the fastest rate of decrease we've seen. It's very meaningful," said a doctor. The American Heart Association credits innovative new treatments like angioplasty, stents and clot-busting drugs—and better prevention—for the big drop. More»