Latest news with #heartdisease
Reuters
a day ago
- Health
- Reuters
Mounjaro proves more heart protective than Trulicity in trial of Eli Lilly diabetes drugs
July 31 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab said on Thursday that its newer diabetes drug Mounjaro outperformed Trulicity, its previously top-selling medication for the disease, in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in a large, head-to-head study. In the Lilly-funded trial of more than 13,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, Mounjaro reduced the risk of major adverse heart events by 8% more than Trulicity, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker said. The risk of death from any cause was 16% lower for Mounjaro patients than for those taking Trulicity, though researchers are still studying the data to understand what is behind the difference. Mounjaro is the company's diabetes drug that targets the GLP-1 protein and is also used for weight loss. In the U.S., the obesity version is sold under the brand name Zepbound. Trulicity, which first won U.S. approval in 2014, has been a go-to treatment for preventing heart disease in people with diabetes since the Food and Drug Administration approved it for that use in 2020 following data showing a 12% reduction in heart-related risk. Once Lilly's top seller, Trulicity hit peak sales of $7.4 billion in 2022, aided by the added heart-related approval, according to the company. Mounjaro stole that mantle last year with $11.5 billion in sales, more than double Trulicity's $5.2 billion. Kenneth Custer, president of Lilly's cardiometabolic health division, told Reuters that the new results make Mounjaro an even stronger choice for patients. The new late-stage study, which spanned nearly five years, was the largest and longest trial yet for tirzepatide - the chemical name for Mounjaro - Lilly said. Custer said the company planned to submit its findings to the FDA later this year for an anticipated 2026 expanded approval. The company and Danish rival Novo Nordisk ( opens new tab have been racing for more than two years to prove their competing GLP-1 drugs, already shown to be powerful weight loss agents and diabetes treatments, can also be used to tackle other major diseases and potentially expand insurance coverage. Lilly has a similar study underway testing Zepbound as a treatment for heart disease in obese patients. The FDA approved Novo's rival drug Wegovy to treat heart disease in obese patients in March 2024. Zepbound has already been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization, death and other adverse outcomes in a smaller study of obese adults with a common type of heart failure, although the FDA has yet to approve the drug for that indication. In diabetes care versus Novo's Ozempic, Mounjaro has captured more than half of the U.S. market share, while Zepbound accounts for just under 60% of its obesity segment in competition with Wegovy, according to IQVIA data shared with Reuters by an analyst. IQVIA did not respond to a request for confirmation. Mounjaro and Trulicity had similar safety profiles, according to the trial results, with most side effects being mild-to-moderate stomach issues that usually resolved after increasing the dose, Lilly said. The GLP-1 drugs are known to cause gastrointestinal issues and more participants stopped taking Mounjaro due to side effects (13.3%) than Trulicity (10.2%).
Fox News
a day ago
- Health
- Fox News
AI tech detects hidden heart disease doctors often miss
You might think heart disease comes with warning signs. But some of the deadliest types, like structural heart disease (SHD), creep in silently. No chest pain. No shortness of breath. Nothing until it's too late. Now, a new artificial intelligence tool called EchoNext is changing the game. It can flag hidden heart problems that even trained cardiologists miss just by analyzing a standard ECG. That's right. A routine, five-minute heart test you've probably already had could now unlock life-saving information if AI is watching. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CAN YOUR APPLE WATCH DETECT PREGNANCY? What is structural heart disease, and why is it so dangerous? SHD refers to defects in the heart's walls, valves or chambers. Some are present at birth. Others develop slowly over time. Either way, they often go unnoticed until something major happens, like a heart attack or stroke. That's why experts sometimes call SHD the "hidden" heart disease. Here's the problem. Even the ECGs doctors routinely use to spot heart issues often can't detect SHD on their own. And that's where EchoNext comes in. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? EchoNext: The AI that knows when to dig deeper EchoNext was created by researchers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian. The tool was trained on over 1.2 million ECG and echocardiogram pairs from more than 230,000 patients. Its job? Figure out when a patient's ECG suggests a deeper look is needed, specifically, an echocardiogram, the ultrasound that gives a detailed view of heart structure. "EchoNext basically uses the cheaper test to figure out who needs the more expensive one," explained Dr. Pierre Elias, who led the study. And the results? Stunning. EchoNext outperformed human cardiologists In tests, EchoNext correctly flagged 77% of structural heart disease cases from ECGs. Cardiologists? Just 64%. Even more impressive, when tested on nearly 85,000 people, EchoNext identified over 7,500 at high risk for undiagnosed SHD. A year later, researchers found that 73% of those who followed up with echocardiograms were indeed diagnosed with SHD, a rate far above average. These groundbreaking results were published in Nature, one of the world's most respected scientific journals. That's not just a better test. That's a potential lifesaver. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Why this matters now more than ever Millions walk around every day with SHD and have no idea. They skip heart screenings because nothing feels wrong. Even when they do get an ECG, subtle warning signs can slip by unnoticed. EchoNext doesn't miss them. And it doesn't get tired or distracted. This isn't about replacing doctors. Iit's about giving them a powerful new tool to catch what humans alone can't. What this means for you You don't need to wait for symptoms to take your heart health seriously. If you've ever had an ECG, or you're getting one soon, AI could now help spot hidden risks your doctor might miss. Tools like EchoNext make it easier to catch heart problems early, even if you feel fine. This means fewer surprises, fewer missed diagnoses and a better shot at treatment before it's too late. It's not about replacing doctors. It's about giving them, and you, a better shot at catching problems early. Ask your doctor if AI tools are being used to review your heart tests. You deserve every advantage. Right now, EchoNext is being used in research settings, but tools like it are quickly moving toward wider use in hospitals and clinics. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kurt's key takeaways AI is no longer the future of medicine. It's happening now. EchoNext proves that machine learning can radically improve how we detect silent killers like SHD. If a simple ECG plus AI could save thousands of lives, what are we waiting for? Would you trust a machine to catch what your cardiologist might overlook? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
A cardiologist explains how to tell if your heart is aging too fast, and 4 tips to keep it young
A healthy heart age is key to longevity, and most Americans are aging faster than expected. A cardiologist said understanding your heart age can help you reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Try a free online calculator to find your heart age. Improve it with simple habits like daily walking. Your heart could be older than you think, limiting your potential lifespan by up to a decade. But a cardiologist says a few simple lifestyle changes could help. New research from Northwestern University School of Medicine shows the average American's heart health makes them four to seven years older than their calendar age. That's because of risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and sedentary routines, driving up their risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US. You can check your own heart age for free online using a test developed by Northwestern researchers. If you don't like what you see, incorporating daily habits like regular exercise can improve your heart age, said Dr. Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular epidemiology who led the team that developed the calculator. "As we think about our growing, aging population, some people age faster than others, and slowing that down can have a lot of impact for health," Khan told Business Insider. How to tell if your heart is healthy Usually, doctors measure heart health in percentages using your vital signs. For instance, a patient with a 7.5% risk of heart disease is considered intermediate risk. But that doesn't translate well for the average person. "It's a challenging piece of information to communicate and grasp. What does it mean to have a risk of 7.5%?" Khan said. That's why Khan's team made an age predictor. It's easier to come up with a plan for your heart health if you understand in real terms what it means for your life expectancy. The researchers studied 14,000 adults in the US aged 30 to 79, with no prior history of heart disease. They found that, on average, women's heart health age was about four years older than their chronological age, and men's heart age was about seven years older than their chronological age. The gap widened for people with a lower income and education level; their heart age was as much as 10 years older than their chronological age. Khan added a caveat: it's important to note that the calculator is meant to be a more accurate predictor of heart health risk, but it's not designed to be used alone to manage your health. Talk to your doctor about your risk. "There's no exact number that means people should be alarmed or be concerned, but provide some context for what it means to have a heart age that's five years older or 10 years older," she said. Simple ways to boost heart health Knowing your heart health age can help you find simple, actionable steps to potentially boost longevity, Khan said. "We wanted to be sure it was a tool to motivate heart-healthy behavior," she said. "There are things we already know that can help with your heart age and improve it." To boost your heart health: Stop smoking: If you're a smoker, quitting is the number one change you can make to improve your heart health, Khan said. That's not just tobacco — marijuana has been linked to worse heart health, even in edible form. Optimize your workout: Regular physical activity, including low-intensity movement like walking, helps to strengthen your heart, and every added minute counts. Get the right macros: Whole foods rich in fiber and healthy fats like omega-3s help support your heart. Avoid processed foods and added sugars. Manage your stress: Rest and relaxation are crucial to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol low and prevent strain on your heart. If you're already young at heart, following the above tips can help you stay that way for years to come. "If your heart age is a good spot, it's about strategies to maintain it," Khan said. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
WIRED
2 days ago
- Health
- WIRED
What Your Nighttime Breathing Says About Your Health
Jul 30, 2025 7:00 AM Once dismissed as just snoring, sleep apnea is now emerging as an early warning sign for serious conditions like Alzheimer's, heart disease, and depression. Brain scan images are displayed on a tablet. Photograph:For decades, sleep disturbance was a punch line: the cartoon dad snoring, the disgruntled partner burying their head under a pillow. But science is beginning to paint a less jovial picture. Sleep apnea—a relatively common disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep—is now being taken seriously as a potential biomarker for a host of major health conditions, from cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's, even anxiety and depression. 'Sleep is just as important for health as diet and exercise,' says Marishka Brown, director of the US National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. 'Poor sleep affects both your mental and physical health; it contributes to cardiovascular disease, increases all-cause mortality, and raises risk factors like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. And these impacts are independent—they're not just knock-on effects from something else. Sleep is foundational.' Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the most common types of apnea, affecting an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. It occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, interfering with breathing and lowering oxygen levels. The brain responds by jolting the sleeper awake—sometimes hundreds of times a night—before letting them drift off again, often unaware. Sufferers may feel exhausted during the day and can experience memory problems. But more than this, the latest research suggests that sleep apnea may play an early and direct role in serious long-term illnesses, especially those affecting the brain. 'Traditionally, sleep apnea was thought of as a disorder that increases with age—especially in men—and leads to heart problems, maybe stroke,' says Bryce Mander, associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at UC Irvine. 'But over the last decade, it's become clearer that it's also a risk factor for neurological illnesses like Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.' Each pause of breath triggered by apnea causes a drop in oxygen levels and a surge in adrenaline for the sleeper. 'Over time, that raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke,' says Atul Malhotra, a sleep medicine specialist and professor at UC San Diego. 'There's strong evidence now that sleep apnea is not just a marker of being unfit. Lean people get sleep apnea too,' he adds. Hypoxemia—when oxygen levels in the blood are lower than normal—increases inflammation and oxidative stress on cells, explains Mander. 'It's associated with vascular pathology in the brain. So, your blood vessels become damaged, and that can damage the surrounding brain tissue,' he says. This damage can accelerate the trajectory of a disease like Alzheimer's or make the brain more vulnerable to it—and researchers now know the effects may appear years before outward symptoms. A 2015 New York University study found that people with sleep-disordered breathing developed mild cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's, up to 10 years earlier than those without. However, those who received treatment for their sleep apnea had the same onset age as those without sleep-disordered breathing. 'Duration of untreated illness is one of the biggest predictors of long-term damage,' says Mander. 'The longer you have OSA, the more havoc it can wreak on the body and the brain.' Notably, the research showed that apnea can manifest differently in REM sleep: 'A lot of the memory consolidation and emotional regulation … happens during REM,' Mander explains. 'If you're waking up during REM because of a breathing event, you're fragmenting that process. And if that's happening night after night for years, it adds up.' Early diagnosis, therefore, is critical—but it's currently falling short. Diagnosis frequently relies on a partner noticing loud snoring, an unreliable signal at best. 'The reality is, women—and especially pregnant women—have been overlooked when it comes to sleep disorders,' says Brown. 'Right now, our diagnostic standards for sleep apnea are based on a very narrow demographic—typically middle-aged men. But we know that women present differently.' 'What's classified as 'mild' apnea in a man could be moderate or even severe in a woman, particularly during pregnancy,' she adds. 'We've supported research in pregnant women that found even mild sleep-disordered breathing was an independent risk factor for maternal hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.' Wearable tech companies are racing to fill the diagnostic gap. Samsung's Galaxy Watch recently became the first wearable to receive De Novo authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for detecting signs of OSA. But experts remain cautious. 'Wearables and home sleep tests are improving, but they're not yet a replacement for a full clinical diagnosis,' says Malhotra. 'They can give a false sense of security—people see a score and think they're fine when they're not.' Mander is also skeptical: 'They're not accurate enough to replace proper diagnosis,' he says. 'They might be better than nothing—as long as you treat them as one piece of information, not the full picture.' While smartwatches and rings can track metrics like heart rate variability, they're still not reliable at detecting breathing patterns, he adds. The gold standard in diagnosis is polysomnography, a clinical sleep study that monitors brain waves, oxygen, heart rate, and muscle activity. But this is expensive and time-consuming, and doesn't scale well. New home-based devices are now offering better options. Mander highlights WatchPAT, which uses finger, wrist, and chest sensors to detect apnea events by analyzing changes in blood vessels. There's also ARES, a wearable headband monitor that measures airflow, oxygen levels, and sleep position, and NightOwl, a fingertip device that received FDA approval in recent years. 'It's a big step forward, especially for reaching underserved populations who might not be able to access a sleep lab,' Mander says. Still, there are limitations. 'Right now, the home test doesn't know if you're awake or asleep, much less the sleep stage. It would probably miss people with REM-dominant OSA,' he says. 'If we have devices that can detect when these events are happening—in REM versus non-REM—that could help us pick up people earlier and reduce their risk.' Once diagnosed, CPAP—continuous positive airway pressure—remains the gold standard for treatment, despite being uncomfortable or claustrophobic for some users. It uses a small machine to deliver a steady stream of air through a mask, keeping the airway open during sleep. 'CPAP improves symptoms, blood pressure, and we now have emerging evidence that it may reduce cardiovascular risk,' says Malhotra. For those who can't tolerate CPAP, new tools such as nasal inserts are emerging on the market. Some interventions are more unconventional—and yet surprisingly effective. 'There's an Australian study that showed learning the didgeridoo helped strengthen throat muscles and reduce OSA severity,' says Mander. 'It's a fun example, but it works.' Ultimately, the most critical step is awareness. 'We used to think snoring was just annoying or funny,' Malhotra says. 'Now we understand that it can be a sign of a serious medical condition. If you snore heavily or feel constantly tired, don't just brush it off—go see your doctor.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AstraZeneca beats second-quarter profit expectations
(Reuters) -AstraZeneca beat second-quarter earnings expectations on Tuesday, helped by strong sales of key cancer, heart and kidney disease drugs, but maintained its full-year forecast as pricing pressures and global trade risks remain challenges.
