Heart Attack Archives

No heart attacks, strokes or cancer risk from long term insulin use in diabetes patients

McMaster study debunks belief insulin puts people with diabetes at risk of heart disease — International study involves more than 12,500 people in 40 countries over 6 years – Researchers at McMaster University have discovered that long-term insulin use does not harm people with diabetes or pre-diabetes or put them at risk of heart attacks, strokes or cancer. This is contrary to concerns that long-term use of insulin may cause heart disease, says Dr. Hertzel Gerstein, principal investigator of the study.

Sleep apnea treatment reduces hypertension and heart disease risk

Studies examine CPAP treatment and cardiovascular outcomes in adults with obstructive sleep apnea — Treatment of Obstructed Sleep Apnea With CPAP Therapy Associated With A Lower Risk Of Hypertension – Two studies that included adults with obstructive sleep apnea examined the effectiveness of reducing the risk of cardiovascular outcomes, including high blood pressure, by treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

No benefits with B vitamin, omega-3 supplements on cancer outcomes

No Benefits Associated with B Vitamin, Omega-3 Supplements on Cancer Outcomes in Those with Prior Cardiovascular Disease – Taking supplements of B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids for cancer prevention does not appear to be beneficial for patients with prior cardiovascular disease. Proper nutrition is considered to be protective against cancer but much is unknown about the roles of individual nutrients in different populations.

Most major air pollutants increases heart attack risk

Short-Term Exposure to Most Major Air Pollutants Associated With Increased Risk of Heart Attack – Short-term exposure (for up to 7 days) to all major air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack. The potentially harmful effect of episodes of high air pollution on health has been suspected for more than 50 years.

Anticoagulant Dabigatran linked to heart attack or MI

Dabigatran associated with increased risk of acute coronary events – The anticoagulant dabigatran is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) or acute coronary syndrome in a broad spectrum of patients when tested against some other medicines.

Bariatric surgery reduces heart attack and stroke in obese

Bariatric surgery associated with reduction in cardiovascular events and death – Among obese individuals, having bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced long-term incidence of cardiovascular deaths and events such as heart attack and stroke, revealed by researchers.

Stent design may put patients at risk of heart attack

A new stent design may put patients at risk – Stent shortening – a newly observed deformity in cases using a particular family of stents, can cause serious complications for patients, says researchers. In this case the stent clotted off and the patient had a heart attack.

Avastin bevacizumab approval revoked to treat breast cancer in US

Avastin Loses FDA Approval to Treat Breast Cancer – US health agency FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. has revoked the approval of the breast cancer indication for Avastin (bevacizumab) after concluding that the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use.

Yearly visit to dentist can reduce heart attack risk

Professional dental cleanings may reduce risk of heart attack and stroke – Tooth scaling at least once a year reduced heart attack and stroke risks. Professional tooth scaling was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes in a study from Taiwan presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2011.

35 new drugs approved in 2011 in US

FDA: 35 innovative new drugs approved in fiscal year 2011 — Report shows quick approvals of safe and effective medicines occur in the United States before other countries – Over the past 12 months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 35 new medicines for patients, like two new treatments for hepatitis C; a drug for late-stage prostate cancer; the first new drug for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 30 years; and the first new drug for lupus in 50 years.

Healthy lifestyle behaviors lower heart failure risk

Healthy lifestyle habits lower heart failure risk – If you don’t smoke, aren’t overweight, get regular physical activity and eat vegetables, you can significantly reduce your risk for heart failure, according to research reported in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.

Door-to-balloon time is 90 min in 91% of heart attack patients in US

Heart attack patients winning the race to angioplasty treatment – The period from hospital arrival to angioplasty is called “door-to-balloon” time (D2B). A new study showed that 91 percent of patients were treated in a D2B time of less than 90 minutes in 2010, compared with 44 percent in 2005.