Cardiovascular - December 2014 Archives

Some medical discoveries truly stand the test of time. The case of a dedicated Mayo Clinic chemist is a prime example. Feeling he was on ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 58 and asked my doctor for a prescription for erectile dysfunction. He recommended I also have tests done to evaluate my heart. How are ED and heart disease related? ANSWER: In some cases, erectile dysfunction, or ED, may be an early warning sign of heart disease. It is often a good idea for men diagnosed with ED to have tests to make sure that ED is not a symptom of a heart condition. That is especially true if you have risk factors that increase your chances of developing heart problems. If a heart condition is found, treatment for that disorder also may help reverse ED. The connection between ED and heart disease involves a condition known as atherosclerosis — sometimes called hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis happens when plaques build up in your arteries. When plaques start to accumulate, the smaller arteries in the body, including those in the penis, are the first to get plugged up. The plaque lowers blood flow in the penis, making an erection difficult. Erectile dysfunction alerts doctors to look for atherosclerosis in larger arteries that supply your heart and other organs and, if found, to take steps to treat atherosclerosis. In addition to heart problems, atherosclerosis also increases your risk of other serious health problems, including aneurysm, stroke and peripheral artery disease.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Menus for heart-healthy eating: Cut the fat and salt Do you want to adopt a heart-healthy diet but aren't sure where to start? Use these menus to jump-start your meals. Coping with stress: Workplace tips Year-end projects can be a lot to handle. Dealing with stress at work is easier when you identify your triggers — and address them head on. EXPERT ANSWERS Self-care for the flu The flu can make you feel awful, but if you're otherwise healthy and you're not pregnant, try these home remedies. Ebola transmission: Can Ebola spread through the air? Ebola virus disease is not transmitted through casual contact or the air. Find out how it is spread. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

It’s a classic image for heart health, the zigzag lines of an ECG, or electrocardiogram. Even though Mayo Clinic conducts hundreds of thousands of ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My husband is 82 years old. Over the past year he’s become very tired, and he sometimes gets short of breath. His doctor recommends he has tests to check his heart function. What are these tests, and what would they be looking for? ANSWER: Doctors can use a number of tests to check heart function. In your husband’s situation, his doctor may recommend an echocardiogram to assess his heart health and to see how well his heart is beating and pumping blood. An exercise stress test also may be useful. Depending on the results, other tests may be necessary, too. The heart is basically a pump that sends blood to the rest of the body. When a heart cannot pump the way it should, some parts of the body may not get all the blood they need. That can lead to a variety of symptoms. Fatigue and shortness of breath are two of the most common. Others include swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles and feet, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, persistent cough, sudden weight gain, and elevated blood pressure, among others.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Android users no longer have to miss out on all the research discoveries coming from Mayo Clinic. The newest issue of Discovery’s Edge, Mayo Clinic’s research magazine, is now available on all Android devices, as well as the iPad, online and in print. Research news from Mayo Clinic — however, whenever and wherever you want to read it. Highlights in this issue explore the past, present and future of Mayo Clinic research, including: Biomarker discovery: Staying one step ahead of cancer Read about a 12-month snapshot of how four researchers combined their talents to discover biomarkers that could help specific patients with difficult medical issues. In that time span, the Biomarker Discovery Program — part of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Individualized Medicine — found 32 biomarkers using custom algorithms and other innovative approaches that physicians can use to aid patients. Mayo Clinic plugs into drug discovery Collaboration is also the story of Mayo Clinic’s latest partnership — with Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. Two organizations looking for just the right counterpart to meet a strategic need found each other at just the right time to fast-track drug discovery for Mayo patients. Next generation: Developing tomorrow’s biomedical researchers The path to becoming a biomedical researcher is not for the faint of heart. This issue’s cover story takes a glimpse at three scientists-in-training at Mayo Graduate School and the obstacles they are facing, both personal and professional, as they strive toward careers in research.

John Burnett Jr., M.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, has been selected as a winner of GSK’s 2014 Discovery Fast Track Challenge, which is designed to accelerate the translation of academic research into novel therapies. Dr. Burnett will work with scientists in GSK’s Discovery Partnerships with Academia (DPAc) and the Molecular Discovery Research teams to test their hypotheses and screen targets against GSK’s compound collection. Active compounds could then form the basis of full drug discovery programs that may ultimately lead to innovative medicines for anti-hypertensive agents. Dr. Burnett submitted one of 14 winning proposals, chosen from 428 entries from 234 universities and academic institutes from across 26 countries. Research between Mayo Clinic and GSK will focus on treatments for resistant hypertension. “We see this as a huge need, clinically, and we think our screen could lead to a breakthrough drug for the treatment of resistant hypertension, which is growing worldwide,” said Dr. Burnett.