chest pain Archives - Mayo Clinic News Network

Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of coronary artery disease, how to reduce your risk

Alex Osiadacz — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:15:00 +0000

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease, diagnosed in more than 20 million people and responsible for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Regis Fernandes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, explains the signs of coronary artery disease and how to reduce your risk.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0:58) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

When cholesterol builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart — hardening and narrowing the path — it's known as coronary artery disease. The most common symptom is chest discomfort.

"It lasts a few minutes, or several minutes, and is felt by patients. They describe that discomfort as a pressure," says Dr. Fernandes.

Chronic discomfort that comes from decreased blood flow is called angina and is typically felt when a person exerts themselves. If the pain is new or gets worse, seek medical help right away. Over time, coronary artery disease can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.

How can you reduce your risk of coronary artery disease?

"Eating properly, exercising, having good health habits," says Dr. Fernandes.

Genetics also can be a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

"It's important to know your cholesterol levels, particularly in individuals that have a strong family history of heart disease," says Dr. Fernandes. "Even though they are healthy, and they are practicing healthy habits, because it can also come in a genetic form."

Related:

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of coronary artery disease, how to reduce your risk appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

E-cigarette users who test positive for COVID-19 are more likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms

Jay Furst — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:18:07 +0000

ROCHESTER, Minn. — People who use electronic cigarettes and test positive for COVID-19 have a higher frequency of experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, compared to people who don't vape, according to new research from Mayo Clinic.

The study, which is published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, finds that people who vape and test positive for COVID-19 have a higher frequency of experiencing symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches and pain, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of the sense of smell or taste. Also, the study finds that people who vape and also smoke tobacco, and who test positive for COVID-19, complained of labored breathing and had more frequent emergency department visits than those who did not vape.

"The study was designed to compare the frequency of common COVID-19 symptoms, such as loss of taste or smell, headache, muscle aches and chest tightness in COVID patients who vaped, compared with those who were not vapers," says David McFadden, M.D., a Mayo Clinic internist and the study's first author. "We interviewed more than 280 COVID-positive vapers and compared them with 1,445 COVID-positive people of the same age and gender, and who don't vape. All of these common COVID symptoms were reported more frequently among people who vape."

Watch: Dr. David McFadden discusses some of the key takeaways of the study.

Journalists: Soundbites and b-roll are in the downloads at the end of the post. Please Courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network."

Study participants were at least 18 and tested positive for COVID-19 at testing sites in Minnesota and Wisconsin between March 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021. Data were then gathered on age; gender; ethnicity; race; COVID-19 symptoms; emergency department visits and hospitalizations; and lifestyle history, such as vaping and smoking.

Use of e-cigarettes has grown significantly over the past decade, especially among high school students and young adults, though the short- and long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are unknown. While studies have not found a connection between using e-cigarettes and testing positive for COVID-19, the Mayo Clinic study finds an association between vaping and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms for those who test positive for COVID-19.

"There are a lot of studies that have shown that e-cigarette use may be associated with inflammation in the lungs and also may cause severe lung injury in certain users, causing a condition called e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury," says Robert Vassallo, M.D., a Mayo Clinic pulmonologist and critical care specialist, and co-author of the study. "Our research was not designed to test whether e-cigarette use increases the risk of acquiring COVID infection, but it clearly indicates that symptom burden in patients with COVID-19 who vape is greater than in those who do not vape."

The uncertainties of the health effects of e-cigarette use are due in part to the variety of devices, ingredients in the vaping liquid, and use. Nonetheless, the study documented a significant difference in symptom frequency between those who vape and were COVID-19 positive and those who did not vape.

The increased inflammation of lung tissue promoted by COVID-19 infection and the inflammation induced by vaping may worsen the likelihood of systemic inflammation, with an associated increase in symptoms such as fever, myalgias, fatigue and headache, the study finds.

"During a pandemic with a highly transmissible respiratory pathogen like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), it is highly advisable to reduce or stop vaping and e-cigarette use, and minimize the potential for increased symptoms and lung injury," says Dr. Vassallo.

The study was supported in part by Mayo Clinic's Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and by a Center for Clinical and Translational Science award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Dr. Vassallo reports receiving grant funding support from Pfizer Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. for research activities unrelated to this study. The authors report no other competing interests.

###

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. For information on COVID-19, including Mayo Clinic's Coronavirus Map tracking tool, which has 14-day forecasting on COVID-19 trends, visit the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Resource Center.

