Cardiovascular - April 2015 Archives

It's well known that women with dense breast tissue are less likely to get accurate results from mammograms. Now there's a new breast-imaging technology ...

It's well known that women with dense breast tissue are less likely to get accurate results from mammograms. Now there's a new breast-imaging technology called ...

Iowa State University head men's basketball coach Fred Hoiberg says he's feeling surprisingly well five days after open heart surgery. ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ2oD_70mT4 April is National Donate Life Month. Nearly 125,000 Americans are currently on the national transplant waiting list. A heart transplant has spared ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Heart transplant experts from Mayo Clinic presented findings from three recent clinical studies involving heart transplant patients. The presentations took place during the 2015 International Society of Heart & Lung Transplant (ISHLT) in Nice, France, April 15–18. Mayo Clinic physicians presented oral and poster presentations on 16 studies at ISHLT this year. The conference attracts 3,000 health care professionals from 45 countries who represent more than 15 different medical disciplines involved in the management and treatment of end-stage heart and lung disease. A few highlights of the Mayo Clinic-related research include: “Are psychosocial characteristics predictive of death and rehospitalization after destination left ventricular assist device?” This study examined psychosocial factors, such as drug use, depression and nonsmoking status to determine if they are associated with higher rehospitalization risk after a patient has received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The study concluded that drug use, depression and nonsmoking status are associated with higher rehospitalization risk after LVAD. These data may be helpful in stratifying and communicating risk to patients who are considering LVAD as destination therapy. Mayo Clinic researchers involved in this study include Shannon Dunlay, M.D., M.S.; Sarah Schettle, PAC; David Snipelisky, M.D.; Shashank Sharma; Sudhir Kushwaha, M.D.; John Stulak, M.D. Date of presentation: April 15

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it true that people with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of heart disease? How are the two conditions related? Is there a way to lower the risk? ANSWER: Studies have shown that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, your risk of developing heart disease is two to three times higher than people who do not have the disorder. Although the exact connection between the two conditions is unclear, a number of factors seem to play into the increased heart disease risk. Regular check-ups, tests to check for heart problems, lifestyle changes and being able to recognize symptoms of heart disease can all help manage the risk. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes swelling. It often affects the small joints in the hands and feet and causes joint tenderness, pain and stiffness. But the disorder can go beyond the joints, too, and that is part of the connection to heart disease.

This article was previously published In the Loop It began in the early afternoon of March 3 when the news was received that a ...