(March 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine) From Oxford – Inconsistent systolic blood pressure readings may be a predictor of stroke, according to a report published in The Lancet.

(March 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

From Oxford – Inconsistent systolic blood pressure readings may be a predictor of stroke, according to a report published in The Lancet. Researchers followed over 8, 000 patients through seven doctor visits, finding that those who had the most variation in their systolic blood pressure had a 6x increased risk of stroke, while patients with the highest blood pressure had a 15x increased risk of stroke.

From North Carolina – According to a report published in the journal Diabetes Care, anticipating a meal may be a risk factor for diabetes. Researchers compared over  500 diabetic patients to nearly 500 healthy controls, believing that when one anticipates or smells food, the nervous system triggers the  body to salivate and thereby increases the production of insulin. They found that alterations to the gene that is responsible for this process may be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

And finally, from Israel – According to a report presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, elderly patients who undergo knee replacement may have improved balance. Researchers studied 63 patients with knee arthritis, finding that total knee replacement resulted in not only pain relief, but also significantly improved balance and the ability to complete daily activiaties.