heart-letter
An angiotensin-receptor blocker controls blood pressure as well as an ACE inhibitor, but taken together they are more likely to cause unwanted side effects. ACE inhibitors are also available in generic form, which costs much less.
The medication Actiq was incorrectly identified in a previous article as a treatment for pain related to heart disease. As it is a narcotic, it should only be used in special cases.
A pair of studies adds to the evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet not only benefits the heart, but can also help counter age-related decline in brain function.
At age 64 I had a severe heart attack that left me with a 20% ejection fraction. A recent echocardiogram showed that my heart is getting larger. I have no shortness of breath or swelling, but wonder how long I have before symptoms of heart failure appear?
People know that they can “prevent” heart disease by not smoking, losing weight, exercising, watching cholesterol and blood pressure, and eating right, but they still get heart disease. Is it really possible to prevent heart disease, or just slow it down?
An iPod or other digital music player held too close to the chest of a person with a pacemaker can interfere with the heart device’s function. Cell phones can also cause this interference.
Guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology offer advice on protecting the heart during noncardiac surgery.
Researchers examining deaths during or soon after bypass surgery found that the surgeons and hospitals that did the most surgeries had the lowest death rates.
Researchers found that the blood thinner warfarin is more effective than aspirin at preventing strokes and blood clots, allaying concerns that it was too powerful to be taken safely by older people.
While there is a risk of adverse effects from any pain reliever, most people can take them safely. Use common sense, and have your blood pressure checked regularly if you are in a higher risk group due to heart disease.