Media contact:

Bob Nellis, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, newsbureau@mayo.edu

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

Learn more about tracking COVID-19 and COVID-19 trends.

The post E-cigarette users who test positive for COVID-19 are more likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Housecall: Understanding pain

Laurel Kelly — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:00:55 +0000

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Understanding pain
You may know what it's like to feel pain. What you might not be aware of is the science behind why you hurt. Pain is both physical and emotional. It involves learning and memory. How you feel and react to pain depends on what's causing it, as well as many personal, psychological, emotional and social factors. Fortunately, treatments are available for both acute and chronic pain. Here's what you need to know.

Stress and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
Your body produces a surge of hormones when you're in a stressful situation. These hormones temporarily increase your blood pressure by causing your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow. There's no proof that stress by itself causes long-term high blood pressure. But reacting to stress in unhealthy ways can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Here are some self-care and stress management techniques that can lead to healthy behavior changes, including those that reduce your blood pressure.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Does weight-loss hypnosis work?
When you're under hypnosis, your attention is highly focused and you're more responsive to suggestions, including behavior changes that can help you lose weight. Weight-loss hypnosis may help you shed a few extra pounds when it's part of a weight-loss plan that includes diet, exercise and counseling. Learn more from Dr. Brent Bauer, director of Mayo Clinic's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program.

How does HPV cause cervical cancer?
When women are exposed to genital HPV, their immune systems usually prevent the virus from doing serious harm. But in a small number of women, the virus survives for years. Eventually, the virus can lead to the conversion of normal cells on the surface of the cervix into cancerous cells. Learn more from Dr. Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, a Mayo Clinic gynecologist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Exercise-induced asthma
Chest pain: First aid
Vasovagal syncope
Video: 'Winter Skin Care'

HEALTHY RECIPES
Soba noodle stir-fry with coconut curry sauce
Chicken cordon bleu
Roasted Cornish hen
Swordfish with roasted lemons

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Is antibacterial soap a do or a don't?
Antibacterial soaps, such as those containing triclosan, don't kill germs any more effectively than regular soap. However, using antibacterial soap might lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents — making it harder to kill these germs in the future.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org.

Receive a free e-subscription to Housecall and other health newsletters.

The post Housecall: Understanding pain appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic Radio: American Heart Month

Jennifer O'Hara — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:00:21 +0000

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects). The term "cardiovascular disease" often is used interchangeably with the term "heart disease." Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. To raise awareness and prevent heart disease, the American Heart Association has declared February American Heart Month.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss heart disease treatment and prevention. Also on the program, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic, will have an update on flu season. And the mother-daughter duo, Eileen Opatz Berger and Joan Berger Bachman, will share their new how-to book for talking with the elderly, If Only You Would Ask.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: American Heart Month appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic Radio: American Heart Month / flu epidemic / new how-to book for talking with the elderly

Jennifer O'Hara — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 13:25:01 +0000

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show? Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: American Heart Month / flu epidemic / new how-to book for talking with the elderly appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Housecall: Exercise and weight loss

Laurel Kelly — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 17:30:57 +0000

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Exercise for weight loss: Calories burned in 1 hour
Being active is important for any weight-loss or weight-maintenance program. When you're active, your body uses more energy, or calories. When you burn more calories than you consume, you lose weight. See how your favorite fitness activity rates.

Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk
You may have heard conflicting reports about cancer prevention. Sometimes, the tip recommended in one study or news report is advised against in another. However, it's well accepted that your chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices you make. Here are seven tips that can make a big difference in your health.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Is there a link between caffeine and menopause symptoms?
If you regularly consume caffeine and you're troubled by hot flashes, you might consider cutting back or eliminating caffeine from your diet to see if that eases your symptoms. Learn more from Dr. Jacqueline Thielen, a Mayo Clinic internal medicine specialist.

Does shaved hair grow back thicker and darker?
Contrary to popular belief, shaving unwanted hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. If you notice a sudden increase in facial or body hair, though, talk with your health care provider. This could be a medication side effect or a sign of an underlying medical condition. Learn more from Dr. Lawrence Gibson, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Laser resurfacing
Chest pain
Foot drop
Asthma: Limit attacks caused by colds or flu

HEALTHY RECIPES
Asian vegetable salad
Fresh puttanesca with brown rice
Braised kale with cherry tomatoes
Decadent chocolate cake

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Calorie count: Check your coffee cup
Coffee choices are nearly limitless. You can choose from plain, flavored, whipped, topped, iced and frozen versions. Of course, how you choose to dress up your coffee makes all the difference in calories, fat and sugar. If you're watching your weight, consider sticking to basic black. A plain cup of brewed coffee contains zero fat and only a couple of calories.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org.

