Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

Women’s higher risk of death after MI explained by age, comorbidities

Women who present at a hospital with non-ST segment elevated MI (non-STEMI) are more likely to die than men, but they are also six years older on average and have a higher burden of comorbidities, researchers reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.

January 19, 2018

False missile alert in Hawaii triggers heart attack in 51-year-old

A 51-year-old man suffered a “massive” heart attack in East Oahu moments after Hawaiian officials issued a false missile alert last weekend, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

January 18, 2018

24% of ischemic CVD patients dead or rehospitalized within 6 months

Nearly a quarter of patients with chronic ischemic cardiovascular disease are either dead or rehospitalized within six months of their diagnosis, according to a Jan. 17 report published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

January 17, 2018

Mislabeled clopidogrel tablets prompt recall

International Laboratories is voluntarily recalling a single lot of clopidogrel tablets that was distributed nationwide after finding some of the medication was mislabeled. The bottles of 30 tablets may contain simvastatin instead, according to a safety alert issued by the FDA.

January 12, 2018

Heart patches from human stem cells aid pigs’ recovery after MI

Patches of human cardiac muscle made from pluripotent stem cells helped the hearts of pigs recover after myocardial infarction (MI), according to a first-of-its-kind study in large animals published in Circulation.

January 11, 2018

Increased cardiovascular risk in winter extends to warm climates

Hospitalizations for heart failure and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) spike in the winter—even in a city with a warm climate and modest temperature changes, new research suggests.

January 10, 2018

Single polygenic risk score predicts early-onset heart disease with most accuracy to date

A cardiovascular risk score based on polygenic testing has proven more effective for detecting early-onset heart disease than run-of-the-mill genetic screenings, researchers reported this month in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.

January 8, 2018

AHA: 7 tips for shoveling snow that could save your heart

Shoveling snow might seem like a routine chore, but with bitter cold and heavy winds washing over the U.S. this month, seven simple guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) could save your life.

January 4, 2018

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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