Harvard Heart Letter: October 2009

Carefully following the discharge instructions after a heart attack, including participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program, provides a much better chance of a full recovery and preventing another attack.

Two new medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, one for people with atrial fibrillation and one that works to fight the formation of clots.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm can be dangerous if it grows beyond a certain size. A newer, less invasive procedure can correct the problem with less risk than open surgery.

Rapid cooling of cardiac arrest victims increases their chances of eventual survival by reducing the extent of damage caused by lack of oxygen to the brain when the heart stops.

A new study is comparing methods of treating leg pain caused by peripheral artery disease.

When doctors interpret a blood pressure reading, should they also consider the heart rate? My pressure is often higher when my heart rate is close to its usual resting rate and lower when my heart is beating faster than that.

I'm an 85-year-old man with aortic valve stenosis, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation. My doctor said I should wait until I experience signs of heart failure before having my aortic valve replaced. Shouldn't I get it done sooner?

Are the coronary arteries more prone to developing blockages than arteries elsewhere in the body? When arteries from other parts of the body are used in bypass surgery, does their tendency to become blocked change?

I've heard that apple cider vinegar can clean out the arteries. Is there any truth to that?

  Certain foods, such as beans, oats and whole grains, fatty fish, and fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber, can lower "bad" LDL cholesterol.   Read More »