Heart Attack Archive

Research we're watching

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are miniature electronic devices placed under the skin below the collarbone to sense and stop abnormal heart rhythms. A study in the Jan. 24, 2017, Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides new information about outcomes in older people who receive these lifesaving devices.

The study included 12,420 people with an average age of 75. All had survived a sudden cardiac arrest and received an ICD. Nearly four in five of the participants survived at least two years. During the two-year period, nearly 65% were hospitalized at some point. Many were admitted to skilled nursing facilities during the study, including about 32% of those ages 80 and older.

Medications for heart disease

Although lifestyle changes are an essential first step in treating coronary artery disease, you may need to take medications to reach your cholesterol and blood pressure goals and otherwise reduce your risk. In fact, most people with heart disease need to take more than one medication. The specific combination of drugs will depend on your particular symptoms and risk factors. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications are described below.

Blood pressure medications

For many years, doctors used diuretics — sometimes known as water pills — to treat high blood pressure. Although diuretics remain a mainstay of blood pressure treatment because they are cheap and effective, a flood of other drugs have become available since the 1980s. In addition, a large meta-analysis comparing the various options concluded that the five categories of drugs currently available are equally effective for most people. Work with your doctor to determine the best type of medication for you.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women — and one of the most preventable. Research is giving us insights into how we can control our risk.

We've come a long way since the days when a woman's worry over heart disease centered exclusively on its threat to the men in her life. We now know it's not just a man's problem. Every year, coronary heart disease, the single biggest cause of death in the United States, claims women and men in nearly equal numbers.

Risk still underappreciated

In a survey conducted by the American Heart Association, about half of the women interviewed knew that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet only 13% said it was their greatest personal health risk. If not heart disease, then what? Other survey data suggest that on a day-to-day basis, women still worry more about getting breast cancer — even though heart disease kills six times as many women every year. Why the disconnect?

The predictive powers of a cholesterol test only go so far. If your LDL is low, your C-reactive protein may be a better sign of impending heart trouble.

The gap between knowing what's good for you and actually doing it can be huge, especially when it comes to something like getting exercise. (Never underestimate the appeal of the sedentary life.) Many of us need a warning-some might say a bit of a kick in the pants-before we'll change our ways and get with a heart-healthy program.

Cholesterol Tests

For decades, cholesterol testing has served as that warning for many. An elevated level of "bad" LDL cholesterol has been just the warning people needed to change their ways. It has played that role for several reasons. People like tests because the results seem objective. Reliable measurement of cholesterol is easy and relatively inexpensive. It makes sense biologically. LDL cholesterol, a protein-wrapped package containing fat and cholesterol, tends to slip out of the bloodstream and lodge in blood vessel walls, forming the plaque that leads to clots and heart attacks.

When you are alone and have to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), your primary effort should be compressing the chest to help the person's heart pump blood. If there is a second person helping, providing breaths can be done at the same time as compressions are performed.

The brief review of CPR on the following pages can help you in an emergency; however, this information should not take the place of a certified course in CPR.

Aspirin therapy can help prevent a second heart attack and stroke, but for otherwise healthy older men, its use depends on their 10-year risk for a heart attack or stroke as determined by their doctor. 

Shoulder pain appears to be associated with risk factors for heart disease. Researchers found that people with the most heart disease risk factors, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, were almost five times more likely to also have shoulder trouble. 

Paying attention to your eating habits and other lifestyle routines can help nudge down the number on the scale.

 Image: © Rawpixel Ltd/Thinkstock

If you're like many Americans, you're still carrying an extra pound or two that you gained over the holidays. Over the years, that extra weight can really add up—and that added girth is hard on your heart.

Often, the hardest part about losing weight isn't about knowing what to eat. You've heard it a thousand times: eat lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. The real challenge is changing your habits to make those healthy choices part of your everyday routine without feeling too deprived.

Real-world tracking of exercise habits with a smartphone may inform future cardiovascular research.

 Image: © Halfpoint/Thinkstock

Nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone, which comes in handy for instant access to all sorts of information, from driving directions to medical advice. According to a Pew Research Center report, 62% of people have used their phone to research a health condition.

But smartphones can also collect personal health data, aided by apps that track your activity level throughout the day. Because activity and fitness levels are so closely tied to heart health, an accurate assessment of these factors may offer new clues for preventing heart disease.