Receive a free e-subscription to Housecall and other health newsletters.

The post Housecall: Exercise and weight loss appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is it heartburn or a heart attack?

Liza Torborg — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 12:00:55 +0000

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My dad recently went to the emergency room with terrible chest pain and sweating, and was concerned he was having a heart attack. He was kept overnight for monitoring, but doctors said his heart was fine and that his symptoms were probably due to heartburn. Should I suggest he have more tests to determine if it’s something more serious? Are there things he can do to avoid having another episode like this?

ANSWER: In a situation like this, it’s important for your father to have a follow-up appointment with his primary care physician to confirm the underlying cause of his symptoms. The physician can do a more thorough evaluation, and refer him for more tests and a consultation with a cardiologist, if needed.

Heartburn, a burning sensation under the breastbone, is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. It happens when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus — the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Although a burning sensation in the chest is common with GERD, its symptoms can vary widely. In some cases, GERD may feel like a dull ache or pressure in the chest, or, if it’s severe, GERD can lead to crushing chest pain. A heart attack, heart disease and other cardiac concerns can trigger similar symptoms.

GERD or Heart Attack?

Distinguishing the difference between the symptoms of GERD and those that could be related to a heart condition can be difficult. That’s because the nerves that lead to the heart and those that lead to the esophagus are located close to one another, so determining exactly where symptoms come from can be a challenge.

With that in mind, it’s important to confirm that chest pain is not heart-related. So, even if results of heart tests such as an electrocardiogram look fine in the emergency care setting, a more comprehensive evaluation still is needed. In many cases, that assessment includes a stress test to see how well the heart works during physical activity. Based on the severity of his symptoms and your father’s medical history, his physician can determine if he needs to see a cardiologist for additional testing.

It is possible that another condition unrelated to GERD or a heart condition could be causing your father’s symptoms, such as gallstones. In most cases, however, chest pain comes from a cardiac concern or GERD.

If the follow-up assessment shows that your father’s symptoms are due to GERD, there are a number of steps he can take to help prevent symptoms in the future. Overeating or eating a large meal and then lying down are the two most common heartburn triggers. Eating smaller meals and not eating two to three hours before going to bed often can reduce symptoms. Avoiding high-fat foods, spicy foods and citrus juices can be helpful, too. Many people who experience heartburn also find that reducing alcohol, caffeine and nicotine may decrease the frequency of symptoms.

Typically, GERD does not require treatment from a health care provider. Over-the-counter antacid medications are often enough to decrease symptoms, along with lifestyle changes. Some symptoms, however, should prompt a medical appointment, including food sticking in the esophagus, dark or bloody stools, unexplained weight loss or bouts of heartburn that happen more than two or three times a week.

The bottom line is that your father needs further evaluation to make sure he doesn’t have a heart condition. GERD can be managed, and nobody dies from it. But untreated heart problems can be fatal. It’s imperative your father have a formal cardiac evaluation at this time. — Dr. Jeffrey Alexander, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: Is it heartburn or a heart attack? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Housecall: Benefits and Risks of Testosterone Therapy

Jennifer O'Hara — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 11:00:59 +0000

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Testosterone therapy: Potential benefits and risks as you age
The promise of testosterone therapy may seem enticing, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what the treatment can and can't do for you. Get the facts.

Menopause weight gain: Stop the middle age spread
There's no magic formula for preventing — or reversing — menopause weight gain. Simply stick to these weight-control basics.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Food poisoning: How long can you safely keep leftovers?
Bacteria typically don't change the taste, smell or look of food, so you can't tell whether it's dangerous to eat.

How much exercise do I need to help control my cholesterol?
See how much physical activity can help get your cholesterol numbers in check and which exercises to try.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Chest pain: First aid
Living better with hidradenitis suppurativa
Sickle cell anemia
How a cataract affects your vision

HEALTHY RECIPES
Vegetable, lentil and garbanzo bean stew
Sauteed fresh corn
Tangy green beans
Jamaican barbecued pork tenderloin

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Rx check: Do you know what you're taking?
When your health care provider prescribes a medication, make sure you know the basics. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist these questions: 1. What are the brand and generic names of the medication? 2. Why do I need the medication? 3. How soon can I expect results? 4. When should I take the medication and for how long? 5. What are the side effects? 6. Does it interact with other medications or with foods?

