Harvard Heart Letter: December 2006

Many instances of "sudden" cardiac arrest are not sudden at all. In the majority of occurrences there is at least one warning sign before the event: chest pain, shortness of breah, nausea, and dizziness are the most common ones.

The FDA has given limited approval to a fully implantable artificial heart. But for the time being at least, eligibility is limited to only those who have advanced heart failure and are unable to have a transplant.

Potassium-based salt substitutes can help health-conscious eaters reduce their sodium intake, but these products may dangerously disrupt the heart's rhythm in those with diabetes or kidney disease.

A hand-exercising device can lower blood pressure by boosting circulation, though it must be used consistently for at least a month before results can be seen.

A group of researchers measured the antioxidant content of hundreds of foods. The top choices are healthy foods, which reinforces the correlation between eating foods rich in antioxidants and betrer overall health.

Reference books and online databases make it easier to know if a generic version of a specific medication is available.

A study found that statins were less effective at lowering cholesterol levels in blacks than in whites. The difference was not attributable to one single reason, but it may mean that blacks need to take another drug in conjunction with a statin.

Heart patients are being encouraged to get a flu shot, because fiu can worsen heart disease or lead to pneumonia, which strains the heart along with the rest of the body.

People with certain kinds of pacemakers or ICDs can safely undergo an MRI, as long as a series of safety precautions is carefully followed.