Animals cool off at the Maryland zoo
D.C., Md. & Va.
Animals cool off at the Maryland zoo
June 24, 2025 | 8:25 PM GMT
Elephants, chimpanzees and otters cool off from the heat with water and ice treats at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore on June 24.
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Associated Press
15 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Still top cause of death, the types of heart disease people are dying from is changing
Published [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Research Highlights: Over the past 50 years, overall heart disease death rates have dropped by 66% and deaths from heart attacks have declined by nearly 90%. The types of heart disease people are dying from most often have shifted from heart attacks to an increase in deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias and hypertensive heart disease. Researchers say this shift, in part, is the result of advances in public health measures focused on prevention and life-saving interventions to improve early diagnosis and treatment, allowing people to live longer while managing chronic heart conditions Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, June 25, 2025 ( NewMediaWire ) - June 25, 2025 - DALLAS — While heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for over a century, the past 50 years have seen a substantial decrease (66%) in overall age-adjusted heart disease death rates, including a nearly 90% drop in heart attack deaths, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association , an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. During that time, there have been major shifts in the types of heart disease people are dying from, with large increases in deaths from heart failure , arrhythmias and hypertensive heart disease . In an analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers reviewed the age-adjusted rates of heart disease deaths among adults ages 25 and older from 1970 to 2022. The analysis found: Over this 52-year period, heart disease accounted for nearly one-third of all deaths (31%). During this time, heart disease death rates decreased substantially, from 41% of total deaths in 1970 to 24% of total deaths in 2022. In 1970, more than half of all people who died from heart disease (54%) died because of a heart attack – a type of acute ischemic heart disease. The age-adjusted death rate decreased 89% by 2022, when less than one-third of all heart disease deaths (29%) were caused by a heart attack. Conversely, during this time, the age-adjusted death rate from all other types of heart disease (including heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and arrhythmia) increased by 81%, accounting for 9% of all heart disease deaths in 1970 and 47% of all heart disease deaths in 2022. 'This distribution shift in the types of heart disease people were dying from the most was very interesting to us,' said the study's first author, Sara King, M.D., a second-year internal medicine resident in the department of medicine at Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, California. 'This evolution over the past 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way heart attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are managed. However, the substantial increase in deaths from other types of heart conditions, including heart failure and arrhythmias, poses emerging challenges the medical community must address.' During the decades reviewed: Deaths from arrhythmias had the largest relative increase, with the age-adjusted death rate rising by 450%. However, arrhythmias still accounted for only about 4% of all heart disease deaths in 2022. Arrhythmias occur when electrical impulses to the heart may be too fast, too slow or erratic, causing an irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common types of arrhythmias. The age-adjusted death rate from heart failure — a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen — increased 146%. The rate of deaths from hypertensive heart disease — heart problems that occur because of high blood pressure that is present over a long time — increased by 106%. In addition to analyzing the types of heart disease deaths, the researchers also identified several underlying factors that may account for the shift in deaths from ischemic heart disease to other heart conditions. 'Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it and how we treat it has evolved considerably. That's especially true in how we address acute cardiac events that may appear to come on suddenly,' King said. 'From the establishment and increased use of bystander CPR and automated external defibrillators to treat cardiac arrest outside the hospital setting, to the creation of systems of care that promote early recognition of and quick procedural and medical intervention to treat heart attacks, there have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence.' Other specific advancements noted in the study included: The invention in the 1960s of coronary artery bypass grafting and the formation of coronary care units improved in-hospital and long-term heart disease death rates. Cardiac imaging improved in the 1970s with coronary angiography, which was capitalized by the advent of balloon angioplasty in 1977, followed by coronary stenting to open blocked heart arteries in the 1980s to 1990s. Simultaneously, there was significant development of medical therapies in the 1970s to 1990s, including thrombolytics and aspirin to reduce blockages; beta blockers to treat high blood pressure; renal-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors to slow the progression of heart and kidney disease; and statins to control cholesterol. These advances all contributed to the decline in deaths from treatment and deaths due to a second or subsequent acute cardiac event. At the turn of the 21st century, high-intensity statin therapy to lower cholesterol and dual antiplatelet therapy to reduce clotting were established, as well as landmark 'door-to-balloon' trials that displayed substantial benefits when care to open blocked arteries was expedited. From 2009 to 2022, high-sensitivity troponins that improved the rapid diagnosis of heart attacks and advanced antiplatelet agents to reduce clotting and restore blood flow to the heart further improved death rates, while lipid-lowering therapies such as ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors