November, 2024

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Should You Take A Statin To Lower Your Cholesterol?

Dr. Paddy Barrett

Let’s start with the fact that this is not a yes or no answer. To answer this question, you need to understand three key factors: What is your baseline risk? Over what time horizon are you looking to reduce risk? What is your attitude toward reducing that risk? Only when you have a clear idea of those three factors can you decide whether or not to take a medication to lower your LDL cholesterol.

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Weight-loss drug found to shrink heart muscle in mice and human cells

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

Trendy weight-loss drugs making headlines for shrinking waistlines may also be shrinking the human heart and other muscles, according to a new University of Alberta study in JACC: Basic to Translational Science. The authors say the research should serve as a "cautionary tale" about possible long-term health effects of these drugs.

Research 143
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AI-powered tool may offer quick, no-contact blood pressure and diabetes screening

American Heart News - Heart News

Research Highlights: A preliminary study combining a patent-applied, AI-powered algorithm with a high-speed, 5-to 30-second video of skin on the face and the palm of the hand detected if someone had high blood pressure as well as using a blood.

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Midlife Choices May Offset Genetic Risk for Dementia, Stroke, Late-Life Depression

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Healthier lifestyle behaviors in midlife were linked with better outcomes in people with genetic predisposition for age-related brain diseases, longitudinal data from the U.K. Biobank showed. Over about 12 years of follow-up.

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Sitting too long can harm heart health, even for active people

Science Daily - Heart Disease

More time spent sitting, reclining or lying down during the day may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death, according to a new study. More than roughly 10-and-a-half hours of sedentary behavior per day was significantly linked with future heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular (CV) death, even among people meeting recommended levels of exercise.

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Mapping the intersection of sudden cardiac death and COVID-19: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis (2020–2024)

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

IntroductionA direct causal link between Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) and COVID-19 is unproven, although current data suggest a plausible association.AimThis study aims to map and analyze the intersection of research on sudden cardiac death and COVID-19 through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis.MethodologyThis study searched the literature by applying the keywords “COVID-19” AND “Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)”.

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One Of The Biggest Impact Things You Can Do To Live Longer.

Dr. Paddy Barrett

“But what can I do to make a difference?” This is one of the most common questions I get as a cardiologist when talking about preventing heart disease and living longer. As a doctor, there are many things I can do, and only a doctor can do: Prescribe medications Order certain diagnostic tests. Perform or arrange medical procedures. And so on.

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Primary care professionals key to helping people achieve & maintain heart health

American Heart News - Heart News

Statement Highlights: A new scientific statement outlines the role of primary care professionals in helping their patients achieve Life's Essential 8, the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health defined by the American Heart.

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FDA Adds New Warning to GLP-1 Drugs

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Labels of all GLP-1 receptor agonists now carry a warning about pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation. The warning affects all treatments containing GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (Ozempic.

Pulmonary 132
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IL-18 Levels Associated With Long COVID Risk in People With Rheumatic Diseases

HCPLive

IL-18 levels were consistently lower across participants with different SARDs, remission status, and COVID-19 disease characteristics.

COVID-19 127
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Physiology Friday #245: Fitness Protects against Neurodegenerative Diseases—Even in Those at the Greatest Risk

Physiologically Speaking

Greetings! Welcome to the Physiology Friday newsletter. Details about the sponsors of this newsletter including FSTFUEL electrolytes, Examine.com , and my book “VO2 Max Essentials ” can be found at the end of the post. Physiologically Speaking is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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How You Can Reduce The Risk Of Heart Disease Without Losing Weight.

Dr. Paddy Barrett

Being overweight is a major risk factor for heart disease and also an early death. But even if you have excess weight, there are many things you can do to seriously reduce that risk without focusing on weight loss itself. So, if you struggle with excess weight, you need to know what else you can do to reduce your future risk. The Life Essential 8 are a set of factors that significantly influence your risk of heart disease and early death, including: Regular Physical Activity.

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Irregular sleep-wake cycle linked to heightened risk of major cardiovascular events

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

An irregular sleep-wake cycle is associated with a heightened risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, even for those who clock up the recommended nightly hours of shut-eye, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

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Unexplained changes in cholesterol may help identify older adults at risk for dementia

American Heart News - Heart News

Research Highlights: A study of older adults in Australia and the U.S. indicates that cholesterol levels that fluctuate significantly from year to year without a change in medication may someday help to identify those with a higher risk of developing.

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Stroke Risk Is Changing With the Climate

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- The world endured its hottest summer on record in 2024, and the transition to fall brought devastation from multiple hurricanes in the U.S. The growing effects of climate change are widespread and becoming more severe. Now, new.

Stroke 124
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Recent Advances Have Improved Prognosis in ATTR-CM Patients, with Ahmad Masri, MD, MS

HCPLive

Ahmad Masri, MD, MS, discusses a study from AHA 2024 detailing changing risk profiles and outcomes in trials among patients with ATTR-CM.

Outcomes 125
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Using a fan and wetting the skin reduces risk of deadly cardiac strain in hot and humid weather

Science Daily - Heart Disease

New collaborative research has shown that using a fan in hot and humid weather reduces cardiac strain in older people, contradicting recommendations from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in the US. The study looked at the efficacy of different low-cost cooling strategies -- such as electric fans with and without spraying water on the skin -- for older adults, who are known to be at a heightened health risk during hot summer weather.

Research 107
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Anthos Presents New Analysis from P2 AZALEA-TIMI 71 Study

DAIC

tim.hodson Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:55 Nov. 16, 2024 Anthos Therapeutics, Inc.recently presented new data at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions from its AZALEA-TIMI 71 study that demonstrated the novel factor XI inhibitor abelacimab led to consistent and substantial reductions in bleeding for patients on or off antiplatelet (APT) therapy, as compared to rivaroxaban.

