Heart Beat: Geography influences treatment of clogged carotid arteries
Researchers found that the rates of artery-clearing procedures varied significantly among different regions in the United States.
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Month: September 2010
In the journals: Sitting can shorten your life
While it’s well known that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy, some newer research suggests that people who spend more time sitting are more likely to die.
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Standing guard over blood vessel health
The layer of endothelial cells that lines blood vessels helps protect them and keep them functioning properly, but smoking, poor diet, and other risk factors can damage the endothelium, opening the door to heart disease.
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When eyes get dry and what you can try
Dry, irritated eyes can be caused by a number of conditions, such as certain autoimmune diseases, and are a side effect of certain medications. They are more common in women and older people.
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Choosing the right replacement heart valve
If replacing a heart valve becomes necessary, the decision is mainly a choice between a mechanical valve, which requires the recipient to take warfarin to prevent clotting, or a tissue valve, which will not last as long as a mechanical one.
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By the way, doctor: Is it okay to drink grapefruit juice, as long as I don’t take my statin at the same time?
I’ve been advised not to take my statin drug, simvastatin, with grapefruit juice. But is it safe to take the medication at night and then drink grapefruit juice in the morning?
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Radiation risk from medical imaging
Given the huge increase in the use of CT scans, concern about radiation exposure is warranted. Patients should try to keep track of their cumulative radiation exposure, and only have tests when necessary.
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Shingles: Prevention is the way to go
As the immune system weakens with age, the risk of shingles increases. Many doctors recommend that people over 60 get the shingles vaccine.
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Procedure Risks Lower Before Age 45
A procedure used to control an abnormal heartbeat works just as well in younger adults as in older ones, a study has found. And the younger adults had fewer serious side effects. The procedure is called catheter ablation. It uses heat to destroy sections of heart muscle that are causing the rhythm problem. The study included 1,548 people. All had frequent atrial fibrillation. This is an abnormal heart rhythm. The top chambers of the heart quiver instead of beat normally. The patients had tried medicine, but it didn’t control the problem. After catheter ablation, the problem stopped or seldom occurred in 82% to 88% of patients. Age made little difference in the success rate. People under age 45 also did not have any strokes or other major problems after the procedure. But 2% to 3% of older groups had these problems.
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Violent video games and young people
Parents, educators, and mental health professionals share concern about the potential effects of violent video games on children. Researchers are divided on the issue, but agree that parental oversight is key.
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