In many situations, heart muscle cells do not respond to external stresses in the same ways that skeletal muscle cells do. But under some conditions, heart and skeletal muscles can both waste away at fatally rapid rates, according to a new study led by experts at Cincinnati Children’s. The new findings, based on studies of […]
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Cardiac arrest from opioid overdose has unique features affecting prevention and treatment
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests triggered by opioid overdose are a significant cause of death among adults 25 to 64, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association, the nation’s largest voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all. The statement published today in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation. In the U.S., […]
Pandemic Is Driving U.S. Surge in Cardiac Arrests Tied to Overdose
JAMAODCOVID.pdf THURSDAY, Dec. 3 — Blame it on the pandemic: For people struggling with drug addiction, 2020 has triggered a big rise in emergency room visits for cardiac arrest tied to drug overdoses, new research shows. The finding was based on data involving 80% of emergency medical services (EMS) “activations” across the United States. It […]
What is a cardiac stress test?
Your heart provides blood to all parts of your body. In order to determine if it’s pumping properly, your health care provider may order a cardiac stress test. It makes the heart pump harder and faster, and can reveal potential problems with blood flow. Stressing the heart might not sound like a safe thing for […]
Preventing sudden cardiac death with genome editing
Each year, at least 3 million people worldwide die of sudden cardiac death. In the U.S., this number reaches up to 450,000 people. Although sudden cardiac death is more common in older adults, younger people also are significantly affected. In the 1 to 40 age group, up to 9 per 100,000 people are affected each […]
‘Million Hearts’ Project Aims to Prevent 1 Million Cardiac Crises
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 — Millions of Americans aren’t taking simple steps that could ward off a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke, a new government report shows. Heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related conditions caused 2.2 million hospitalizations in 2016, new research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. Many of […]
World’s largest transfusion study in cardiac surgery changes transfusion practices
Lower thresholds for blood transfusions for cardiac surgery patients compared to traditional thresholds provide positive patient outcomes and safety at six months after surgery, according to the world’s largest research study on this topic. The research found that in addition to providing good patient outcomes six months after hospital discharge, the lower threshold—known as ‘restrictive […]
Safe’ UV light may prevent infections in catheters, cardiac drivelines
A specific wavelength of ultraviolet light, now delivered through light-diffusing optical fibers, is highly effective at killing drug-resistant bacteria in cell cultures, according to a new study led by David J. Brenner, Ph.D., a professor of radiation biophysics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The technology is designed to prevent infections around […]
Lower long-term survival for in-hospital cardiac arrests in blacks
(HealthDay)—Older black survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) have worse long-term survival than whites, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Circulation. Lena M. Chen. M.D., from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues conducted a longitudinal study of patients aged ≥65 years who had an IHCA and survived until hospital […]
Genomic autopsy can help solve unexplained cardiac death
Molecular autopsies can reveal genetic risk factors in young people who unexpectedly die, but proper interpretation of the results can be challenging, according to a recent study published in Circulation. Following guidelines set by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) can help assess the risk of certain genetic variants, enabling proper counseling […]