Heart Health Archives

Women Fare Worse Than Men Following a Heart Attack

Jan 19, 2017 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Middle-aged women are in worse shape both before and after having a heart attack than men, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions in June 2014. The researchers analyzed data from 3,501 patients aged 55 and under (median age 48) … Read More

Take Steps to Prevent a Second Stroke, or a First Stroke After a TIA

Jan 19, 2017 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

This year, an estimated 800,000 people in the United States will suffer a stroke—some for the second or third time. Although 10 to 20 percent of strokes are fatal, seven million people in the United States are living proof that many survive the event. But these people are at greatly … Read More

Editor’s Note: Statins: Not a License to Slack Off

Jan 19, 2017 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

The management of cholesterol and cardiovascular (CV) risk has dramatically changed since the advent of statin drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor). In the past, patients had only diet and exercise to lower lipid levels. Now, with widespread use of statins, the “knee-jerk” response to hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) has been statin use. … Read More

Editor’s Note: The Heart of the Matter

Jan 18, 2017 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

It’s long been known that women have gotten short shrift in terms of being screened for heart disease. Women who present to emergency rooms, as well as to their physicians’ offices, tend to be less aggressively tested and treated for heart disease than men. Women get fewer stress tests, coronary … Read More

Frontline: Niacin’s Effect on Cardio Events; Caffeine & Hot Flashes; Side Effects of Diuretics

Jan 18, 2017 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Niacin ineffective at reducing cardiovascular events Niacin is a B vitamin that has been used for many years to lower markers of cardiovascular risks, including LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides. However, taking niacin does not lower the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, according to study … Read More

Low Diastolic Blood Pressure May Damage the Heart

Jan 18, 2017 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure, and treating hypertension can reduce this risk. But while most people worry only about blood pressures being too high, a study published Oct. 16, 2017 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that … Read More

Ask the Doctor: Blood Pressure & Sun Exposure; Insomnia & Heart Disease

Jan 11, 2017 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Why does the label on my blood pressure medication say I should avoid sun exposure while taking it? Several types of medications, including some blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and diuretics, can cause “chemical photosensitivi-ty,” which is an enhanced reaction to ultraviolet (UV) light that makes skin … Read More

Coronary Microvascular Disease: A Woman’s Issue

Jan 11, 2017 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Heart disease remains the number one killer of women and men in the U.S., but there are important differences in the types of coronary problems that affect each gender. Women are more likely than men to have heart disease in the network of small arteries of the heart, which is … Read More

Frontline: Exercise’s Effect on Irregular Heartbeat; Vaginal Mesh Implants; Sodium Intake

Jan 11, 2017 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

More exercise linked with lower risk of irregular heartbeat Postmenopausal women who reported the highest amount of physical activity had a 10 percent lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterized by an irregular heart-beat, than women who reported the lowest amount of physical activity. Both obese and normal-weight … Read More

Ask the Doctor: Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease; Preventing Kidney Stones

Jan 10, 2017 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Q: I’ve seen ads for mail-order test kits that provide genetic testing for cardiovascular disease. Is there any benefit to having this type of testing? A: Some types of cardiovascular conditions can be inherited, some of which may be due to multiple genes, making genetic testing quite complicated or impossible. … Read More

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