Cardiology

A recent meta-analysis of 31 randomized controlled trials with 4500 participants showed that metformin treatment significantly decreased weight, improved dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, and reduced the incidence of new-onset diabetes by 40%, with beneficial effects maintained over time. Further studies will show whether the metabolic improvements achieved with metformin treatment will ultimately result in a decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

This summer, we have come up with several heart-healthy picnic entries even you cardiologists would approve of, that are good both on the grill and in the oven to serve either hot or cold.

There exist online many high-quality websites from trusted sources that feature videos and animated depictions of the inner workings of the heart and the functions of the various components of the circulatory system.

A Duke University study determined that moderate exercise cubs the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, thus cutting the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine received a $15 million grant to conduct a five-year trial that will investigate whether utilizing pacemakers to administer beta-blocker therapy improves survival in patients.

The news last Friday came as an utter shock to me. Tim Russert died of a massive heart attack at age 58. The cause? Plaque ripping and causing a blood clot.

According to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, toenails can help predict heart disease risk in female smokers.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for 65 percent of patient deaths among people with type 2 diabetes.

10% of hospital admissions and 23% of nursing home admissions are due to the failure of a patient to take a prescription medication correctly, and as many as 59% of those taking fi ve or more medications are taking them improperly.

10% of hospital admissions and 23% of nursing home admissions are due to the failure of a patient to take a prescription medication correctly, and as many as 59% of those taking fi ve or more medications are taking them improperly.

Barring action by Congress, July 1 is the deadline to stop a 10.6% cut in Medicare physician payment.

Baseball hall-of-famer Jim Palmer is in his third season as spokesman for Strike Out High Cholesterol, a national cholesterol education program.

A little poking around on the Internets confirmed that quite a few good-to-very-good blogs run by cardiologists have gone dark in the last year or so.

Go Red for Women, in a study released recently, rated the best and least "Heart-Friendly" cities for women in the United States.

The fat in ice cream is enough to send the recovering cardiac patient down the wrong path. But that doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself.

Medical simulation allows learners to review and practice procedures and situations as often as required to reach profi ciency without involving live patients.

As boys and girls gain weight during adolescence (the genders are similar in body composition through age 11), changes differ largely by gender.

As a recovering cardiac patient, I would much rather be safe than sorry as far as any possibility of blood clots are concerned; Plavix has worked quite well in my medicine regimen.

As the American Heart Association reminds at this time of year, exercising outside in hot and humid conditions is hard on your heart.

The FDA has recorded 62 deaths from allergic-style reactions that were related to recalled heparin batches. As a patient, one takes for granted that the drugs you are getting in a hospital setting.

The following is a video compilation summarizing the latest medical breakthroughs from the American College of Cardiology - 57th Annual Scientific Session.

The Mayo Clinic gives tips on how to make your next walk a mood-enhancing experienceâ€"something the cardiac patient recovering from a recent event can put into practice.

If you’re a heart transplant patient, you want to go to a hospital that does tons of transplants. But having so many programs in one city means no single center performs that many procedures.

High blood pressure is linked to fewer headaches, due in large part to having stiffer artery walls, which affects a homeostatic process that regulates blood pressure and decreases sensitivity to pain.

Exercise routines for a cardiac-recovery patient can be upsetting for several reasons.

Many people with HIV take a combination of antiretroviral drugs. Concerns have been raised about the cardiovascular effects of long-term use of these drugs.

You have a recovering cardiac patient who loves baseball and the ballpark food that goes with it. So what is your patient to do?

The 57th Annual Scientific Session, held March 29 through April 1, 2008, brings together nearly 30,000 attendees from around the world to share best practices and learn about exciting innovations in cardiovascular science and education.

Common sense is the way to approach a heart-healthy diet. But too often, cardiologists hear the same complaints over and over from their patients regarding just what to buy after cardiac recovery.

Don't instruct your patients to eliminate the hot dog altogether - the American classic that serves as the top item at many warm-weather gatherings. Just tell them to avoid the ones that are not good for them. The same is true of most burgers.