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.

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Heart patches from human stem cells aid pigs’ recovery after MI

Patches of human cardiac muscle made from pluripotent stem cells helped the hearts of pigs recover after myocardial infarction (MI), according to a first-of-its-kind study in large animals published in Circulation.

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Increased cardiovascular risk in winter extends to warm climates

Hospitalizations for heart failure and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) spike in the winter—even in a city with a warm climate and modest temperature changes, new research suggests.

Single polygenic risk score predicts early-onset heart disease with most accuracy to date

A cardiovascular risk score based on polygenic testing has proven more effective for detecting early-onset heart disease than run-of-the-mill genetic screenings, researchers reported this month in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.

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AHA: 7 tips for shoveling snow that could save your heart

Shoveling snow might seem like a routine chore, but with bitter cold and heavy winds washing over the U.S. this month, seven simple guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) could save your life.

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Marital support can be life-saving for heart patients

Unmarried patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are likely to die more quickly than their married counterparts, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Childhood adversity tied to downstream cardiovascular risk

Children and adolescents who are abused, bullied, experience economic hardship or witness violence are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease as adults, according to scientific statement published Dec. 18 in Circulation.

5 reasons menopausal hormone therapy is on its way out as a cardioprotector

Since the late ’60s, menopausal hormone therapy has been touted as not just a tool for alleviating menopausal discomfort but as a way to preemptively protect women against cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke.

High-sensitivity troponin rules out ACS in the ED with 99% accuracy

A blood test for high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) used in emergency departments successfully ruled out myocardial infarction (MI) and helped identify patients at low 30-day risk for adverse cardiac events, researchers reported in JAMA Cardiology.

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