New American Heart Association Survey Finds Heart Disease And Stroke Patients Face Significant Barriers In Obtaining Quality, Affordable Care
A new American Heart Association survey substantiates that the need for health care reform has not gone away. Many heart disease and stroke patients are faring poorly under the current health care system, with nearly two-thirds citing affordability as the top concern of those suffering from cardiovascular disease. Ensuring the availability of insurance coverage and investing more in prevention ranked second and third, respectively. "The survey should serve as a vivid reminder that too many Americans, including the insured and especially the underinsured, are simply overwhelmed by soaring medical expenses and inadequate coverage, " said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association.
Delta Dental's Healthy Smile, Healthy You Focuses On Health Of Pregnant Women, Diabetics And Those With High Risk Cardiac Conditions
The eyes may be the window to the soul, but research is demonstrating that the mouth is the gateway to good health. In fact, a dental exam can reveal early symptoms of more than 100 diseases, as well as identify gum disease, which can have a negative effect on the body's overall health. Scientific evidence suggests that early treatment and prevention of gum disease and other oral conditions can positively impact many medical conditions. Through its innovative program Healthy Smile, Healthy You® , Delta Dental of Virginia is focusing on three high risk groups that stand to benefit most from additional dental checkups-pregnant women, diabetics and those with high risk cardiac conditions.
When The Heart Gets Out Of Step Newly Identified Gene May Open Route To Innovative Treatments For Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia a chronic irregularity of heartbeat which affects an estimated 1 million people in Germany. Although the condition is not acutely life-threatening, it does increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as cardiac insufficiency, stroke and dementia. In the third of a series of genomewide asssociation studies, an international team of researchers, led by LMU physician PD Dr. Stefan KГ Г b, now reports the identification of a new gene locus that has a significant influence on risk for atrial fibrillation. The product of this gene is a so-called potassium channel, which plays a role in coordinating the electrical impulses that control heartbeat.
Tiny Molecules May Tell Big Story About Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Tiny bits of molecular "trash" found in circulating blood appear to be good predictors of cardiovascular disease and untimely death, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The discovery, published online in the April issue of the journal Circulation Genetics, comes from the largest study of its kind for cardiovascular disease, and is the first to identify specific metabolic profiles associated with coronary artery disease, heart attacks and death among patients who have undergone coronary catheterization. The Duke study analyzed metabolites, the molecular debris left over after the body breaks food down into energy sources and building blocks of cells and tissues.
Doctors Urged To Manage Cardiovascular Risk Factors Of Migraine Sufferers
Migraine sufferers are twice as likely to have heart attacks as people without migraine, according to a new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The study, published in the February 10 online issue of Neurology, found that migraine sufferers also face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have key risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. "Migraine has been viewed as a painful condition that affects quality of life, but not as a threat to people's overall health, " said lead investigator Richard B. Lipton, M.D., senior author of the study and professor and vice chair in The Saul R.
C-reactive Protein: Not A Routine Test For Heart Disease
For women concerned about heart disease, routine testing of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is controversial, says Thomas Behrenbeck, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, in an interview in the February issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. CRP is a marker for inflammation within the body and has been promoted as a screening test for coronary artery disease. Inflammation can play an important role in atherosclerosis, the process in which fatty deposits build up in coronary arteries. Interest in hs-CRP originated when studies found that patients with unstable angina or chest pain had high levels of this marker. Researchers found that hs-CRP could be used to predict who would go on to have a heart attack.
InfraReDx CEO To Discuss Vulnerable Plaque Identification With LipiScan TM Coronary Imaging System At Cardiovascular Research Technologies 2010 Forum
InfraReDx, Inc., an innovative medical device company focused on developing novel diagnostic imaging technologies to accurately identify and characterize diseased intracoronary tissues, announced that the Company's founder and chief executive officer, James E. Muller, M.D., will present and participate in a number of sessions and panel discussions during the annual Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2010 meeting. CRT 2010, sponsored by Washington, D.C. based Washington Hospital Center, is being held February 21-23 at the city's Omni Shoreham Hotel. Dr. Muller is an invited faculty member for this educational summit attended by interventional cardiologists and vascular medicine specialists.
What Is Marfan Syndrome? What Causes Marfan Syndrome?
Marfan syndrome, also called Marfan's syndrome is a genetic condition that affects connective tissues which are the fibers that help to provide support and structure to other tissue and organs. Marfan syndrome can affect many body systems, such as the heart, blood vessels, skeleton and eyes. Marfan syndrome is hereditary; is passed on from the parents. The disease is named after Antoine Marfan, the French pediatrician who first described the condition in 1896 after noticing striking features in a 5-year-old girl. The gene linked to the disease was first identified by Francesco Ramirez at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City in 1991. The damage caused by Marfan syndrome can be mild or severe.
Small Diabetes Risk Is Not A Reason To Stop Taking Statins
Patients on statins may have a slight increased risk of developing diabetes, according to new research published The Lancet. The authors examined data from a number of sources to resolve doubts around the issue following results from other studies. Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, who commented on the study, said: "It is well established that people with, or at high risk of, heart disease benefit from taking statins. However, some studies have shown that statins may increase the risk of developing diabetes, whilst other studies have shown a reduced risk. "This analysis, which looks at the combined data from several statin trials, suggests that statins do indeed increase the risk of developing diabetes, particularly in the elderly, but by a very small amount.
Critical Enzyme In Healthy Heart Function Identified
Scientists are reporting the first-ever data to show that the enzyme calcineurin is critical in controlling normal development and function of heart cells, and that loss of the protein leads to heart problems and death in genetically modified mice. Published Feb. 26 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry as the paper of the week, and posted online Feb. 19, the research was led by scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The study demonstrates that calcineurin in hearts of mice is directly linked to proper cardiac muscle contraction, rhythm and maintenance of heart activity. The near total absence of calcineurin in mice leads to heart arrhythmia, failure and death, according to the research team.