Adam Hochron

One of the most important facilities in the American military medical system is Brooke Army Medical Center. As a level 1 trauma center and a key research facility the San Antonio institution plays many roles all with one goal in mind.

Finding treatments for rheumatoid arthritis has proven to be a challenge in the medical community but researchers have found a potential way to help predict whether a medication will be effective in this patient population.

The TIMI study group has been around for more than 30 years but even after all that time they continue to work to find new ways to help patients with cardiovascular disease and the health care professionals who treat them.

Buying energy drinks can be as easy as picking up a gallon of milk and people of all ages have been consuming them to get a bigger kick of caffeine than coffee alone provides. A recent study looked at possible health risks associated with these beverages.

When a doctor prescribes any medication it is done so with the assumption that patients will follow the dosage given by the provider. This is considerably more important for medications like anticoagulants which can help prevent potentially fatal strokes from occurring.

With one in 5 children in the United States at risk of obesity a recent study looked at their chances of developing heart disease and what it can mean for the future of this patient population.

In the medical community there are many questions about the benefits of patients on a daily aspirin regimen and who should be considered for this treatment option. While these questions apply mainly to standard aspirin treatments currently available there is work being done to move the field in a new direction.

Treating heart failure can be a delicate practice for doctors depending on the severity of the condition. Finding new ways to help these patients is moving from the clinical side of medicine into the laboratory to find more exacting treatment methods.

For medical conditions like atrial fibrillation there is no shortage of information available on the internet for patients to absorb. Finding credible sources can make a difference in not only the way patients react to the information but what they do with it as part of their treatment.

While there has been a considerable amount of research about lowering "bad cholesterol," but questions have raised about whether "good cholesterol," really is a good thing and if it should be monitored and treated by doctors.

Patients diagnosed with cardiac conditions or having suffered cardiac events do so for a variety of reasons. A recent study looked at the impact of family history of heart attacks and what can be done to help prevent their patients from suffering similar events.

As technology improves and more is learned about treatment for various conditions new guidelines are constantly being developed in the medical field. Once the guidelines are updated it becomes even more important to get that information into the field to help the patients who can benefit from them.

Whether it is a parent concerned about their child's health or a doctor in a hospital looking to prevent the spreading of germs an alternative for a stethoscope could be a welcome addition to the health care field. With iPhones being a common tool in life bringing the two together could benefit people in many ways.

Patients with chronic total occlusion percutaneous intervention may also be at risk of developing depression. Research has shown by treating the cardiac condition it can help lesson the symptoms of the psychiatric condition as well.

Researchers are constantly looking for new ways to help diagnose patients with a variety of conditions. A recent study in Boston looked at whether optical probes could help patients in the future.

As one of the newest anticoagulants on the market new research has opened the door for more patients to use Xarelto as part of their treatment regimen over the years.

Current treatment for fibromuscular dysplasia mainly includes symptom management rather than treating the overall condition. Research is working to find not only the cause of the condition but a more robust treatment option.

In a time when doctors are busier than ever and patients still want to feel a personal connection to their health care professionals, finding new ways to have that balance has become a field of study for now and the future.

In the changing landscape of hospital medicine one of the largest areas of focus has been on readmission rates, this is also true for patients who are discharged from one hospital and then readmitted into another location for further treatment.

There may be a wealth of options available for patients with heart failure but work is continually being done to find new and better treatment options.

Finding a way to treat acute kidney injury has been no easy task for the medical community. Now researchers are looking at whether a patient's own cells could be the key to providing the treatment they need.

As one of the fastest growing economies in the world China is also dealing with one of the largest pollution problems across the world. What can be done to address those issues on a permanent basis is the study of a recent study by researchers around the globe.

From cardiologists to physical therapists to nurses there is a team approach needed to provide cardiac patients the care they need for treatment. Keeping that care going even after a cardiac event has passed has been a growing focus of the field in recent years.

For many years patients with heart failure were ineligible to be reimbursed for cardiac rehabilitation for their condition. Those guidelines have now changed for many patients showing impressive benefits from the work.

Rehospitalization is becoming a growing concern in the health care field with health systems facing financial consequences if they do not reach certain benchmarks. A recent study of an approved medication showed benefits in this area that could help patients and providers alike.

A considerable amount of research has been done into the neurological issues facing football players but work is also being done to study the impact on the heart of some of the larger players on the field as well.

There are medications currently available to help patients diagnosed with heart failure but many do not address quality of life of these patients after treatment. A new medication being investigated could help with both issues of patient care.

When treatment of cardiovascular disease goes beyond the heart and into other areas of the body it can present different challenges for cardiologists. Finding new ways to overcome those challenges has been a focus of many conditions including peripheral artery disease.

As more research is done into the effects of Brilinta on patients more is learned about new ways doctors can prescribe the medication to help their patients.

When people think of digital health aids they may not think beyond their smartphone or other wearable devices. Work is being done to move this field in a direction even more helpful than currently used.