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Step into summer in the best shape of your life with these reports from Harvard Medical School.
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Start your exercise and fitness program and reap the benefits of being more fit, stronger and healthier!

Warmer weather is on the way and it's not too late to get in shape for the summer. These 3 reports can help you enjoy outdoor activities in the best shape of your life:

December 2011 references and further reading

DEC 2011

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Angioplasty a day after a heart attack not worth it

Deyell M, Buller C, Miller L, Wang T, Dai D, Lamas G, Srinivas V, Hochman J. Impact of National Clinical Guideline Recommendations for Revascularization of Persistently Occluded Infarct-Related Arteries on Clinical Practice in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine 2011; 171: 1636-1643.

Terkelsen C, Jensen L, Tilsted H, Trautner S, Johnsen S, Vach W, Bøtker H, Thuesen L, Lassen J. Health care system delay and heart failure in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention: follow-up of population-based medical registry data. Annals of Internal Medicine 2011;155:361-7.

Preventing pacemaker, ICD infections now a priority

Greenspon A, Patel J, Lau E, Ochoa J, Frisch D, Ho R, Pavri B, Kurtz S. 16-year trends in the infection burden for pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in the United States 1993 to 2008. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2011; 58:1001-6.

Sohail M, Henrikson C, Braid-Forbes M, Forbes K, Lerner D. Mortality and Cost Associated With Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2011; Sept. 12 [epub ahead of print].

Putting heart attack, stroke triggers in perspective

Mittleman MA, Mostofsky E. Physical, psychological and chemical triggers of acute cardiovascular events: preventive strategies. Circulation 2011; 124:346-54.

Beta blockers: Cardiac jacks of all trades

Helfand M, Peterson K, Christensen V, Dana T, Thakurta S. Drug Class Review: Beta Adrenergic Blockers. Drug Effectiveness Review Project, Oregon Health & Science University.

Using Beta-Blockers to Treat High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease: Comparing Effectiveness, Safety, and Price. ConsumerReportsHealth.org, updated March 2011.

Healthy Eating Plate dishes out sound diet advice

www.health.harvard.edu/plate

Just-in-case electrocardiograms not recommended

Chou R, Arora B, Dana T, Fu R, Walker M, Humphrey L. Screening asymptomatic adults with resting or exercise electrocardiography: a review of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive services task force. Annals of Internal Medicine 2011; 155:375-85.

Leg workouts improve exercise capacity in people with heart failure

Esposito F, Reese V, Shabetai R, Wagner P, Richardson R. Isolated quadriceps training increases maximal exercise capacity in chronic heart failure: the role of skeletal muscle convective and diffusive oxygen transport. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2011; 58:1353-62.

Any exercise better than none to thwart peripheral artery disease

Wilson A, Sadrzadeh-Rafie A, Myers J, Assimes T, Nead K, Higgins M, Gabriel A, Olin J, Cooke J. Low lifetime recreational activity is a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease. Journal of Vascular Surgery 2011; 54:427-32.