Heart disease is a big deal. It's one of the leading causes of death worldwide. But what if we could use our genes to predict who is at risk? That's where polygenic risk scores (PRS) come in. These scores look at many genes to see if someone might be more likely to develop coronary artery disease (CAD). PRS are like a report card for your genes. They can show if you...
Heart issues can be tricky to pinpoint, especially for those with mild to moderate chest pain. Doctors often use stress echocardiography (SE), but it is not always the best tool. It can be a bit of a hassle and often shows normal results even when there is a problem. This is where advanced electrocardiography (A-ECG) comes in. It is a newer method that might change t...
The UK's healthcare system is often praised for being accessible to all. But does everyone get the same care? A recent study dug into this question. It looked at how money troubles affect heart surgery outcomes. The study used the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) to measure this. The IMD is a tool that looks at different factors like income, employment, health, ed...
SCAD, or Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, is a serious health issue that can leave lasting emotional impacts. Survivors often need psychological help to bounce back. A recent effort tested an online support group program for SCAD survivors. This program was created with input from doctors, survivors, and researchers. It follows the principles of Acceptance and...
The heart is a powerful organ, but it can be vulnerable to serious issues. One such problem is coronary artery spasm (CAS). This condition is tough to treat, but there's hope on the horizon. Researchers have been exploring the use of traditional herbal remedies to tackle this issue. At the heart of this research is the Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction. This ancient herbal...
Heart rehabilitation programs are usually the go-to treatment for people who have had a heart attack. These programs are designed to help patients recover and reduce the risk of future heart problems. But what about people who have had a specific type of heart attack called spontaneous coronary artery dissection? This is where an artery in the heart tears unexpectedl...
Heart issues aren't just for the elderly. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a condition that often hits women hard, and it doesn't discriminate based on age. It's crucial to understand how age affects the recovery process for these women. A recent study dug into the experiences of women who had SCAD, splitting them into two groups: those under 50 and t...
Heart disease is a major issue in the Amazon region of Brazil. It is known that inflammation plays a big role in heart disease. This is why scientists looked into the link between heart disease and infections from Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis. They also studied how the body's immune response, through cytokines, might be involved. The study focused ...
You've probably heard that sudden high blood sugar levels can be bad news, especially for people with heart problems. This is called stress hyperglycemia, and it's been linked to bad short-term outcomes in people with heart issues. But what about the long term? Does stress hyperglycemia also affect people years down the line? And does it matter if you have kidney pro...
You know that smoking isn't great for your heart health. But did you know it might be even more dangerous for people who've already had heart trouble? Let's break it down. Smoking is bad news for anyone's heart. It can cause sudden cardiac death (SCD), which is when your heart suddenly stops beating. But what about people who've already had problems with their heart...