Grape Seed Extract Lowers Blood Pressure

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Two out of three very obese kids already have heart disease risk factors: High blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose evident even in under-12s

ScienceDaily (July 23, 2012) — Two out of three severely obese kids already have at least one risk factor for heart disease, suggests research published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

See Also:Health & MedicineHeart DiseaseObesityHypertensionCholesterolChildren's HealthDiet and Weight LossReferenceDiabetes mellitus type 2Body mass indexAdipose tissueLow density lipoprotein

The prevalence and severity of childhood obesity has been rising worldwide, but little research has been carried out on the underlying health problems that children with severe weight problems have, say the authors.

They base their findings on data supplied by pediatricians to the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit between 2005 and 2007.

During this period, doctors treating all new cases of severe obesity in children from the ages of 2 to 18 across The Netherlands were asked to supply information on their patients' cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, fasting blood glucose levels, and blood fats (lipids).

The definition of severe obesity started at a body mass index (BMI) of 20.5 for a 2 year old, at 31 for a 12 year old, and at 35 for an 18 year old.

Over the three years, most (87% to 94%) of pediatricians submitted their monthly findings on every severely obese child they treated to the surveillance unit, providing information on 500 children in all.

When pediatricians were contacted again, with a request for further data, 363 responded and 307 of their children were correctly classified as severely obese.

Just over half (52%) of these 307 children were boys. They tended to be more severely obese at the younger end of the age spectrum; the reverse was true of girls. Full information on cardiovascular risk factors was available for 255 (83%).

Two out of three (67%) had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Over half (56%) had high blood pressure; a similar proportion (54%) had high levels of low density 'bad' cholesterol; one in seven (14%) had high fasting blood glucose; and just under 1 per cent already had type 2 diabetes.

And "remarkably" say the authors, almost two thirds (62%) of those aged 12 and under had one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Only one child's obesity was attributable to medical rather than lifestyle factors.

Nearly one in three severely obese children came from one parent families.

"The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose in

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Many Teens With High Blood Pressure Don't Get Needed Tests

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How Resveratrol Helps Regulate Blood Sugar

One has to be impressed by nature’s power to bolster health.  As drug companies try to document that one of their concoctions can manipulate a single parameter of health while hopefully not causing too much damage, nature provides potent remedies that simultaneously influence multiple aspects of health while being free of adverse side effects.  There simply is no comparison.  The more science looks into the mechanisms of natural remedies the more impressive they become.  Resveratrol is a case in point.

Resveratrol is best known for its activation of the SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. gene that is associated with longevity.  SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. is also activated by dietary restriction, and shut down when a person eats too much, which is why many people are speeding their aging process and shortening their lives.  Resveratrol works best when you aren’t overeating, because it helps rejuvenate your SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. gene fitness.  Once SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. is activated it has powerfully beneficial effects on a wide variety of gene signals associated with healthy metabolism.

Several new resveratrol Natural phenol or type of antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine. Research has shown beneficial effects as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents along with supporting healthy blood sugar and cardiovasculature function. studies add to several previous studies supporting the role of resveratrol Natural phenol or type of antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine. Research has shown beneficial effects as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents along with supporting healthy blood sugar and cardiovasculature function. to help improve blood sugar metabolism.  One of the studies took immune cells from diabetic patients and found they lacked SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. activity compared to immune cells from people with normal blood sugar.  These SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. deficient cells also had increased rates of free radical damage.  The researchers showed that resveratrol Natural phenol or type of antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine. Research has shown beneficial effects as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents along with supporting healthy blood sugar and cardiovasculature function. could boost SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. levels to normal, and stop the free radical damage, as SIRT1 Considered the "longevity protein" known for its life spanning effects. It has been shown to inhibit cancer and promote longevity. activation influenced several other gene signals to improve metabolism.

