Dual inhibition, newer paradigms for cholesterol lowering.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in United States. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III recommends new lower cholesterol levels, particularly for patients at moderate and high risk for coronary disease. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is primarily the target of hypolipidemic drugs.

Combination therapy in hypertension: A focus on angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Every third adult in the United States has hypertension. Hypertension is a continuous, independent, potent risk factor for cardiovascular events like stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. The blood pressure control achieved with most hypertensives is way below the recommended goal.

Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in vascular modulation: beyond the hypertensive effects.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are being widely used as antihypertensives by clinicians worldwide. One in every three Americans has hypertension. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, active smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and inactivity are the major cardiovascular risk factors, which can produce compounding effects on human health, leading to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Therapeutic implications of diabetes in cardiovascular disease.

Insulin-resistant diabetes is becoming more prevalent among the general U.S. population.

Pharmacotherapy plus endoscopic intervention is more effective than pharmacotherapy or endoscopy alone in the secondary prevention of esophageal variceal bleeding: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.

Background: Previous clinical trials on the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding yielded mixed results regarding the efficacy of endoscopic procedures compared with pharmacotherapy only.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of endoscopic procedures with that of pharmacotherapy in the prevention of mortality and rebleeding.

Design And Setting: A systematic literature review was performed to identify randomized, controlled trials of the efficacy of pharmacotherapy and endoscopic therapy.

Endurance exercise and resistance training in cardiovascular disease.

Contrary to the age old taboo of exercise in cardiac patients, resistance training has been gaining importance recently as a safe, healthy fitness option in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, the leading killer disease in the population above 45 years in the United States. Endurance or aerobic exercise helps improve overall stamina and the ability of the heart to pump oxygenated blood in those with and without prior cardiovascular disease. In addition to modifying cardiovascular risks, resistance training has profound beneficial effects on improving muscle strength and endurance, preventing osteoporosis and improving quality of life both in the healthy and cardiovascular patients including women and heart failure patients.