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.

Daily aspirin unlikely to prevent 1st heart attack

Though it’s used routinely to discourage repeat cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, a daily dose of aspirin is unlikely to prevent a first-time heart attack, according to research presented this week in Munich.

August 27, 2018
Wrinkled forehead | Furrowed brow

Excessive forehead wrinkles may be early sign of atherosclerosis

Numerous, deep forehead wrinkles could be a visual cue that a patient is more at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research presented Aug. 26 at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich.

August 27, 2018

Daily e-cigarette users double their risk for MI

Though e-cigarettes have generally been viewed as “less risky” than conventional cigarettes, new research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests the alternative can double the risk of developing myocardial infarction (MI).

August 22, 2018

Gout associated with doubled risk of death from heart failure

A clinical history of gout is associated with worse outcomes in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), according to research published on Aug. 17 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

August 21, 2018
chest pain

Could a genetic test ID people who are high risk for heart attack?

Harvard scientist Sekar Kathiresan, MD, believes polygenic risk score could help identify people at high risk for heart attack. Kathiresan, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative at the Broad Institute and a professor at Harvard Medical School, said polygenic risk scores, based on genetic testing, will be as commonly known as cholesterol levels. 

August 14, 2018

Estrogen may prevent depression after heart attack

Estrogen may protect against heart failure (HF)-related depression by preventing the creation of inflammation-causing chemicals in the brain, according to research published in the American Journal of Physiology.

August 13, 2018

Women have a better chance of surviving heart attack if treated by female doctor

Women are more likely to survive a heart attack if their emergency room physician is also a woman, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

August 10, 2018

Physical activity can lower CVD risk in seniors

New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, coupled with less sedentary time, is associated with more favorable levels of heart and vessel disease markers in older individuals.

August 8, 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."

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