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The human heart may have a hidden ability to repair itself

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

After severe heart failure, the ability of the heart to heal by forming new cells is very low. However, after receiving treatment with a supportive heart pump, the capacity of a damaged heart to repair itself with new muscle cells becomes significantly higher, even higher than in a healthy heart. This is according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Circulation.

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Updated guidance reaffirms CPR with breaths essential for cardiac arrest following drowning

American Heart News - Heart News

Updated Guideline Highlights: The American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics update recommendations for untrained lay rescuers and trained rescuers resuscitating adults and children who have drowned. One important update is the.

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Fitness Level May Offset Genetic Dementia Risk

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease and dementia appeared to be partly offset by high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, U.K. Biobank data suggested. Overall, high cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with better global.

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Diabetes Dialogue: Latest Updates on Semaglutide

HCPLive

In this episode, hosts discuss the latest developments in GLP-1 receptor agonists, with a particular focus on semaglutide.

Diabetes 122
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World's most common heart valve disease linked to insulin resistance in large national study

Science Daily - Heart Disease

A large new population study of men over 45 indicates insulin resistance may be an important risk factor for the development of the world's most common heart valve disease -- aortic stenosis (AS).

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What makes a T-wave Hyperacute? And: 30 Examples of Hyperacute T-waves, 10 in each of 3 myocardial territories.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Pendell and I and the geniuses at Powerful Medical (Producers of the PMCardio Queen of Hearts OMI AI app ) are working on an objective, mathematical definition of hyperacute T-waves , based on real OMI outcomes and hyperacute T-wave annotation that has excellent interrater agreement (between me and Pendell), and it will end up being a logistic regression using these 3 variables: 1) area under the curve (AUC) relative to the QRS size 2) increased symmetry , as defined by time from T-wave onset to

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Cholesterol may not be the only lipid involved in trans fat-driven cardiovascular disease

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

Excess cholesterol is known to form artery-clogging plaques that can lead to stroke, arterial disease, heart attack, and more, making it the focus of many heart health campaigns. Fortunately, this attention to cholesterol has prompted the development of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins and lifestyle interventions like dietary and exercise regimens.

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Bystander CPR up to 10 minutes after cardiac arrest may protect brain function

American Heart News - Heart News

This news release contains updated information and data not included in the abstract. Research Highlights: The sooner a lay rescuer (bystander) starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a person having a cardiac arrest at home or in public, up to.

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Alzheimer's Progression May Be Slowed by Targeted Magnetic Pulses, Study Suggests

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Investigational transcranial magnetic stimulation that targeted a brain network involved in memory slowed progression in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, data from a small phase II study suggested. At 1 year, noninvasive.

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Alexei Grom, MD: Exploring Safer Treatment Options for Refractory Macrophage Activation Syndrome

HCPLive

Emapalumab may improve outcomes in patients with MAS whose disease didn’t respond to steroid therapy and mitigate the need for more toxic therapies.

Outcomes 119
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Risk of heart problems persists years after COVID infection: 4 study findings

Becker's Hospital Review - Cardiology

A recent study using data from the UK BioBank highlighted the extended risk of major adverse cardiac events in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

COVID-19 115
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The human heart may have a hidden ability to repair itself

Science Daily - Heart Disease

After severe heart failure, the ability of the heart to heal by forming new cells is very low. However, after receiving treatment with a supportive heart pump, the capacity of a damaged heart to repair itself with new muscle cells becomes significantly higher, even higher than in a healthy heart.

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Protein in soy may reduce the risk of heart failure by affecting gut bacteria

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

A research team from the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine has discovered a promising way to slow the progression of heart failure in mice. They fed mice a diet rich in the soybean protein, β-conglycinin (β-CG), which can support heart health by influencing gut bacteria. Their analysis revealed that the soybean protein rich diet increased the production of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestine that play a role in protecting the heart.

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In a small international trial, novel oral medication muvalaplin lowered Lp(a)

American Heart News - Heart News

Research Highlights: The oral medication muvalaplin may safely lower high levels of lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), an independent, inherited risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Muvalaplin is a small molecule inhibitor that prevents the.

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Many Drinkers Cut Back After Starting Obesity Meds, Study Finds

Med Page Today

(MedPage Today) -- Nearly half of participants in a weight-loss program who consumed alcohol at baseline began drinking less after adding an obesity drug into their weight-management regimen, a cohort study indicated. Among the 7,491 participants.

Obesity 119
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Dupilumab Reduces Itch in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in Phase 3 Data

HCPLive

According to Phase 3 LIBERTY-CUPID trial results, dupilumab significantly reduces itch and hive activity from baseline in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

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Epigenomic biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease: How far are we from daily practice?

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Determining whether someone has cardiometabolic disease (CMD), especially in the early stages, can be complicated. Risk stratification ordinarily depends on an extended process relying on medical history that.

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Five minutes of extra exercise a day could lower blood pressure

Science Daily - Heart Disease

New research suggests that adding a small amount of physical activity -- such as uphill walking or stair-climbing -- into your day may help to lower blood pressure.

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Review highlights racial disparities in sudden cardiac arrest and death among athletes

Medical Xpress - Cardiology

A recent major review of data published by The Lancet and led by Emory sports cardiologist Jonathan Kim, MD, shows that Black athletes are approximately five times more likely to experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) compared to white athletes, despite some evidence of a decline in rates of SCD overall. SCA and SCD have historically been a leading cause of mortality among athletes, particularly those involved in high-intensity sports.