heart-letter
Many of the risk factors for heart disease are also risk factors for vascular cognitive impairment, which can lead to dementia. Controlling these risk factors can delay or prevent this kind of mental decline.
Alcohol can affect blood levels of beta blockers. If you drink alcohol in the evening and need a beta blocker, it’s a good idea to take a once-daily beta blocker in the morning to avoid this effect.
High blood pressure (hypertension) affects 1 in 3 Americans, and doubles their risk of heart disease. More than 75% of people with hypertension also have high “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Low vitamin D has been linked to heart disease. A new study suggests this may apply to whites but not blacks.
A long list of drugs and substances affect warfarin’s blood-thinning effect. They may make the warfarin more or less effective. Or they may affect blood clotting in different ways that increase the risk of bleeding.
New prescriptions for novel anticoagulants now outnumber new prescriptions for warfarin. The new drugs are safer and at least as effective. They may be the best initial therapy for atrial fibrillation, but those now doing well on warfarin need not switch.
Hospitals not equipped for heart surgery can perform diagnostic cardiac catheterization and balloon angioplasty as safely as hospitals that have heart surgeons standing by.
Family history of heart disease is one of the most powerful tools for guiding personal health decisions and motivating lifestyle change.
Real reductions in stroke risk are linked to improvements on the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” health tool.
A minor stroke or serious transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often followed by a second, devastating stroke. Combination treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) given within 24 hours cuts stroke risk by one-third.