heart-letter
Blood transfusions for heart surgery are less common than in the past, in part due to a better understanding of the risks and benefits of transfusions. People slated for open-heart surgery should ask about how to avoid a transfusion.
For people who can’t take blood thinners to prevent blood clots in the legs from traveling to the lungs, a tiny cage-like device called a vena cava filter placed within a major vein can trap migrating clots before they can travel to the lungs.
Digoxin is among the oldest cardiac drugs still in use, but its history has been marked by controversy. However, better knowledge of how the drug works has created a potential new role for digoxin in people with advanced heart failure.
Compression stockings can help prevent the leg swelling and blood clot formation that can occur after long periods of sitting. Drinking water and moving the legs can also help.
Men who eat processed red meats such as sausages and cold cuts may raise their risk of heart failure. These foods may be especially detrimental because of their high levels of sodium, nitrates, and other additives.
Coughing or gagging may help slow a very rapid heartbeat caused by supraventricular tachycardia. Known as vagal maneuvers, these techniques work by stimulating the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the abdomen.
Left and right bundle branch blocks are abnormalities of the heart’s electrical conduction system that show up on an electrocardiogram. They rarely cause symptoms and don’t need special treatment in most cases.
Nearly 10 percent of people with high blood pressure have resistant hypertension, meaning their blood pressure is still high despite taking at least three medications. Taking combination pills, exercising, and eating less sodium can help.
Researchers measured the vascular health of over 5,000 people who lived near major roadways to assess the effects of long-term proximity to car fumes.
Even in the absence of metabolic markers for cardiovascular risk, individuals with a BMI in the obese category had more signs of early atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries than non-obese people.