American Heart Association

The presence of urate crystal precipitation does not necessarily indicate a greater risk of cardiovascular complications for patients with increased levels of monosodium urate, which is the defining characteristic of gout.

A new tool for assessing the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation performed better than the existing standard in a large retrospective analysis. ATRIA risk scores were less likely than CHA2DS2-VASc scores to mistakenly characterize patients as "high risk" and, therefore, to lead to the overuse of anticoagulation.

In the second part of an interview with Kim Van Naarden Braun, PhD, the screening process used in New Jersey is discussed at the national level.

With technology improving every day the state of New Jersey implemented a program three years ago to mandate screening for critical congenital heart defects.

Men of all ages are experiencing the difficulties that come with cardiovascular health including erectile dysfunction. A recent study was conducted looking at the link between the two conditions and what can be done to improve their treatment.

When cocaine users seek medical attention at a hospital regularly used scans may miss some hidden damage done to the patient's heart. A new study looked at other areas that could help maintain their longterm health.

As children get older their waistlines increasingly show signs of getting wider as well and the problem extends far beyond American students. Doctors around the world are working together to find ways to combat the growing problem.

Doctors are taking a new look at a condition which could play a factor in predicting cardiovascular incidents called hopelessness. While not much is known about the condition or treatment there are some things people can do to keep themselves as healthy as possible.

Whether asthma contributes to cardiovascular disease or not is a matter for continued research and study. Whether there is a direct link or not there has been considerable proof that the numbers for both conditions are on the rise.

In urban areas like Los Angeles women, particularly young mothers, may not have the money, time, and resources needed to take care of their own health. A new study has looked to find ways to help keep them healthy and also help the overall good of their families and communities as well.

As the technology of 3-D printing improves its uses are also growing. This includes creating more accurate models of patient hearts that can help surgeons with their work before ever making the first cut.

Continuing the discussion of the dangers of energy drinks the topic turns to what parents and the drink manufacturers can do to protect the youngest members of the population.

A presentation at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2014 suggested, STEMI victims treated with oxygen endured 25 to 30% more heart damage than patients not given oxygen.

With a limited donor pool every minute and every decision made by pediatric transplant surgeons can make the difference between life and death for their patients. A recent study looked at whether there was a new way to look at who should be eligible for a heart transplant.

With their colorful packaging, energy drinks are a tempting choice for young children who see them as just another option when they are thirsty. For thousands of children, that choice has meant a trip to the doctors or even the emergency room.

While the best way to combat obesity may be to not gain enough wait for the diagnosis there are steps that can be taken to get people back on track to being healthy.

As hospitals around the country deal with the newly instituted readmission penalties many are having to look at how they will handle providing the same level of care without some of the money they counted on in the past.

Exercise in any form can be beneficial and whether it is walking in a mall or in a park those few extra steps can help a person's overall health in a lot of ways.

A study presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2014 reported home exercise could potentially alleviate feelings of hopelessness in people afflicted with coronary heart disease.

Proper blood pressure monitoring is a matter of life and death for patients diagnosed with hypertension. For many patients, treatment cost and complex testing regimens can make proper adherence a challenge.

Recent research shows that advances in treatment are leading to improved survival rates for children with dilated cardiomyopathy, even among those patients who do not receive a heart transplant.

Results from the pivotal US trial of an everolimus-eluting bioabsorbable polymer-coated stent, the Boston Scientific SYNERGY coronary stent system, indicate that it performs just as well as existing alternatives.

Many people could be more active in their daily lives. The question for physicians is: How do you make that happen, especially for children and adolescents? A recent study provides clues about how to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Many questions have been raised about the potential effects of a mother's pre-pregnancy weight and the impact it has on the health of their children as they get older. Now, analysis of data from a cohort of patients from the Framingham Heart Study has shown that adults whose mothers were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy have an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or stroke.

With an aging population, clinicians must guard against potential complications and adverse events brought on by treatment. For example, a recent study appeared to show that overtreatment with anticoagulants increases dementia risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The study of complex congenital cardiac anatomy has previously been limited to 2-dimensional assessment. Now the potential use of 3-dimensional cardiac models could allow for previously unavailable visualization and analysis of anatomy.

For patients suffering a first-time cardiac event there could be warning signs in the form of a condition called vital exhaustion. A recent study looked at the causes and signs of vital exhaustion and potential preventive measures and treatments for these patients.

Although more people than ever are signing up to become an organ donor, the demand for organs still greatly exceeds the number of available donors. Clinicians and advocates have taken a number of measures to raise awareness of organ donation, including the use of social media to help provide education on the topic.

Amid the ongoing debate about whether patients are getting the best end-of-life care, a University of Pennsylvania team today presented survey results on a potential ethics question: How would patients feel if doctors turned off their defibrillators against the wishes of patient or family?

"Is this the end of the road for aspirin in primary prevention?" asked Dorairaj Prabhakaran, MD, DM, MSc, at the 2014 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions.