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October 2007

October 15, 2007 - In the interest of patient safety, Medtronic, the nation's largest manufacturer of implanted heart devices, has voluntarily decided to remove its Sprint Fidelis defibrillation leads from the market. Data collected from both CareLink, Medtronic's remote monitoring database, and a clinical trial suggest that malfunctions in the lead may cause a defibrillator to misread heart rhythm data.

According to a statement released by the FDA, an initial review of reported adverse events found that some deaths and other complications occurred due to lead fracture, however the likelihood of a lead fracture is very low. The FDA statement reads, “Current adverse event data suggest that fractures have occurred in less than one percent of the approximately 268,000 of these leads implanted worldwide. It is unknown if this rate of adverse events will remain constant or increase over the life of these leads.” Go here to read the full FDA statement on the suspension of this product.

Although the FDA will be issuing an official recall of this product, neither the FDA, Medtronic, nor the Heart Rhythm Society, the leading professional group representing the allied specialties of cardiac pacing and cardio electrophysiology, recommend routine surgical removal of fractured leads because of the risks associated with removal surgery. Instead, it is suggested that patients with the Sprint Fidelis lead visit their physician to determine the best course of action. Visit the Heart Rhythm Society website for more information and patient advice.

Go here to read the full article featured in the New York Times.

September 2007

Managing Chronic Diseases: Better Quality through Remote Monitoring

For Americans managing chronic conditions, new innovative options such as remote monitoring technology offers the promise of fewer physician office appointments, costly emergency room visits, and unnecessary hospitalizations, while, most importantly, providing patients greater peace of mind. Remote monitoring technologies can collect, analyze and send clinical health information to a patient's doctor and other health care practitioners. This health information is collected and stored electronically and can be analyzed in real time to manage a number of serious medical conditions.

Two major areas in which remote management technologies are emerging in health care are the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. With one in four women in the United States dying of heart disease, these technologies can benefit the lives of millions of women currently living with these chronic conditions.

New technologies to treat congestive heart failure include implantable devices with the capacity to monitor and respond to data alone, and non-invasive technologies that collect data on congestive heart failure detection measures (e.g., pulse, EGG, blood pressure and weight) and transmit it via telephone or wirelessly for analysis and response by physicians. These advanced technologies have the potential to improve patient care dramatically and to increase access to physicians and other health care professionals - especially for individuals in remote areas or who have difficulty traveling - while at the same time reducing the high cost of congestive heart failure-related emergency room and hospital visits.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice and is the strongest independent risk factor for stroke. New treatment options for AF include implantable devices with the capacity to detect the presence of AF and respond to data alone, and transmit information about the arrhythmia to practitioners for review and response. Since AF increases the patient's susceptibility to stroke, detection of AF and the prompt transmission of this information to the physician are essential to provide timely and appropriate therapy to the patient.

The promise of these remote management technologies is clear: Better information on the patient's condition - collected and stored electronically, analyzed for clinical value, and transmitted to the physician or health care practitioner - should improve patient care and access.

Go here for more information on how advanced medical technologies are improving patient care and adding value to the health care system.

Information provided by AdvaMed, the Advance Medical Technology Association.

July 2007

Older Patients Reap Positive Benefits With High Dose Statins, Study Finds 
Read the full article here. 

A study lead by Dr. Nanette K. Wenger found that older patients with stable cardiovascular disease benefit from cholesterol lowering drug treatments as much as younger patients.  The study, funded by Pfizer, Inc., was the first to compare the effects of low dose versus maximum dosage of the statin drug Lipitor.  Researchers concluded that the aggressive, high-dose statin treatments were able to lower bad cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol, to healthy levels providing an additional benefit beyond that of low dose Lipitor. 

Dr. Wenger, in addition to working as the chief of cardiology at Grady Memorial Hospital and a professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, is a member of WomenHeart’s Scientific Advisory Board and the namesake of our annual Wenger Awards.

Blood Protein Offers Clues to Heart Attack in Seemingly Healthy People 
Read the full article here. 

A group of researchers in the United Kingdom  announced that they have identified a protein that can serve as a marker to detect seemingly healthy people at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease or suffering a heart attack.  The protein, myeloperoxidase (MPO), is released by white blood cells with the purpose of destroying harmful bacteria in the body.  Investigators found that instead of functioning in this way, MPO secretes a bleach-like substance that directly damages arteries and causes plaque build up.  The study’s researchers are hopeful that early detection of elevated MPO levels will be used in the future to identify individuals at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

June 2007

Blood Thinner’s Approval Expanded to Include Most Severe Heart Attack
Sanofi-Aventis announced on June 8, 2007  that the FDA approved expansion of the blood thinner Lovenox to treat the most severe form of heart attack.  Originally approved to treat deep vein thrombosis, unstable angina, and non Q wave myocardial infarctions, Lovenox can now be prescribed to those experiencing acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.  The new approval resulted from clinical testing that showed a 17 percent reduction in the rate of death and recurrent myocardial infarction in those taking Lovenox compared to patients not taking the drug.  Read here.

Heart Disease a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's: Patients treated for vascular trouble had better cognition, study found.
The National Institute on Aging predicts that by 2050 Alzheimer’s disease will affect over 100 million people worldwide.  Scientists in Lille, France  say that there is hope, not in terms of a cure, but in treatment and delaying the decline in cognitive ability.  The French scientists claim that there is increasing evidence that cardiovascular problems help drive the progression of Alzheimer’s, meaning that treating heart problems may have protective effects in the brain. Read here.

May 2007

Registry to Track Those with “Broken Heart Syndrome”
A team of U.S. researchers has created the largest national registry of patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or "broken heart syndrome." Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is commonly called broken heart syndrome, because it is often preceded by some form of emotional or physical distress. Patients are usually critically ill during the first 48 hours, and it often appears that they're having a heart attack. However, there is no sign of coronary artery blockage. Researchers at Brown University in Providence, R.I., say the registry will help doctors more easily recognize and treat this rare, life-threatening condition. Read More.

More information on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can also be found here at John Hopkins Medicine.

Genes Are Only Part of the Story
Two studies published last week in the journal Science revealed that three common variations in genes more than doubled the risk of having a heart attack in men who were less than 50 years old and women less than 60 years old. So, what does this mean to you? Dr. James Hill says, “There are a few rare individuals in whom genes are just so bad that the amount of work to maintain a healthy weight is not feasible. But for most people, their genes allow them to maintain a healthy weight if they're willing to make sufficient changes in diet and lifestyle. Some have to work harder than others, and exercise becomes even more important for those who are genetically disadvantaged." In short, you have a spectrum of nutrition and lifestyle choices. Your genes are only one factor that determines where you are on this continuum.

April 2007

Study Questions Value of Stents for Blocked Heart Artery
A new study suggests drug-coated stents did not improve the success rates of procedures used to open blocked heart arteries. Researchers found that while the success rate of artery-opening procedures rose from 51 percent in the pre-stent period to 72 percent during the first stent era, success rates have since leveled off despite the fact that stent use became routine. These rates did not improve even with the advent of drug-coated stents. Those stagnant numbers "highlight the need for continued development of new techniques and devices" for opening blocked heart arteries, the study said.

Drugs as Good as Angioplasty for Stable Heart Disease
A new study finds that aggressive drug therapy, when combined with lifestyle changes, may be just as good as angioplasty in patients with stable heart disease. Researchers assessed the incidence of heart attack or death in patients with stable but significant heart disease and found little difference between patients who had angioplasty and those who had drug therapy alone. The only benefit of angioplasty to this specific population was a reduction in chest pain over the long-term. These results suggest drug therapy for patients with stable heart disease should be tried as first-line treatment.

March 2007

EKG Predicts Heart Risk in Postmenopausal Women
A new study reports that even minor abnormalities in EKG readings can predict if a seemingly healthy, postmenopausal woman is at risk for a heart attack. Researchers found that women who had minor abnormalities had a 55 percent increased risk of a coronary heart disease event, while women with major EKG abnormalities faced triple the average risk of such an event. The study highlights the possible predictive value of an EKG and supports the notion of healthy women having a baseline EKG.

Hispanic Women's Hearts at High Risk
A new study finds that Hispanic women develop cardiac risk factors 10 years earlier than white women. According to researchers, Hispanic women typically have higher risk factor rates. For example, the rate for pre-hypertension in Hispanic women is 32 percent compared with 19 percent in white women. These findings suggest that being Hispanic may be an independent risk factor for heart disease, and that these women need to be identified and treated earlier.

February 2007

New Study Finds Genetic Link Between Women And Heart Disease
Scientists have identified a new gene variant that makes women more susceptible to developing heart disease.  According to a new study, the affected gene could be identified through a genetic test at birth.  The use of such a test would allow physicians to initiate preventative treatments to reduce or even eliminate the risk of heart disease in those women possessing the gene.

Few Heart Disease Trials Reporting Sex-Specific Results
A new study claims sex-differences in heart disease continue to be poorly understood because the results of clinical trials are not reported by sex.  In a review of 645 cardiovascular clinical trials, only 153, less than 25%,  presented results in a format that allows data to be specifically extracted for each sex.

