Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

Internet search trends mirror seasonal changes in CVD

Internet searches for terms related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) spiked in winter months in Australia and the United States, according to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The search results were consistent with previously reported seasonal variations in CVD, suggesting they could eventually be used to predict disease incidence at the population level.

September 6, 2018

‘A major safety concern’: World’s most common NSAID doubles CVD risk

Research out of Denmark suggests diclofenac, the world’s most commonly consumed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), poses a major threat to heart health—more so than paracetamol or run-of-the-mill NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen.

September 5, 2018
Teamwork

How San Diego cut AMI admissions by 22%, saved $86M

A population health collaborative in San Diego County contributed to a 22 percent reduction in hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to new research published in Health Affairs. Compared to the rest of California—which saw an 8 percent drop in AMI admissions—the program was estimated to prevent nearly 4,000 hospitalizations and save $86 million in its first six years.

September 5, 2018

Antioxidant apocynin cuts risk of repeat heart attack, stroke

Heart attack and stroke patients could minimize their risk of a second infarction by consuming apocynin, an antioxidant close in chemical structure to vanilla, according to research out of Portland, Oregon.

September 5, 2018

Utah man credits smartwatch for saving his life during heart attack

A Bountiful, Utah, man is claiming the heart rate tracker on his smartwatch tipped him off to a serious problem that otherwise could have resulted in his death, Fox 13 in Salt Lake City reported this week.

August 31, 2018

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: EMS crews could save 10K lives with updated equipment

Physicians estimate they’ll save 10,000 lives a year if sudden cardiac arrest patients are resuscitated with laryngeal tubes rather than conventional endotracheal intubation, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

August 29, 2018

Cardiologists weigh in on new definition of 'myocardial infarction'

Major cardiology associations joined forces to define and standardize what exactly constitutes a heart attack, differentiating between myocardial infarction (MI) and “myocardial injury” while offering guidance on how to incorporate emerging imaging techniques and high-sensitivity troponin assays.

August 28, 2018
anxiety-2987872_960_720.jpg

Patients with depression, anxiety more likely to experience heart attack, stroke

Middle-aged men and women with psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression are likely at an increased risk for cardiovascular complications, according to research out of Australia.

August 28, 2018

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup