heart-letter
The FDA has approved WelChol, a medication that helps to lower both LDL cholesterol and blood sugar, which may be beneficial to some diabetics, though they would still have to take insulin along with WelChol.
The definition of a myocardial infarction has been revised to reflect the significance of a protein called troponin, which is released into the bloodstream when heart muscle damaged.
Quitting smoking, even after a heart attack, will likely increase a person’s longevity, and even cutting back on cigarettes is beneficial.
A pedometer is an inexpensive tool that can help promote fitness by measuring a person’s steps. Being aware of how much one is walking acts as a motivator to walk more.
More people are surviving heart attacks and receiving better care afterward, which has led to an increase in the number of people living with heart failure.
Coronary microvascular disease, which affects the smallest arteries in the heart, is difficult to detect because of the small size of the vessels, but tests are improving, and awareness of the condition among doctors is growing.
Brief reports on the use of compression stockings by stroke survivors, and the benefit of adding a second blood pressure medication.
Researchers with the Framingham Heart Study have developed a new tool to assess overall risk of cardiovascular disease by assigning points to various risk factors, then aligning total points with levels of risk.
The FDA is recommending a genetic test for people prescribed warfarin, to search for variants of certain genes that can affect the drug’s effectiveness. But there is not enough evidence yet that the test makes using the drug safer.
The leads of implanted cardiac devices can break or become infected over time. If this happens, the leads must be replaced. A defective lead can be left in the heart, but it is considered safer to have it removed.