More Cardiac Death in Women Using Antidepressants
Antidepressant use among women is associated with greater risk for sudden cardiac death, a recent study revealed.
But the reason for the link is unclear, and the fact doesn’t suggest that antidepressants should be avoided, the scientists said. In fact, it may be that antidepressant use is just a sign of depression, and the real causal link is between depression and heart problems. The report said women with clinical depression had more than twice the risk of experiencing sudden cardiac death.
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Heart Failure Alarmingly High Among Under-50 African Ameicans
Heart disease in America, once thought to be the exclusive province of the elderly, is occurring more and more among younger age groups - and overwhelmingly among African Americans, according to a recent study that was the first large-scale effort to reveal the extent of the race gap in heart disease.
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"Silver Bullet" for Age-Related Diseases?
A simple natural compound found in grape juice and red wine seems to have the potential to work on the common root of a variety of age-related illnesses and virtually cure them. And that compound, resveratrol, may become one in a new class of drugs that target the disorders, which include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and cardiovascular problems.
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Gender Differences in Coronary Artery Disease
Dr. Marianne Legato discusses how she evaluates patients being screened for cardiovascular disease. She says that one of the things she looks for are the signs of early coronary artery disease in men, as well as the unique symptoms in women. Women also experience coronary artery spasm, which does not affect men, that can cause angina even in the presence of non-obstructive coronary disease. They can have clean coronaries and still experience chest pain.
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What is the Polypill?
Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses the Polypill. The Polypill is being developed in response to an important reality surrounding cardiovascular disease. There are three important drugs that can help prevent heart disease (statins, ACE inhibitors, and aspirin). These drugs are not taken for two major reasons. First, the drugs are simply too expensive for much of the world, including countries as developed as Russia. And secondly, in developed nations where the drugs are affordable patients too often fail to comply - after three years 70% of patients do not take the medications as prescribed.
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What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Dr. Valentin Fuster, one of the world's leading cardiologists, discusses the basics of coronary heart disease. Dr. Fuster than describes the symptoms of a heart attack and how to differentiate these symptoms from other conditions. Most importantly, he urges viewers to pay attention to these symptoms and the importance of getting medical treatment as soon as possible, even if one has the least suspicion of a coronary incident. Getting treatment in the first hour or two can minimize damage to heart muscle.
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Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There
A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things.
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What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Dr. Sattesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses Peripheral Arterial Disease, who is at risk, why it is important to be screened and current treatments. Pad is essentially a blockage of the arteries in the lower extremities. That is what we mean by peripheral arteries -- leg arteries blocked by hardening of the arteries, buildup of cholesterol, plaque and calcium. This in part is a process of aging, but certainly also brought on by smoking. Diabetes is another risk factor, as is hypertension.
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What is Carotid Stenosis?
Dr. Sateesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses "What is Carotid Stenosis?", the treatments, who should be screened and future developments, such as new stenting techniques.
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