Long-Term Antibiotic Use May Up Women's Odds for Heart Trouble

THURSDAY, April 25, 2019 -- Antibiotics can be lifesaving, but using them over a long period might raise the odds of heart disease and stroke in older women, a new study suggests.

Researchers tracked the health of nearly 36,500 U.S. women over an average follow-up of nearly eight years. During that time, more than a thousand developed heart disease.

Many Women With Heart Disease Falling Short on Exercise

FRIDAY, April 26, 2019 -- Too many women with heart disease aren't heeding exercise guidelines, and that could translate into even more health problems down the road, new research suggests.

"Physical activity is a known, cost-effective prevention strategy for women with and without cardiovascular disease, and our study shows worsening health and financial trends over time among women with cardiovascular disease who don't get enough physical activity," said researcher Dr. Victor Okunrintemi. He is a former Johns Hopkins Medicine research fellow who is now an internal medicine resident at East Carolina University.

Even Housework, Gardening Can Help an Older Woman's Heart

FRIDAY, March 15, 2019 -- Think exercise has to be high-intensity to make a difference to your health? Think again. New research shows that even routine housework and gardening can help older women's hearts.

"For older women, any and all movement counts towards better cardiovascular health," said Dr. David Goff. He's director of the division of cardiovascular sciences at the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which funded the new research.

Early-Onset Menstruation Linked to Later High Blood Pressure Risk

THURSDAY, March 14, 2019 -- Older women who started menstruating at an early age have an increased risk of high blood pressure, new research suggests.

For the study, scientists analyzed data from nearly 7,900 women in China. The investigators found that early-onset menstruation was linked to a much higher chance for high blood pressure in late adulthood, even after taking into account factors such as social and economic background, and lifestyle habits.

AHA News: Stressful Life Events Tied to Heart Disease in Older Black Women

TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Stressful life events were linked to higher incidents of heart attack, stroke and other types of cardiovascular disease in black women, according to new research that also looked at whether a person's resilience could help ward off the impact of stress.

The study did not find a connection between resilience and cardiovascular disease, but its authors encouraged more research into that area and other potential links.