Category: heart-letter

People who have had a transient ischemic attack or a stroke should consider getting an ankle-brachial index test to check for peripheral artery disease.

Brief reports on giving proper attention to high triglycerides, undermining cardiovascular drug therapy with unhealthy lifestyle choices, and an apparent bonus from taking a statin: reduced risk of blood clots.

Many people do not realize that smoking is as bad for cardiovascular health as it is for the lungs. Quitting has some almost-immediate benefits, and after 20 years quitters have the same risk of death as nonsmokers.

Research has established that heart disease tends to run in families, so if a family member has a heart attack or stroke, it should serve as a motivator for other family members to see their doctors.

Home monitoring devices for use by people taking warfarin compared favorably to regular blood tests done at a medical facility.

Research found that the cholesterol drug Vytorin, which combines Zetia with the statin Zocor, is no more effective than a statin alone at preventing plaque from growing in arteries.

People with a pacemaker or ICD know they need to avoid MRIs. The FDA says that the CT scans may also interfere with these devices, but that they can be safely shut off for the duration of the scan.

A new study is comparing methods of treating leg pain caused by peripheral artery disease.

Changing one’s dietary and exercise habits is beneficial to overall health, regardless of age.

ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers are both used to combat stress hormones, which can contribute to heart failure. Combining them brings additional risks that outweigh any possible benefits.