Heart Health

Q&A: Blood Clots; Heart Bypass Surgery; Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dec 19, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Q. I’m traveling to Europe soon and facing about a nine-hour flight. I’m concerned about air travel increasing the risk of blood clots. What can I do to prevent this occurring? A. About one person in 4,500 develops deep vein thrombosis (DVT, or a blood clot) within eight weeks of … Read More

Newsbriefs: PCI; CABG; Deli Meats

Dec 19, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

With PCI, Experience Matters. The number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), such as angioplasty and stenting, performed by your cardiologist and at your hospital may affect your risk of death, complications, length of stay, and cost. Previous guidelines recommended that cardiologists perform a minimum of 75 PCIs a year, and … Read More

Help Prevent Afib-Related Stroke

Dec 19, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Enough experience has been gained with three new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) to confirm they are both safe and effective in preventing stroke caused by atrial fibrillation (AF). The pooled results of four randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving more than 70,000 patients—38 percent of whom were age 75 and older—concluded that rivaroxaban … Read More

Newsbriefs: Beneficial Bacteria; Heart-Disease Risk; Sitting; Fruits and Vegetables

Dec 12, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Beneficial bacteria may help lower blood pressure. Naturally occurring “good” bacteria, known as probiotics, when consumed in foods such as yogurt and taken as supplements can balance the gut flora and eliminate many digestive issues. Now it appears probiotics also may help lower blood pressure. Researchers in Australia reviewed nine … Read More

New Technique Restores Failing Prosthetic Valves

Dec 12, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

A minimally invasive technique now available in clinical trials offers hope for patients with failing aortic valve replacements who are too frail to undergo surgery. The procedure is known as valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV TAVR). As its name implies, a new tissue valve is placed inside the failing … Read More

Newsbriefs: Stroke; Alzheimer’s Disease; Exercise Benefits

Dec 12, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Decline in strokes due to better control of risk factors. Both of the last two decades have shown a 24 percent drop in first-time strokes and a 20 percent drop in deaths following stroke, according to a 24-year study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in … Read More

Newsbriefs: Baby Aspirin; Statins; Oils

Dec 12, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

A baby aspirin confers low-risk heart-attack protection. While aspirin may or may not prevent a first heart attack, studies have verified aspirin’s ability to prevent a second or third attack. Moreover, a baby aspirin works just fine. In studies, 75- to 81-mg aspirin was as effective as 325 mg aspirin, … Read More

Aspirin for First-Line Heart Attack Prevention

Dec 12, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Aspirin’s ability to prevent platelets from sticking together makes this cheap, readily available drug valuable for preventing blood clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke. There’s no question that aspirin has value in secondary prevention—that is, in preventing a second heart attack or stroke. Aspirin is one of … Read More

Vein Graft Failure in Bypass Surgery: All Too Common

Dec 8, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Every year, more than 400,000 U.S. adults with atherosclerosis undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to improve blood flow to their heart muscle. In each patient, the surgeon selects one or more arteries or veins that will be used to reroute blood around the blockage. Saphenous veins from the legs … Read More

Newsbriefs: Omega-3s; Fiber; Oats

Dec 8, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Omega-3s decrease risk of heart disease. Increasing your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, found in seafood and fish oil, flaxseed, vegetable oils, and some nuts, will decrease your risk of getting heart disease, according to a recent study by Penn State nutritionists. Omega-3 fatty acids derived from seafood contain heart-healthy … Read More