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.

NOW BLOGGING
Going the distance: Visualize the success you want to achieve
You can learn how to improve by observing the success of others. Sports offers some examples to consider.

Receive a free e-subscription to Housecall and other health newsletters.

The post Housecall: Benefits and Risks of Testosterone Therapy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Monday’s Housecall: Week of Jul 27, 2015

Jennifer O'Hara — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 11:00:07 +0000

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Stay safe this summer: Know the ABCs of ticks
For such tiny creatures, ticks can make a big impact. Here's how to protect yourself on the trails and in backyards this season.

Weight loss: Choosing a diet that's right for you
Dropping those extra pounds is your goal, but which diet will help you reach it? Get the skinny on how to rate weight-loss plans.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Statins: Do they cause ALS?
Statins can cause muscle injury in some people. But can they also trigger ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)? See what researchers found.

Celiac disease diet: How do I get enough grains?
If you have celiac disease, there are plenty of gluten-free grains — including good-for-you whole grains — out there.

Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ...
Slide show: Melanoma pictures to help identify skin cancer
Video: Step-up exercise
Chest pain: First aid
Being assertive: Reduce stress, communicate better

HEALTHY RECIPES
Avocado dip
Crispy potato skins
Ginger-marinated grilled portobello mushrooms
Chipotle-spiced shrimp

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Buying athletic shoes? Check your arch
Athletic shoes should be tailored to your arch type (high arch, neutral arch, low arch). Not sure about your foot type? Dip your foot in water and then step on a piece of cardboard. Examine your footprint. If you see most of your footprint, you probably have a low arch. If you see very little of your footprint, you probably have a high arch.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.

NOW BLOGGING
Stress: Champions show the way
A look at a rock band, a basketball team and a race horse suggests that success depends a lot on focus and commitment.

The post Monday’s Housecall: Week of Jul 27, 2015 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Emergency Treatment Longer for Heart Attack Victims Arriving at Hospital During Off-Hours

Traci Klein — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:54:46 +0000

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Jan. 21, 2014 — More people die and emergency hospital treatment takes longer for heart attack victims who arrive at the hospital during off-hours (nights and weekends), compared with patients who arrive during regular daily hours, according to a Mayo Clinic study published online in the British Medical Journal on Jan. 21.

Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Sorita are available in the downloads.

Mayo Clinic researchers analyzed results of 48 studies published between 2001 and 2013 involving 1.8 million patients in the United States, Europe and Canada to assess the effect of off-hour hospital arrival for heart attack patients.

Patients who arrived at the hospital during off-hours are 5 percent more likely to die— both while in the hospital and 30 days after discharge — than patients who arrived at the hospital during regular daily hours. This resulted in an extra 4,000 deaths each year in the United States alone.

“The results show us that there are opportunities for us to improve care during the off-hours,” says Atsushi Sorita, M.D., first author and a senior fellow in preventive medicine at Mayo Clinic.

In addition, the researchers analyzed patients who had a specific kind of heart attack, called an ST- elevation myocardial infarction or ST- elevation myocardial infarction . It is considered the most severe heart attack and requires immediate care, says Henry Ting, M.D., Mayo Clinic cardiologist and senior study author. For patients who arrived during off-hours, the research showed a delay of nearly 15 minutes in door-to-balloon time, the time from hospital arrival until the patient’s blocked artery is opened with a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients. The delay in treating STEMIs could increase the likelihood of death by as much as 10 to 15 percent, Dr. Ting says.

“Our research suggests that patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted during off-hours have worse outcomes after adjusting for clinical risk,” Dr. Ting says. “Understanding the factors that contribute to these vulnerabilities in our systems of care and staffing models during off-hours can potentially save thousands of lives.”

The authors offer caution to people who develop signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or shortness of breath: the best action is to call 911 immediately, regardless of time of day or day of the week. The difference in risk of death between off-hours and regular hours does not warrant waiting in any circumstances, Dr. Sorita says.

###

About Mayo Clinic
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org, www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Traci Klein, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Emergency Treatment Longer for Heart Attack Victims Arriving at Hospital During Off-Hours appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.