The next study looked into the impact of resveratrol Natural phenol or type of antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine. Research has shown beneficial effects as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents along with supporting healthy blood sugar and cardiovasculature function. in an animal model of type 2 diabetes.  Resveratrol decreased blood sugar and triglycerides while boosting levels of the all important blood sugar regulating hormone adiponectin Protein hormone that modulates metabolism including glucose and fatty acid catabolism. High levels are associated with low body fat. .  Resveratrol boosted cellular levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important cellular signal involved with the biological clock and use of energy within a cell.  In other words, when you feel fatigued or jet-lagged your AMPK is on the blink.  The net result of boosting AMPK was to significantly improve the liver’s ability to metabolize sugar that resulted in lower blood levels of hemoglobin A1c (a key marker of improved glucose metabolism).  Resveratrol even helped the liver and muscles dispose of calories as heat, a natural metabolic boost for improved calorie burning, especially in those who are overweight. 

Yesterday I mentioned how green tea helps protect against high blood sugar.  While both resveratrol Natural phenol or type of antioxidant found in red grapes, red wine. Research has shown beneficial effects as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents along with supporting healthy blood sugar and cardiovasculature function. and green tea help lower free radical damage, much of their metabolic assistance influences different genes, all in support of better metabolism.  Any person with blood sugar concerns should follow the Leptin Diet and employ a variety of natural support that can help guide metabolism into a healthy direction over time. 

Resveratrol continues to build on its image as an anti-aging nutrient.  We know from studies in healthy centenarians that optimal blood sugar metabolism is vital to a long life.  Resveratrol is an important tool in the longevity toolbox.

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Health Tip: Is My Blood Glucose Too Low?

HealthDay – 1 hr 23 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a common complication of diabetes, and can occur even in people whose diabetes is well-managed.

Although the condition isn't always preventable, the American Diabetes Association says diabetics and their loved ones should recognize the warning signs. The ADA offers this list of potential symptoms:

Feeling dizzy or shaking.Sweating and having pale skin.Developing a headache.Feeling hungry.Showing sudden changes in behavior.Moving clumsily.Having a seizure.Feeling confused or having difficulty paying attention.Feeling a "tingling" sensation around the mouth.

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FDA approves Onyx blood cancer drug Kyprolis

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it approved a new blood cancer drug from Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. for patients with advanced disease who have not responded to at least two other drugs.

The injectable drug Kyprolis treats multiple myeloma, a form of cancer that causes tumors to grow in the bone marrow, preventing the production of normal blood cells. Patients with the disease have low red blood cell counts and are more likely to experience infections and excessive bleeding.

The FDA approved the drug for patients who have already tried at least two other drugs, including Velcade and various drugs that boost the immune system.

Shares of South San Francisco, Calif.-based Onyx Pharmaceuticals rose $6.34, or 9.3 percent, to $74.74.

The company studied the drug in 266 patients with advanced multiple myeloma who had already been treated with Velcade and thalidomide. About 23 percent of patients experienced a full or partial disappearance of their tumors, with the typical effect lasting about 7.8 months.

Thirty percent of patients experienced side effects from the drug, including fatigue, fever, shortness of breath and diarrhea.

About 21,700 people will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma this year and 10,710 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

The drug was approved under the FDA's accelerated approval program, which allows the agency to clear drugs based on promising preliminary data. Drug companies have to submit follow-up studies showing that the drug performed as expected.

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Homophobic Blood Donation Ban Contributes to Shortage

Last year, I went to participate in a local blood drive. It was routine enough. The nurse checked my heart rate, weighed me, and then asked me a few questions. "In the last twelve months," she droned, "Have you had sex with an intravenous drug user?" No. "A person who has been exposed to HIV?" No. "A prostitute?" Of course not. "A man who has had sex with men?" I paused. My fiance is, like me, bisexual. Knowing that we were both perfectly healthy, I considered lying, but ultimately decided to be honest. "Yes," I told her, and was immediately brushed away and told that I couldn't donate.

Since the 1980s, people like me and my partner -- healthy adults with no blood-transmissible illnesses -- have been prohibited by the FDA from donating blood. The homophobic, outdated ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, as well as their female partners, is costing people their lives. The Red Cross is currently experiencing a significant shortage of blood donations, with donations dropping a full 10 percent in June, according to CNN. Their strict criteria designed to prevent the spread of HIV is likely contributing to the problem. The FDA forces organizations to refuse healthy donors because of these outdated fears and homophobic judgment.

