Harvard Heart Letter: July 2008

An earlier advisory to keep an iPod away from the heart of a pacemaker wearer may not be necessary, but caution is still advised.

A CT scan for calcium buildup in arteries near the heart can help predict the likelihood of an attack, but its cost outweighs its usefulness in people with low risk of heart disease.

Brief updates on why diabetics should limit their consumption of eggs, attempting to patch a hole in the hearts of some migraine sufferers, and a possible connection between clogged vein grafts and depression.

I am a 70-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes. I take Glucophage, Glucotrol, and a statin. My diastolic pressure used to be between 70 and 80, but now it's down into the 50s and 40s. This seems low to me. Could this indicate a problem?

I started taking Tricor because I have low HDL and high triglycerides. Someone I know at work developed gallstones after being on Tricor for a while. Is this a common side effect? If so, is there another medication I can take?

Doctors used to worry that the potential harm of blood pressure medication outweighed any benefit to elderly patients, but a study found that the medication did reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke, and premature death in older patients.

An angiotensin-receptor blocker controls blood pressure as well as an ACE inhibitor, but taken together they are more likely to cause unwanted side effects. ACE inhibitors are also available in generic form, which costs much less.

Fish oil contains beneficial omega-3 fats, but people with heart failure, angina, or an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) should minimize their consumption of fish, and should not take fish oil capsules.

A person can be overweight and still be fit and healthy, but it is still better for the body to lose weight if possible, and even better to lose weight and get regular exercise.

Travel to high-altitude locations is risky for people with heart disease, but knowing the limitations of the condition and taking proper precautions can make the trip possible for some.

Air pollution is harmful to the heart, but a diet with adequate amounts of B vitamins and methionine, an amino acid, may counteract the health problems caused by pollution.

Roller coasters and other high-velocity amusement park rides can cause spikes in heart rate and blood pressure that may be dangerous for riders with heart problems.

The American Heart Association has revised its guidelines for administering CPR to a victim of cardiac arrest, and now recommends using only firm, quick chest compressions.