January 2007

Researchers Find Connection Between Genes, Gender and Hypertension 
The surprising results of a new study have shown that the influence of genes on blood pressure may vary based on gender.  These findings may not only improve the diagnosis of high blood pressure, but also the selection of the appropriate therapy, which may depend on whether the patient is a man or a woman. 

Blood Transfusions Raise Risks for Bypass Patients -- Especially Women
A new study may explain why more women bypass patients are more likely than men to die in the first few months after surgery.  Researchers believe this is because women are more likely to receive blood transfusions during surgery and, as a result, are at a higher risk of developing potentially dangerous infections.

December 2006

Skipping Statin Meds Increases Heart Risks
Prematurely stopping or skipping statin cholesterol-lowering medications can significantly increase the risk of heart attack, according to a new Dutch study.  It found that after two years, half of new statin users had stopped taking the drug. Researchers estimated that, as a result, 7,000 American statin users have had heart attacks that are avoidable. On the other hand, for those who took statin medications as directed, hospital admissions for heart attack fell by 30%.

Depression Post-Heart Attack Increases Risk
Becoming depressed after experiencing a heart attack may significantly increase a patient's chances of having further heart problems. Depression is a feeling of intense sadness that lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. The condition is fairly common after a heart surgery or heart attack.

The study found that those patients who had depression related to their heart attack were much more likely to experience fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular emergencies than patients who either did not suffer from any related depression or were already depressed prior to the heart attack.

Oct/Nov 2006

Angioplasty Best Used as Early Heart Attack Treatment

Since angioplasty has been proven to improve symptoms in patients with angina and to prolong life in patients treated early after a heart attack, a new national push is underway for hospitals to change their ER procedures for treating heart attacks and to provide rapid patient access to angioplasty. New guidelines call for these patients to receive angioplasty within 90 minutes of hospital arrival by, among other measures, allowing ER doctors to activate the cath lab instead of waiting for a cardiologist, having ER staff activate the cath lab when paramedics call from an ambulance reporting the patient is suffering a heart attack, and having a cardiologist on site at all times. These procedures are applicable for heart attacks caused by near-total blockage of a major artery, which include one-third of the 850,000 heart attacks in the US each year. Go here for more information.

A new study, however, found that angioplasty performed several days after a heart attack provides no benefit in patients with a total blockage and no or mild symptoms. "Patients should know whether a procedure is being performed to treat symptoms or whether there is evidence that they will live longer or have a lower likelihood of heart attack or heart failure," said Dr. Judith Hochman, the study's author. Go here for more information.

Red Wine Helps Obese Mice Live Longer

Talk about false hopes! A new study found that resveratrol, a substance found in red wine, helped obese mice live longer. However, for humans to achieve the same benefit they would have to drink nearly 1,500 glasses of red wine a day - difficult even under the merriest of circumstances! Plus, there is the risk of addiction and those pesky added calories (105 per 5 oz. of red wine, to be precise). Compared with non-drinkers, people drinking one glass of red wine per day appear to have a lower incidence of heart disease but women should not start drinking simply to reduce their risk.

Aug./Sept. 2006

Fatty Fish Helps Heart Keep Its Rhythm

Eating fish like tuna or salmon once or twice a week can help older hearts keep their rhythm and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. A new study suggests eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids regularly acts directly on the heart's electrical function, which regulates the heart rate and keeps it from beating too fast or too slow.

White Wine as Good for Heart as Red

White wine fans, raise your glasses! A new study suggests the lighter wines may be just as good for the heart as red wines. Until now, research has suggested the bulk of grapes' heart-healthy benefits come from antioxidant compounds primarily found in their skins. But researchers say new evidence suggests the pulp of grapes appears to be just as heart-healthy as the skin, thanks to other types of antioxidants present in the flesh.

July 2006

Two new studies have determined that being single and being obese are bad for your heart. In the first study, single men over 60 and single women over 50 are more likely than those who live with partners to suffer a heart attack, serious chest pain known as unstable angina, or sudden cardiac death. This may be due to their smaller social support networks or less healthy lifestyles, which are more common among older single people. There was an exception, however: divorced women showed no increased risk. Hmmm...

In the second study, obesity was found to heighten the link between depression and high blood pressure.

June 2006

Drink To Your Health ... or Should You? ... Sobering News

A new study reports that moderate drinking (1 or 2 drinks per day) reduces the risk of heart disease but the beneficial effects seem only to apply to men. The study found that for men drinking daily in moderation seems to have a positive effect on heart health, but for women a daily drink had no effect on reducing the risk of heart disease.

Another study suggests that the long-held belief that moderate drinking protects against death from heart disease may be exaggerated. There may not be enough evidence for doctors to recommend moderate drinking since there are also lots of risks associated with alcohol consumption.