A comprehensive report in 2010 examined the patterns of blood donation and eligibility among gay and bisexual men, demonstrating how essential it is for the FDA to lift this ban. The authors of the study estimated that some 2,603,004 healthy men would be eligible to donate blood in any given year if the ban were lifted, and nearly half of them would actually donate. This estimate accounts only for men who have sex with men. If the ban for their female partners were to also be lifted, it would open the door for many more life-saving donations from people like myself.

The blood donation ban for these men and their partners is based in bigotry, not science. Citing strong evidence of overall safety, the American Red Cross regards the ban as "medically and scientifically unwarranted." Since the 1980s, donated blood has been thoroughly tested for any trace of HIV or other transmissible diseases. Infection through donated blood is so rare in the United States that the staff at Harvard Medical School calls the risk "close to zero." Even if a person with advanced HIV were to donate blood repeatedly, it would be eliminated from the donation pool each time through rigorous testing.

The blood donation ban is grossly unfair in its stereotype of men who have sex with men. While gay and bisexual men do have slightly higher than average rates of HIV infection, many are diligent about practicing safe sex and routinely seek testing to confirm that they are free of the virus. Many others, including my own fiance, are involved in committed, monogamous relationships with partners -- male or female -- who have been confirmed to be virus-free. It is grossly unfair to lump all of these men and their partners into one "high risk" category, ignoring the factors that vary between individuals. It is also blatantly ignorant to exclude men who may have been with the same healthy partner for twenty years, while accepting men who might have had dozens of unprotected female partners in just a few short months. Unsafe sex is not limited to the GLBT community.

The Red Cross's recent shortage of donated blood has the capacity to cost people their lives. Unless the shortage is addressed promptly through an influx of new donations, people in desperate need of blood transfusions might die. Given this -- and the organization's own support of an overturn of the ban on gay male blood donations -- it's appalling to think that eligible, healthy donors are being turned away. I am a responsible adult with a desire to save the life of someone in need, and my donation is needed now more than ever. My orientation, and the orientation of the person I love, should not block me from being able to help another individual.

Juniper Russo is a freelance writer, health advocate, and dedicated mom living in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Teens' Lifestyle Choices Affect Their Blood Pressure

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From a vial of mom's blood, a fetus's entire genome

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Effects of High Blood Pressure Drug May Mimic Celiac Disease

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Too much salt may damage blood vessels and lead to high blood pressure

ScienceDaily (June 18, 2012) — Eating a high-salt diet for several years may damage blood vessels -- increasing your risk of developing high blood pressure, according to research reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

See Also:Health & MedicineHypertensionHeart DiseaseCholesterolBlood ClotsFood AdditivesDiet and Weight LossLiving WellReferenceElectrolyteHypertensionOily fishBlood pressure

People with this type of blood vessel damage who eat a high-salt diet are more likely to develop hypertension, or high blood pressure . This research hints at the presence of a "sodium amplification loop" in which eating too much salt for a long time damages blood vessels, leading to a greater chance of developing high blood pressure if the high-salt diet is continued.

Researchers didn't assess the cause-and-effect relationship between salt intake and high blood pressure. But the study's results "add to the considerable evidence that a diet heavy on salt is closely linked to high blood pressure," said John Forman, M.D., lead author of the study and a nephrologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.

"In addition, this study reinforces guidelines backed by the American Heart Association and other professional organizations that recommend reducing salt consumption to minimize the risk of developing high blood pressure," Forman said.

One gram of sodium is equal to 2.5 grams of table salt (sodium chloride).

Researchers conducted an observational study (PREVEND) in which they tracked the sodium intake of 5,556 men and women from the general population of Groningen, Netherlands. Sodium intake was assessed by collecting multiple 24-hour urine samples, which is considered the optimal method to measure sodium intake.

Researchers analyzed the association between sodium consumption and blood levels of uric acid and albumin in the urine -- both markers of blood vessel damage -- in participants not taking high blood pressure medicine.

During a median follow-up of 6.4 years, 878 new hypertension diagnoses were made.

Higher sodium intake was associated with increasing levels of uric acid and albumin over time. The higher the levels of these markers, the greater the risk of developing hypertension if dietary salt intake was high, researchers found. Compared with participants eating the least amount of sodium (about 2,200 milligrams a day), those eating the most (about 6,200 mg/d) were 21 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. However, those who had high uric acid levels and ate the most salt were 32 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure while those with high urine albumin levels and highest salt intake were 86 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure.

