Harvard Heart Letter: July 2007

People who are at risk for heart disease may be fine for some time, until a stressful event or situation acts as a trigger for a heart attack or stroke. Even in those with heart disease, some of these triggers can be minimized or avoided.

Women are at as much risk for heart disease as men are. The American Heart Association has compiled a list of guidelines that offer a number of ways women can reduce their risk.

Several European studies have found that the majority of people who undergo nonemergency angioplasty do not have to remain in the hospital overnight, but further study is needed before this practice becomes common in the US.

As the guidelines for treating heart disease are informed by evidence from medical studies, these treatments become more common and survival rates increase.

A study found that men who suffered migraines were more likely to have heart disease, but there is no evidence that migraines cause heart trouble, and no evidence as to what the connection, if any, may be.

I take warfarin. I have blood blisters on my arms and sporadically on my legs. Recently I developed purple toes on one foot. My cardiologist didn't seem concerned and wouldn't explain whether it was the warfarin. Can you shed some light on this?

I had a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test that was 38.6, which my doctor said was quite high. My cholesterol was fine. A heart scan and stress test were normal. When my doctor repeated the test, my hsCRP was 6.1. What can cause such variations?

People know that they can "prevent" heart disease by not smoking, losing weight, exercising, watching cholesterol and blood pressure, and eating right, but they still get heart disease. Is it really possible to prevent heart disease, or just slow it down?

My father had open-heart surgery 18 months ago. Fairly soon after the operation, he started having the feeling that wires are poking him in the chest. Is that possible? If so, is there a solution?