Another reason to get a flu shot

You can get the latest information on swine (H1N1) flu from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Warren-Gash C, Smeeth L, Hayward AC. Influenza as a trigger for acute myocardial infarction or death from cardiovascular disease: a systematic review. Lancet Infectious Diseases 2009; 9:601-10.

Swine (H1N1) Flu: How to understand your risk and protect your health is a Special Health Report available from Harvard Health Publications.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have an excellent Web site devoted to H1N1 flu that includes information on outbreaks as well as prevention.

Vitamin D a bright spot in nutrition research

Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine 2007; 357:266-81.

Wallis DE, Penckofer S, Sizemore GW. The "sunshine deficit" and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 2008; 118:1476-85.

Stechschulte SA, Kirsner RS, Federman DG. Vitamin D: bone and beyond, rationale and recommendations for supplementation. American Journal of Medicine 2009; 122:793-802.

D*action is an international public health study being supported by a consortium of over 30 vitamin D scientists and clinicians from around the world. More than 3,000 people have joined the study, which involves testing vitamin D levels twice a year and sharing this information. In preliminary results from the first 1000 participants, 54% have levels below the recommended 40 to 60 ng/mL. The project is funded by the participants, each of whom donates $40 per test. To join D*Action, register at www.grassrootshealth.net.

Blood pressure: How low should you go?

Bangalore S, Messerli FH, Wun C-C, Zuckerman AL, DeMicco D, Kostis JB, LaRosa JC. J-Curve Revisited: an analysis of the Treating to New Targets (TNT) Trial. Presented at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting, March 10, 2009.

American Heart Association. J-Curve Phenomenon.

Chobanian AV. Shattuck Lecture. The hypertension paradox--more uncontrolled disease despite improved therapy. New England Journal of Medicine 2009; 361:878-87.

The current national guidelines on blood pressure are in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. A revised version, the eighth edition, is underway.

Relax your way to lower blood pressure

Dusek JA, Hibberd PL, Buczynski B, et al. Stress management versus lifestyle modification on systolic hypertension and medication elimination: a randomized trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2008; 14:129-38.

More information on the relaxation response is available from the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Shellfish for the heart?

Matheson EM, Mainous AG, 3rd, Hill EG, Carnemolla MA. Shellfish consumption and risk of coronary heart disease. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2009; 109:1422-6.

Peripheral artery disease and stroke

Sen S, Lynch DR, Jr., Kaltsas E, et al. Association of Asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease With Vascular Events in Patients With Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack. Stroke 2009, published online August 29, 2009.

In brief

Extra benefits of weight loss: Foster GD, Borradaile KE, Sanders MH, et al. A randomized study on the effect of weight loss on obstructive sleep apnea among obese patients with type 2 diabetes: the Sleep AHEAD study. Archives of Internal Medicine 2009; 169:1619-26 and Rider OJ, Francis JM, Ali MK, et al. Beneficial cardiovascular effects of bariatric surgical and dietary weight loss in obesity. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2009; 54:718-26.

Mediterranean diet and diabetes: Esposito K, Maiorino MI, Ciotola M, et al. Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on the need for antihyperglycemic drug therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine 2009; 151:306-14.