heart-letter
Many cancer-suppressing treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and newer targeted therapies, can have undesirable effects on the heart and blood vessels. Those at greatest risk include people treated during childhood or after age 65.
Between 1% and 2% of people are born with a bicuspid aortic valve, which has only two flaps instead of the normal three. They require periodic echocardiograms to check for potentially dangerous changes in the aortic valve or aorta.
In healthy people, consuming coffee and other caffeinated products in moderation does not appear to raise the likelihood of extra heartbeats or palpitations. But in people with existing heart rhythm issues, caffeine sometimes makes the problem worse.
Survivors of acute coronary syndrome (a heart attack or unstable angina) are less likely to return to the hospital in the following six months if they have an optimistic attitude after the initial event.
People with higher levels of cardiovascular fitness may do better on tests that measure memory, motor skills, and executive function (mental skills to manage time, plan and organize, and recall details) than people who aren’t as fit.
The risk of a stroke or a heart attack seems to increase in the week following a diagnosis of shingles.
Using a home blood pressure monitor can provide a more accurate picture of a person’s blood pressure than measurements taken in a health care provider’s office. Newer, high-tech devices can send the readings wirelessly to a smartphone.
I?m helping my mother, who is in her late 80s, keep track of her medications, as she can be a little forgetful. Her doctor just started her on warfarin, which I?ve heard can interact with many different medications. What are the most common ones?
Most Americans don’t get enough of the omega-3 fatty acids known as EPA and DHA in their diets. Eating two servings of fatty fish (including wild or farmed salmon) per week delivers recommended amounts.
For people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, a primary care provider can usually effectively manage those conditions. But some people may need more focused care from a general cardiologist, or one with more specialized expertise.