A high-salt diet is believed to be responsible for 20 percent to 40 percent of all cases of high blood pressure in the United States.

Because the study involved only European Caucasians, the results should be replicated in Hispanics, African-Americans and others in the United States; however, other researchers have found a link between a high-salt diet and high blood pressure in these other populations, Forman said.

Co-authors are Lieneke Scheven, M.D.; Paul de Jong, M.D.; Stephan Bakker, Ph.D.; Gary Curhan, M.D.; and Ron Gansevoort, M.D.

The American Heart Association, the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease, and the Dutch Kidney Foundation funded the study.

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Common blood pressure drug linked to severe gastrointestinal problems

ScienceDaily (June 21, 2012) — Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered an association between a commonly prescribed blood pressure drug, Olmesartan, and severe gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and electrolyte abnormalities -- symptoms common among those who have celiac disease. The findings are published online June 21 in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

See Also:Health & MedicineHeart DiseaseHypertensionChronic IllnessDiseases and ConditionsToday's HealthcareBlood ClotsReferenceGluten-free, casein-free dietAppendicitisDiarrheaRestless legs syndrome

From 2008-11, Mayo Clinic physicians treated 22 patients with symptoms similar to celiac disease, including intestinal inflammation and abnormalities. Patients came from 17 states, and some had been diagnosed with celiac disease. They had chronic diarrhea and weight loss; the median weight loss was 39 pounds, and one patient lost 125 pounds. Fourteen of the 22 were hospitalized because of the severity of their symptoms. When given a blood test, however, these patients didn't come back with results typical of celiac disease. They also didn't respond to treatments such as gluten-free diets.

After examining their medications, Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Joseph Murray, M.D., pulled several of the patients off Olmesartan. Their symptoms dramatically improved. Eventually, all 22 were taken off the drug, and all showed improvement. Eighteen of the 22 patients had intestinal biopsies after stopping the medication and showed improvement.

"We thought these cases were celiac disease initially because their biopsies showed features very like celiac disease, such as inflammation," says Dr. Murray, the lead author. "What made them different was they didn't have the antibodies in their blood that are typical for celiac disease."

Olmesartan -- prescribed for the treatment of hypertension, or high blood pressure -- works by blocking substances that tighten blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more smoothly and the heart to pump more efficiently, according to the U.S. National Library on Medicine.

"It's really an awareness issue. We want doctors to be aware of this issue, so if they see a patient who is having this type of syndrome -- they think about medications as a possible association," Dr. Murray says. "We've reported an association. What needs to be known next is the science to understand why there is such an association."

The investigators were supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the American College of Gastroenterology Junior Faculty Development Award, the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Swedish Research Council and the Fulbright Commission.

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Blood Pressure Drug: GI Side Effects?

Heat Wave Causes Class of 2012 Grads...More Health HeadlinesEating Disorders Not Just for YoungLove or Lust: Science Can TellAmerica's Safest Hospitals: Any Near You?Ariz. Woman Delivers Own Baby in CarIn The NewsArthritisAllergiesDr. Richard BesserCold & Flu Home> HealthBlood Pressure Drug Olmesartan Linked to Celiac Disease Side Effects in a Handful of PatientsBy CARRIE GANN (

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Cinnamon Improves Regulation of Blood Sugar

An analysis of six high quality human studies on cinnamon consumption and blood sugar has confirmed that intake of cinnamon has a beneficial effect on fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). 

The best supplemental form of cinnamon is called Cinnulin PF, a special water-soluble extract originally developed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  It filters out some components of cinnamon that can be toxic when taken at high doses.  It is also concentrated in the most bioactive compounds in cinnamon called doubly linked Type-A Polymers. 

Cinnamon helps enhance the flow of sugar in metabolism.  It works to improve glucose transport by helping insulin signaling.  Of course, if a person continues to eat too much then it isn’t likely to do much.  However, if one consistently exercises, and follows the Leptin Diet—giving their metabolism a chance—cinnamon is a useful tool that can help correct a stressed-out blood sugar metabolism.

