Cardiology

After 8 iterations of JNC, hypertension therapy has its very own innate complexity. It seems that some things never change-such as thiazide diuretics for hypertension-or have they?

Advanced lipid testing can be useful in predicting cardiac risk, but tests are often underutilized.

The medical world is eagerly awaiting the likely approval this summer of two new cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as PCSK9 inhibitors. But at a cost of $7,000 to $12,000 a year, they won't be for everyone.

Lipid management is a complex issue. Peter Jones, MD, a Houston, TX, internist who specializes in lipidology, offers advice to primary care physicians trying to sort out competing treatment guidelines.

Only 1 in 6 heart transplants is done in a child, which means that globally, approximately 600 children undergo this procedure annually. A paper published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease makes the case for performing pediatric heart transplants in specialized centers and addressing factors unique to the pediatric patient.

Effective clinical research into the causes and treatments associated with large vessel vasculitis can be a challenge. The rarity of the disease limits the potential for randomized, controlled trials and the paucity of generally accepted outcome measures makes it difficult to assess treatments. A study in The Journal of Rheumatology outlined a concerted effort to tackle both of these challenges.

Although a promising Ebola vaccine trial was recently closed, a different type of drug may prove to be an effective treatment for the deadly disease.

Dietary trans fatty acids have had their heyday and are fading from the American food landscape. Once ubiquitous in margarine, snack food, packaged baked goods, and fried fast food, they have been associated with adverse effects on lipid profiles, metabolic function, insulin resistance, inflammation, and cardiac and general health.

In previous studies, regular breakfast consumption has been correlated with lower BMI and improved cardiometabolic risk profile. Furthermore, evidence suggests that low-energy density, high-fiber, and high-carbohydrate foods may be more satiating when compared to their alternatives.

Analysis of health records from across the country indicates that improvements in ablation procedures are making them a safer and more effective treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Analysis of a large patient cohort indicates a strong association between self-reported stress levels and atrial fibrillation.

Analysis of records from a national insurance database indicates that statin use reduces the danger of cognitive decline associated with atrial fibrillation. Dose strength and duration may be associated with greater benefits.

The US Food and Drug Administration today approved the use of cangrelor (Kengreal/The Medicines Company) for adults undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

The days of patients requesting stacks of paper medical records being sent to a new healthcare professional are largely over in many places. How the information is transmitted and who gets to see that information is now a topic of discussion in the community.

Epidemiological studies have provided conflicting evidence regarding the impact of dietary cholesterol and egg consumption on heart disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Also controversial is the idea that dietary cholesterol may contribute to the very development of T2DM by altering glucose metabolism. Given the significant influence of diet on diabetes management, the lack of conclusive evidence on this subject emphasizes the need for further study.

The Paleolithic (grain-free) diet is gathering steam among dieters and health conscious individuals alike. Proponents consume only items that, hypothetically, cavemen would have had access to. They claim that modern man can't metabolize comparatively new types of food, and our reliance on processed foods has increased rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

The field of electronic health records has made big advancements in recent years but there is still more work to be done. How that work is done will depend on input not only from the healthcare field but also the patients who use it.

Many hospitals around the country are eliminating their paper records all together which is changing the way patient records are shared. This can have a long reach into a patient's life as different parts of their lives depend on having their records to send to various entities.

Now that it has been shown that more control can be given to patients in regards to their electronic health records, the question becomes whether it should be done and how it should be done.

When converting medical records into an electronic form most of the work can be done without much consideration. However, when it comes to observations and other notes by healthcare professionals, how they are included and made available to patients can present the need for more in depth thought.

When deciding how or even if to give patients access to their medical records, a recent study found there are many areas that need to be considered before the access is made available.

When given the choice of what parts of their records patients wanted made available to healthcare professionals, the results showed a mixed reaction to the ability. There were also questions raised about the risks associated with only making the records available to certain people.

Having one of the oldest electronic health record systems in the country the state of Indiana has been at the forefront of the field for close to 30 years. Using those records and networks in the state a group from the Regenstrief Institute looked at how patients might want to control who can see their records.

Under the direction of the CNS 7 teams from around the country are looking at best practices for nursing homes in their area. The groups are then pooling their information to see what can be done to improve the life of patients in these facilities and others like them.

People are living well into their 70's and beyond, and as a result the medical community as a whole is being asked to tackle new challenges. This is especially true for nursing homes where patients can require a variety of care on a given day.

Nursing homes across the country have been operating with the same procedures for many years. While a new way of approaching care may take some getting used to and have some initial costs the end result could be beneficial in the long run.

As part of a program run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services centers around the country are taking a closer look at what the nursing home field could look like in the future.

A little known heart condition can be identified using simple tests that could help patients maintain an active lifestyle. Helping doctors to know about the condition is key according to a recent study.

It has become a growing trend for many young professionals, particularly women to go to the gym before heading to work. A recent study shows some may be at risk of a rare heart condition which, if not properly diagnosed and treated, could be fatal.