Category: heart-letter

Cardiologists found a case where too much talking was a trigger for atrial fibrillation.

I need to catheterize myself. I had stents put in my heart and started taking Plavix. I sometimes see a tinge of blood in the catheter bag, though lately the blood flow has been more substantial. I am 88 years old. How long will I need to take Plavix?

Brief reports on a link between heart transplants and higher risk of skin cancer, the possibility that drinking coffee or tea may slightly lower the risk of diabetes, and atherosclerosis in mummies.

The FDA has approved a new blood pressure drug that works by inhibiting hte production of renin, a substance made by the kidneys that is the first step in the body’s system of regulating blood pressure.

About ten percent of people who start taking a statin experence muscle pain. Usually this will go away on its own, or by adjusting the dosage of the medication or switching to a different one.

Levels of LDL cholesterol drop a few points in summer, while HDL rises slightly.

A hopeful outlook can help heart failure sufferers live with the condition, but hope must be tempered by reality in order to achieve a clear understanding of the limits of treatment.

Regular home blood pressure monitoring, for people with hypertension or those who are at risk for it, is a recommended health practice that can help keep blood pressure under control.

Black tea may lower blood pressure slightly, but the effect is small.

After several years on the market, there is clear evidence that drug-coated stents pose a small but definite risk of causing blood clots. If you have chest pain, adopting a healthier lifestyle may be a safer alternative to having a stent implanted.