Dabigatran Reduces Major Cardiovascular Complications in Patients With Myocardial Injury after Noncardiac Surgery
Treatment with dabigatran significantly reduced the risk of death, heart attack, stroke and other heart or blood-vessel complications among patients who were at elevated risk for these events because of heart damage that occurred after major noncardiac surgery, according to research being presented at the…
Beta Blocker Shows Mixed Results in Protecting Against Chemo-Induced Heart Damage
After six months of follow up, women newly diagnosed with breast cancer who were given the beta blocker carvedilol to prevent heart issues while undergoing chemotherapy showed no difference in declines in heart function compared with those taking a placebo. Patients who took carvedilol, however,…
Heart Attack Risk Increases with Six-Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy
The combined rate of death from any cause, heart attack or stroke within 18 months was not significantly different in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were randomly assigned to receive dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for either six months or at least 12 months…
Low-Dose ‘Triple Pill’ Lowers Blood Pressure More Than Usual Care
A pill combining low doses of three blood pressure-lowering medications significantly increased the number of patients reaching blood pressure targets compared with usual care, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology’s 67th Annual Scientific Session. There was also no significant increase in adverse effects…
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Increases Likelihood of a Heart Attack
Younger patients face highest risks
Music Boosts Exercise Time During Cardiac Stress Testing
Listening to upbeat music may help prolong activity and participation; results may have broader implications for exercise in general
Regular Walking May Protect Against Heart Failure Post Menopause
Brisk walks lasting 40 minutes or more, two to three times per week seem to yield greatest benefit
Breast cancer’s spread routes mapped
Breast cancer spreads to other organs in the body according to certain specific patterns. This has been shown by a team of researchers from Karolinska Institutet and KTH in Sweden and the University of Helsinki in Finland who have mapped breast cancer’s spread routes in…
ECG on Smartwatch Accurately Detects AFib
Real-time display of heart rhythm may help avoid procedures, save costs A newly-designed wristband and corresponding app that works with a smartwatch can accurately display the heart’s electrical activity and notify people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) if their heart is beating normally or not, according…
Breastfeeding May Have Long-Term Heart Health Benefits for Some Moms
Women with normal blood pressure during pregnancy and who breastfed their babies for at least six months following birth had better markers of cardiovascular health years later compared to women who never breastfed, based on research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 67th Annual…
Getting Flu Vaccine Cuts Risk of Death by Half in People with Heart Failure
For people with heart failure, getting a seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine in a given year was associated with a 50 percent drop in the risk of death during flu season and a 20 percent drop in the risk of death during the rest of the…
A Positive Outlook May Improve Outcomes for People with Chest Pain
People who were more optimistic had fewer heart-related hospital visits, procedures