Category: heart-letter

A new type of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator that works without wires may be an option for younger people living with heart rhythm problems.

A process called delipidation, in which cholesterol and fats are removed from HDL particles that are then returned to a person’s bloodstream, stimulates the HDL to attack cholesterol in blood vessels more effectively.

Microscopic particles that contain medication could one day be used to repair damaged arteries.

A scoring system may help identify people who should be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks, and people with stents are at additional risk.

If you are having a heart attack, angioplasty will open a blocked artery and hopefully limit muscle damage, but the procedure does nothing to stop the spread of atherosclerosis or reduce the risk of a future heart attack.

A number of risk factors for heart disease cannot be changed or controlled. Awareness of these factors can act as encouragement to pay attention to what can be controlled, such as diet and exercise.

The Pritikin and Ornish diets are now included in Medicare coverage for intensive cardiac rehabilitation, though only in certain locations.

Further information from studies on an aortic valve repair procedure, the benefits of eating whole-grain foods, the heart risks of testosterone therapy, and underactive thyroid.

Evidence from ongoing health studies suggests that the source of protein in a low-carb diet influences the risk of heart disease, and that getting more protein from plant sources is better.