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Long-Term Salty Diets Tied Again to High Blood Pressure

HealthDay – 4 hrs ago MONDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Indulging in a bag of chips or munching a handful of nuts now and then isn't likely to hurt you in the short run, but regularly chowing down on salty foods over several years may damage your blood vessels and lead to high blood pressure, a new study finds.

Researchers reporting in the June 18 online edition of Circulation said that eating too much salt over time may affect the lining of blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.

"This study reinforces guidelines backed by the American Heart Association and other professional organizations that recommend reducing salt consumption to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure," said Dr. John Forman, lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can contribute to heart failure, stroke and kidney failure.

Researchers tracked the salt intake of 5,556 white men and women from the Netherlands over about six years. None of the participants had high blood pressure at the study's start.

By analyzing 24-hour urine samples collected periodically over several years, the researchers noted the amount of uric acid and albumin in the urine, markers of blood vessel damage. They also tracked the amount of salt, or sodium, the participants ate by measuring how much sodium ended up in their urine.

The researchers found that, over time, people who ingested more sodium had more uric acid and albumin in their urine.

The higher the levels of uric acid and albumin, the more likely those people were to develop high blood pressure if they continued on high-sodium diets, the investigators found. Over the approximately six-year period of the study, 878 new cases of hypertension (high blood pressure) were discovered.

Compared with the participants eating the least amount of sodium (about 2,200 milligrams a day), those eating the most (6,200 mg a day) were 21 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. Those who had high uric acid and albumin levels and ate the most salt were 86 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure.

How much salt is 2,200 milligrams of salt? About a teaspoon.

Much of the sodium the average American consumes comes from processed foods. Forman cautions that people who don't use salt shakers at the table shouldn't assume they're not getting too much sodium. One cup of soup or a single-serving frozen dinner can have 1,000 milligrams of sodium.

The study showed an association between the markers of blood vessel damage and high blood pressure, but not a cause-and-effect relationship.

Dr. Gregg Fonarow, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, said, "the research shows that in some individuals, there is an association between these markers -- uric acid and albumin -- and the subsequent diagnosis of hypertension."

Why salt causes blood vessel damage -- called "endothelial dysfunction" -- is not fully understood, said Fonarow. "Sodium exposure may lead to progressive changes in the lining of the blood vessels, eventually becoming irreversible," he said.

"And once you've developed hypertension, lowering your salt intake most likely won't be enough to normalize your blood pressure," he said.

The study also suggests that those with markers of blood vessel damage may be more negatively affected by a high-salt diet than others.

The idea that salt influences the development of high blood pressure is considered controversial by some experts. A study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that lower amounts of sodium in urine were associated with more cardiovascular disease deaths.

In order to link high salt intake more closely to blood vessel damage and subsequent high blood pressure, Forman said it would be necessary to follow many people over about 20 years, ideally using ultrasound to directly assess blood vessel health.

Fonarow said the key to high blood pressure prevention is moderation and watchful management of other cardiovascular risks. "Avoid a high-salt diet, but also don't smoke, watch your weight, keep your cholesterol down and manage your blood pressure," he said. "Those factors are probably even more important."

Heart experts advise limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg a day, or 1,500 mg if you're black, over 50 years old or have certain chronic diseases. By reading Nutrition Facts labels closely, you can limit your sodium intake.

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The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about high blood pressure.

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Dramatic Rise in Kids Hospitalized With High Blood Pressure: Study

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Diabetes: Tighter control of blood sugar prevents nerve condition, but at what risk?

ScienceDaily (June 13, 2012) — Aggressive control of blood sugar levels in diabetes can help to prevent a painful condition affecting patients' nerves, according to a new systematic review in The Cochrane Library. However, the review suggests that optimal target levels need to be established to prevent serious complications.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiabetesNeuropathyPersonalized MedicineHormone DisordersDiet and Weight LossBirth ControlReferenceBlood sugarDiabetic dietHyperglycemiaDiabetes mellitus type 2

People with diabetes control their blood sugar levels through insulin injections, diet and drugs, to compensate for their bodies producing too little insulin (type 1 diabetes) or becoming resistant to insulin (type 2 diabetes). Up to half of people with diabetes develop a disabling condition called diabetic neuropathy, which affects nerves in the feet and legs, making them feel tingly, numb, painful or weak. It is possible to prevent neuropathy by strict control of blood sugar levels through a number of ways including different insulin regimens and diet modification, but evidence for the effects of this approach, known as enhanced glucose control, has not been systematically reviewed until now.