emerged to improve options for secondary prevention. In addition to medical advances, significant public health strides, such as smoke-free policies, increased emphasis on physical activity and updated practice guidelines that support improved blood pressure and cholesterol management, have driven much of the improvements, according to the report. Study researchers point out that, despite overall reduction in heart disease and the progress in therapies and guidelines, there has been a substantial rise in many CVD risk factors, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity, in the United States. An aging population is also contributing to an increase in the types of heart disease people are dying from. The report found: From the 1970s to 2022, obesity prevalence has risen from 15% to 40%. Type 2 diabetes including prediabetes, has risen to impact nearly half of all adults in the U.S. in 2020. Hypertension has increased from a prevalence of approximately 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022. Demographic shifts in the U.S. have also contributed significant changes to the landscape of heart disease mortality. From 1970 to 2022, there has been a notable increase in life expectancy, from 70.9 years to 77.5 years. 'All of these risk factors contribute to an ongoing burden of heart disease, especially as related to heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and arrhythmias,' said senior author of the paper Latha Palaniappan, M.D., M.S., FAHA, associate dean for research and a professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. 'While heart attack deaths are down by 90% since 1970, heart disease hasn't gone away. Now that people are surviving heart attacks, we are seeing a rise in other forms of heart disease like heart failure. The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood.' 'The American Heart Association has been a leader in both the medical advancements and the policy and guideline initiatives that have contributed to the reduction in overall heart disease deaths,' said Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, the 2024-2025 American Heart Association volunteer president, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and an adjunct associate professor of Medicine at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. 'Through the nearly $6 billion dollars the Association has invested in scientific research since 1948, we have enhanced the knowledge of how we diagnose and treat heart disease in almost all forms. We have been a catalyst in collaborations with the public and private sectors in support of public health policies to improve the communities in which people live, work, learn and play. And we know, that by following the prescription of our Life's Essential 8(TM) health measures, we can prevent most heart disease and reduce deaths from heart disease by reducing the health risk factors that contribute to it.' The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 is a measure of cardiovascular health that includes eight essential components for ideal heart and brain health – 4 health behaviors and 4 health factors, including: Eat better. Be more active. Quit tobacco. Get healthy sleep. Manage weight. Control cholesterol. Manage blood sugar. Manage blood pressure. 'We've won major battles against heart attacks, however, the war against heart disease isn't over. We now need to tackle heart failure and other chronic conditions that affect people as they age,' King said. 'The cardiology community must prepare to meet this evolving burden through prevention, longitudinal management and multidisciplinary care that supports healthy aging. The next frontier in heart health must focus on preventing heart attacks, and also on helping people age with healthier hearts and avoiding chronic heart conditions later in life.' The authors note several limitations to this study: There is likely substantial differences in these reductions in heart disease deaths by age, sex, race, ethnicity, region and urbanization. The study did not analyze data including these components, and research including these factors should be prioritized in future studies to confirm if these overall trends remain valid in subpopulations. The use of multiple iterations of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding system may allow for potential miscoding and presents challenges in maintaining consistency in comparisons across the years. Particularly prominent is the change from ICD-8 to ICD-9 in the year 1979, where the mortality of several conditions (valvular heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, pulmonary heart disease) dramatically increased. The true burden of ischemic heart disease may be underestimated in the findings presented in this study, since certain conditions including heart failure, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and in particular ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, may be overly simplistic. Many of these cases likely have underlying causes that cannot be precisely differentiated using current or past ICD codes. Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. Studies published in the American Heart Association's scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content. Overall financial information is available here . Additional Resources: ### About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on , Facebook , X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173 Cathy Lewis: [email protected] For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and
Forbes
28 minutes ago
- Forbes
The Ongoing Oceanic Catastrophe In Australia Was Predicted Years Ago
Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 film The Birds is believed to be inspired by real events. In 1961, along the shores of North Monterey Bay, California, 'crazed seabirds pelted the shores;' these sooty shearwaters started flying into objects, dying on the streets, regurgitating anchovies. This odd, disconcerting event was worthy fodder for a horror film. Analysis shows these birds had ingested high amounts of domoic acid, from a diatom called pseudo-nitzschia, the same chemical that's poisoned thousands of marine mammals in California this year alone. A sea lion with domoic acid poisoning experiencing involuntary muscle spasms. We have another reason to address warming waters, extreme weather events and inefficient agriculture. Put together, they contribute to the increased risk of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that can bring mass death to the marine ecosystems they pervade. California can report 50 dead dolphins in a week, while 'feral, demonic sealions' are attacking surfers. Harmful Algal blooms have been recorded for hundreds of years, with a link seen between the discolored lake water, and the subsequent death of the animals that drank from it. Over the last 40 years or so, these events have become more frequent. This beloved dog, Cedar, died within hours from a 'benthic algae mat'. These formations of algae grow at the bottom of a body of water and detach, surfacing and posing a distinct littoral threat. They're harder to detect than surface blooms and may be more persistent. They can enter the food web and threaten the rest of us via shellfish, while their 'toxic aerosol' can cause respiratory problems. Public Safety Poster about the dangers of benthic algal mats. Warmer Waters Favor Cyanobacteria Blue-green algae isn't algae but in fact cyanobacteria, which are prokaryotes that photosynthesize. Different types of organisms have their environmental preferences and cyanobacteria is the same. It prefers warm waters compared to similar microorganisms so it will thrive thanks to global warming. Interestingly, the darkness of this top layer of cyanobacteria can absorb more heat, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates its growth. Climate action strategies include recognizing tipping points and taking early action. This applies to HABs the same as it does to die-back in the Amazon. The body of water on the right has a cyanobacteria bloom. The left has no bloom. Cause and Effect of Bad Water Management Nutrient run-off is the leading, controllable cause of algal blooms. The water wasted from flood irrigation gives us enough reason to adopt more efficient methods of irrigation, even before considering the risk of runoff. Rather than flooding a field and having some of that water overflow, and enter the local environment, other methods are more targeted. Unlike flooding, other techniques (for example drip irrigation) do not cause water to overflow the field and runoff into a tributary, where the nutrient pollution enters the wider aqueous ecosystem. Nutrient pollution is a problem in more than one-third of lakes and half of all rivers and streams in the United States. While preventing the runoff upstream will be a way to prevent the blooms, the EPA has a list of local resources to deal with them. Beyond creating toxins that can directly kill animals, or harm humans that eat contaminated animals, people may suffer skin irritation and respiratory problems from contact with some of these microorganisms. Species of algae that aren't toxic can still cause harm by forming a surface layer that blocks sunlight for the plant life below. Bodies of water can deteriorate into 'dead zones,' where this lack of sunlight kills the aquatic plants below, now unable to photosynthesize, which depletes the water of oxygen. With that, limited fish or marine life can survive. The largest dead zone in America occurs every summer, when nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River Basin enters the Gulf of America and creates a dead zone of about 4,300-6,500 square miles. Last year saw the dead zone reach 6,700 square miles; the EPA estimates that it will cost $7 Billion a year to reduce this problem. Reasons to Like Algae Having explored toxic algae and the hazards that can arise from benign algae, let's ponder what redeeming uses this group of organisms may offer. Some algae can be used as fertilizers, which would address the ammonia production carbon emissions issues. It's further beneficial as a form of carbon capture and sequestration: while the Haber Bosch would require intensive energy input which causes high emissions (1.8% of global CO2 emissions), algae can grow naturally in a carbon intensive environment, removing it and creating biomass. This biomass has applications beyond fertilizers, such as in biofuels. Spirulina adds a boost to your morning smoothie, and dried seaweed is delicious. Sewage leaks are inherently disgusting and bad for drinking water, and lead to HABs that are the same. Sewage is nutrient pollution that fuels blooms, giving municipalities further reason to efficiently address sewage problems, if they needed it. Algae is not just caused by wastewater, but could help address the issue. From a research paper about using algae for biomass production and nutrient separation while treating wastewater: 'When algae were used to clean wastewater, amazing benefits were guaranteed, such as a decrease in the formation of dangerous solid sludge and the creation of valuable algal biomass through recycling of the nutrients in the wastewater.' Let us work to limit the causes of harmful algae while harnessing the benefits of helpful algae. The First Plague in the Book of Exodus (from The Bible) talks about the sea turning red, of fish dying, of people being unable to drink from the odorous waters. These sorts of events used to be rare, natural occurrences, but over the last 40 years these plagues have become more frequent. Australia is in the midst of an 'ecological catastrophe' as a HAB 70 times the size of Sydney Harbor disrupts life in South Australia, with residents protesting for action. Commercial fisherman are facing bankruptcy, while all residents are suffering. Dead Maori Octopus Could this have been prevented? Yes, a dozen local researchers wrote to the Federal Environment Minister in 2023 about the importance of mitigation and monitoring, and requested funding for reef protection. They were ignored. The Marine Fisher Association says that the current Harmful Algal Bloom has caused 'complete ecosystem failure.'
Bloomberg
30 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
The Brain Implant World Buzzes as Billionaires Rush In
Hi, it's Ike in Boston. Did you know that your brain has more than 100,000 miles of neurons — enough to circle the earth four times? That blows my mind! More on that soon, but first … The hundreds of doctors and scientists who gathered at a conference hotel just outside of Washington earlier this month couldn't have been more excited to talk about their work on brain implants to help patients with debilitating diseases. They sipped beers and bantered about what materials to use in the implants and what sort of electrical stimulation was most effective.
