In a nutshell This paper studied the long-term outcome of stenting versus endarterectomy in patients with coronary-artery stenosis. The authors concluded that there was no 10 year difference in risk of stroke, heart attack and death between patients who received stenting or endarterectomy. Some background In patients with carotid-artery...
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March is National Nutrition Month. It is a educational campaign started in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. To celebrate the importance of “eating right,” the Cleveland Clinic has created an infographic on power foods for your heart which we are sharing here. Include these foods in healthy recipes. Some of these foods help...
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In a nutshell This paper by the American Heart association provides information on acute (sudden) heart attack in women. Some background Coronary heart disease occurs when there is a build-up of fats (such as cholesterol) in the blood vessels. This causes poor blood flow and can lead to a heart attack. This remains understudied,...
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In a nutshell This paper reviewed the effect of exercise on cardiovascular disease. Many studies found that exercise was beneficial for patients. Some background A sedentary lifestyle (lacking physical activity) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD – the narrowing or blockage of arteries which can lead stroke or a heart...
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“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” ~Helen Keller Heart and Soul Perhaps the idea that the soul resides in the heart comes from its constancy. Our hearts start to beat in the womb at around 6 weeks. Usually parents-to-be can hear it at their 3 month prenatal...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the use of the drugs evolocumab and alirocumab in reducing cholesterol levels in the body. The authors concluded that PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies will be important in treating hypercholesterolemia. Some background Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a type of fat present in the blood. LDL binds to and...
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In a nutshell This paper reviewed whether drinking green tea can affect risks of heart disease. The authors concluded that drinking green tea could have beneficial health effects. Some background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels which can lead to heart failure or stroke (the loss of brain function...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors studied whether complications during a percutaneous coronary intervention affects outcome in patients. The authors concluded that intra-procedural thrombotic events are associated with greater mortality and other events during hospitalization, 30 days after hospitalization and in the long-term. Some background...
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In a nutshell This study aimed to determine whether the QRS duration from an ECG could be used to predict long term outcomes in patients with heart disease. The authors concluded that a QRS duration of 120ms or more was capable of predicting the risk of a heart attack and also the risk of death from heart-related causes. Some...
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In a nutshell This study aimed to determine whether exercise capacity affects the outcomes of patients with heart disease. The authors concluded that exercise capacity was not associated with the risk of a heart attack or risk of mortality. Some background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a non-surgical procedure used...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This paper studied the very long term outcomes of bare-metal stent implantation. Some background Bare-metal stents are mesh wire tubes placed in blood vessels to allow blood to flow smoothly. After implantation, complications may occur and require target-lesion revascularization. This means that the blood vessel is obstructed...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the effects of ivabradine (Coralan) in patients with stable angina. Some background Stable angina refers to chest pain on exertion. This can occur because the heart does not receive enough oxygen from blood flow. Atherosclerosis (build-up of substances in the blood vessels) can cause stable angina. Ivabradine...
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