Cardiovascular Research: PTSD, traumatic experiences may raise heart attack,♦ Review indicates where cardio benefits of exercise may lie ♦ Minor heart feature may mean trouble at high altitude

Minor heart feature may mean trouble at high altitude A common heart feature long thought to have negligible effects on human health and performance may be problematic at high altitude. That's a key finding from a study that looked at the effects of a condition known as patent foramen ovale in a high-altitude Bolivian setting.

PTSD, traumatic experiences may raise heart attack, stroke risk in women Women with severe PTSD or traumatic events may have a 60 percent higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. The study is the first to examine trauma exposure, PTSD, and onset of cardiovascular disease exclusively in women. Researchers suggest physicians ask women about traumatic events and PTSD symptoms and then monitor them for cardiovascular issues.

Review indicates where cardio benefits of exercise may lie A systematic review of 160 clinical trials of the cardiometabolic benefits of exercise shows which health indicators improve most with physical activity and for whom. For example, some of the benefits are greater for men, people under 50 and among those battling type 2 diabetes or other cardiovascular conditions.

Genes may not be to blame for link between migraine, heart disease Genes may not be to blame for the increased risk of heart disease some studies have shown in people with migraine, especially those with migraine with aura, new research shows. Aura are sensations that come before the headache, often visual disturbances such as flashing lights.