Cardiology

As the nation tries to cut its health-care costs critics of reform have worried that some patients who need expensive though risky procedures like coronary artery bypass graft surgery might not get them. But a new Harvard School of Public Health study could allay those fears.

Over the past decade, lifestyle changes, better treatment and effective preventive measures have led to a dramatic decrease in deaths and hospitalizations from heart disease in the United States.

The nation's youth, and its smoke-free air need federal protection from vapors from e-cigarettes, according to a set of recommendations released Aug. 25 by the American and Heart Association.

As cardiac devices improve and need to be replaced, leads left behind in the patient's body could lead to critical illnesses caused by infections.

As a part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, 6 organizations representing surgeons have contributed lists of tests and procedures that can be unnecessary and a waste of money.

New research suggests that most patients who have suffered a stroke can be taught to reliably detect the first signs of atrial fibrillation by measuring their peripheral pulse at the radial artery.

Endothelial cells in the coronary arteries can function as cardiac stem cells to produce new heart muscle tissue, contradicting the belief that the heart has no regenerative potential.

Research suggests that patients who develop seemingly temporary cases of atrial fibrillation immediately after most types of surgery are dramatically more likely to suffer subsequent strokes.

Eliquis is also now indicated for reducing the risk of recurrent DVT and PE following initial therapy.

New research finds that people with atrial fibrillation (AF) who undergo radiofrequency ablation and maintain sinus rhythm are less likely than those who opt against the procedure to die of heart attack or heart failure.

Analysis of more than 5,000 successful electrical cardioversions performed without anticoagulation suggests that patients and doctors must act fast to minimize the chances that acute atrial fibrillation will lead to thromboembolic events.

Fixed-dose tablet is the first sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor plus metformin combo product to receive approval in the US.

Although variouis contraceptives are available for women whose baseline health is good, women who have chronic medical conditions have unique concerns.

A study spanning 20 years found people with hypertension in middle age (48 to 67 years old) are more likely to experience cognitive decline in their 70s and 80s.

New guidelines for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension include 79 recommendations and expert consensus statements, as well as appropriate use of the latest drug therapies.

When administered within 4 to 5 hours of onset of stroke symptoms, alteplase was shown to markedly improve the changes of a good outcome; its benefits diminish the later it is given.

A staggering portion of the homeless who are alcohol dependent began drinking as children and cited their drinking as the main cause of their homelessness.

In just a few short years the number of doctors and hospitals using electronic health records has grown dramatically, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

New research disputes a widely publicized study that linked testosterone replacement therapy with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Researchers examine whether patients with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia saw improved health outcomes after Massachusetts Health Reform was implemented in 2006.

Despite these improvements in medical technology, diabetic nephropathy remains unpredictable and life-threatening. Identifying high-risk patients at an early stage could help clinicians take appropriate steps to reduce risk.

New research shows that testosterone therapy does not significantly improve erectile function or lessen mild to moderate aging male symptoms in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Surgeons' concerns about a controversial process to transition high-risk patients off anticoagulation may be warranted.

When managing patients with atrial fibrillation, internists use antiarrthymic strategies that significantly differ from those utilized by cardiologists, though both types of physicians similarly diverge from treatment guidelines.

Clinicians must anticipate changes in kidney function during acute illness and surgical procedures, as well as frequently reassess metformin use in older patients, since kidney function declines predictably with age.

During the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act, more than 10 million Americans gained health insurance coverage.

Regularly consuming probiotics may improve blood pressure, particularly for people with hypertension, according to a new study.

Despite the debilitating symptoms associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, an alarming proportion of primary care providers mistreat or overlook the disease in their patients

Crops raised in a method that meets the organic standard contain more antioxidants than traditionally grown crops. Nevertheless, it remains unproven whether diets with higher antioxidant concentrations provide improved health outcomes.

Prior studies have reached contradictory conclusions about how strongly low levels of total testosterone correlate with high levels of metabolic syndrome.