The results analysed in the review are drawn from six studies investigating the risk of neuropathy in people who received enhanced glucose control treatments including extra insulin injections, antidiabetic drugs, and diet changes. The review looked at evidence in type 1 and type 2 diabetes separately. In two studies involving 1,228 people with type 1 diabetes significantly fewer people developed neuropathy each year with enhanced glucose control treatment compared with routine care. In four studies involving 6,669 people with type 2 diabetes the reduction in new cases of neuropathy was small and not statistically significant.

"Overall, this evidence suggests that a more aggressive approach to controlling sugar levels can be effective in delaying the onset of neuropathy in diabetes," said lead author of the review, Brian Callaghan, M.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US. "The results also highlight the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The less dramatic effect of enhanced glucose control in type 2 diabetes may indicate that other factors, besides high glucose levels, may be important in causing nerve damage in these patients."

However, the risk of adverse effects associated with the treatment, including hypoglycaemia, was higher with enhanced glucose control. The researchers say further research is needed to optimise target levels for safe treatments that will both prevent neuropathy and minimise serious side effects.

"Although these results show clear benefits for preventing neuropathy in people with diabetes, they should be weighed against potential adverse effects," said Callaghan. "Future studies must establish target levels for glucose control that will balance benefits and side effects."

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High Blood Sugar May Make Pneumonia Deadlier

HealthDay – 4 hrs ago WEDNESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Elevated blood sugar levels may help predict death in pneumonia patients, researchers say.

The new study included nearly 6,900 patients, average age 60, with community-acquired pneumonia who were admitted to hospitals and private practices in Austria, Germany and Switzerland between 2003 and 2009.

Community-acquired pneumonia, one of the leading infectious diseases in industrialized nations, is a major cause of illness and death, according to background information in the study published online May 29 in the journal BMJ.

Compared to patients with normal glucose levels at admission, those with elevated levels had a higher risk of death within 28 and 90 days. The higher a patient's glucose levels, the greater the risk of death, the investigators said in a journal news release.

The death rate within 90 days was 3 percent for patients without diabetes and normal glucose levels, 10 percent for those without diabetes but with elevated glucose levels, and 14 percent for patients with diabetes, regardless of their glucose levels on admission, the study revealed.

The findings show the necessity of glucose testing and close glucose monitoring after patients with community-acquired pneumonia are discharged from hospital, in order to diagnose diabetes and to prevent further complications, concluded Dr. Philipp Lepper, of the University Hospital of Saarland in Germany, and colleagues.

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The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about pneumonia.

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Personalized Blood Pressure Therapy May Help Diabetics

HealthDay – 4 hrs ago WEDNESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Aggressive efforts to control blood pressure in people with diabetes may be leading to overtreatment with blood pressure drugs in some patients, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined data from nearly 1 million diabetes patients treated at Veterans Affairs health facilities across the United States and found that as many as 82 percent were receiving treatment to keep their blood pressure under control.

However, more than 8 percent of patients were possibly being overtreated to control their blood pressure, and 6 percent were not being treated as aggressively as they could be, the study found.

The findings, published online May 28 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, suggest that the current one-size-fits-all method of blood pressure control needs to be reconsidered, the researchers said.

This personalized approach should be possible with the help of electronic health records, which can combine blood pressure, prescription and other health data on patients' individual risks such as heart disease or balance problems, the study authors explained in a University of Michigan Health System news release.

"Appropriately treating blood pressure in people with diabetes is extremely important, and good blood pressure control should still be the goal to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke and other conditions," first author Dr. Eve Kerr, director of the Center for Clinical Management Research at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in the news release.

"But just treating to a blood pressure target in all patients may result in overtreating and harming some patients because their blood pressures actually fall too low," she added. "We need to find better ways to measure and incentivize appropriate blood pressure management to make sure that patients who need aggressive treatment are getting it, and to decrease the rate of inappropriate overtreatment."

More information

The American Diabetes Association has more about high blood pressure and diabetes.

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Auction of purported vial of Reagan's blood halted

"We have negotiated with the consignor to arrange for the item to be withdrawn from the auction and donated to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation,

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