Federal regulators have granted AstraZeneca approval to market its cholesterol pill Crestor as a preventive measure against heart attack and stroke in patients with healthy cholesterol levels. The Food and Drug Administration decision will allow the company to promote Crestor to millions of U.S. patients who traditionally have not been candidates for cholesterol-lowering drugs. The agency posted a briefing ...

Former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner underwent emergency surgery Sunday after showing symptoms of carotid artery disease, the presidency said. Kirchner "presented this morning symptoms caused by disease in his right carotid artery that requires surgical treatment," said Dr. Marcelo Ballesteros, deputy director of the Presidential Medical Unit. Kirchner ...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Drinking alcohol seems to protect the hearts of Spanish men, but not Spanish women, findings from a large study suggest. However, men should not begin drinking to protect themselves from heart disease, cautions lead investigator Larrarte Arriola, of the Public Health Department of Gipuzkoa, Basque Government in San Sebastian, Spain, since "alcohol is a cause of ...