May 2006

Depression More Common in Younger Women Post-Heart Attack

A new study of hospitalized heart attack survivors found that 40% of women under age 60 had depression, while the rate in men under 60 was only 22%, just slightly higher than the 21% rate in older women. Older men had the lowest rate of depression, at 15%. No explanation for this disparity was given but it's possible the younger women did not know they were at risk for heart attacks and, as a result, were more traumatized by the events.

Women Benefiting Less from Improved Cardiac Care

A new Mayo Clinic study found that, despite recent gains in heart disease treatments, women are not faring as well as men. In fact, the analysis showed that while the cardiac death rate for men fell by 3.3% annually, the annual decrease for women dropped by only 2.5% per year. This disparity was thought to be related to women's lack of understanding about their heart disease risks, symptoms and treatment options.

April 2006

Drugs Cure Depression in Only 50% of Patients

A new National Institute of Mental Health study found the success rate for anti-depressant medicines is only 50% for people with clinical depression, and that the other half continued to experience symptoms such as sadness, low energy and hopelessness. Two-thirds of all these patients had chronic illnesses or mental problems that are typical for people with depression but who are routinely screened out of industry-sponsored drug studies.

The results were largely seen as discouraging since all the patients were given intensive, high quality care and several rounds of medicines. They also suggest scientists still do not understand the underlying biological mechanism that causes depression, which afflicts 15 million Americans each year - mostly women - and contributes to lost work productivity, absenteeism, substance abuse, and suicide.

Bypass Patients Not Helped By Strangers' Prayer

A long-awaited scientifically rigorous study found that prayers said by strangers for bypass surgery patients did not improve their recovery. In fact, the patients who were told others were praying for them fared worse since simply knowing they were chosen for extra intervention may have inadvertently increased their fears and stress levels. However, praying for oneself or at the bedside of a loved one has been found to reduce stress. Thank heavens!

Fit and Fat? Unfit and Thin? Neither...

Previous studies found that healthy women who were either overweight but physically active or slender but not physically active were both at lower risk of heart disease. However, they have now been discounted by a new study that says NO! NO! You must be both slender and physically active to protect your heart. Even so, excess weight trumped inactivity when it came to increased heart risk. With 65% of American women overweight or obese and less than half attaining regular physical exercise ... hmmm.

March 2006

Depression Often Linked to Heart Disease

A new Mayo Clinic report explores the complex relationship between depression and heart disease. For example, depression is more common among people with heart disease than those without it, especially among heart attack survivors. It has been linked to increased blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms, as well as chronically elevated stress hormones that can increase the heart's workload. It can also be a precursor to heart disease -- in one study of postmenopausal women, those with symptoms of depression were 50% more likely to develop or die from heart disease than those with no depressive symptoms, even though they had no prior history of heart disease.

Depression is a medical condition resulting from an imbalance in brain chemistry and can often be successfully treated with prescription medicines and psychotherapy. Symptoms of depression include: persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, tiredness, restlessness, changes in appetite, and/or thoughts of death or suicide. If you have several of these symptoms that persist for more than three weeks, please see your healthcare provider for a depression screening consultation. Be sure to discuss all the medicines you are taking to determine if they are contributing to the depression or would negatively interact with an anti-depressant medicine.

Sex Trumps Race in Cardiac Disparities

Being a woman significantly raises your risk for not receiving appropriate cardiac care, even more than if you are African American. Taken together, however, both groups receive significantly less cardiac care than white men. A new study of who receives invasive, diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures found that white women at 48% and African American women at 50% were less likely than either white men at 65% or African American men at 61% to receive catheterization. The disparities were also thought to be affected by age, socioeconomic and insurance status, and severity of the heart disease.

February 2006

Many Women Have Hidden, Small Vessel Heart Disease

A new study has determined that as many as three million women have small vessel heart disease that does not show up on angiograms, which are x-rays that detect coronary blockages. Women's small vessel disease may be linked to hormonal imbalances or inflammation, and greatly increases their risk of heart attack. Often it is not recognized and the women are told they have nothing to worry about, despite their symptoms. Instead, they should be given stress tests with imaging and treated aggressively for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

This new discovery adds to other known cardiac gender differences, such as: women are sicker than men at the time of diagnosis, benefit less from bypass surgery and experience more severe symptoms with heart failure.

Low Fat Diet's Benefits Rejected

A new study has found that low fat diets do not protect middle-aged and elderly women against heart attacks, strokes or breast or colon cancer, contradicting what was thought to be the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. However, experts say the study is misleading because it's not the total fat but the kind of fat you eat that is most important, with olive, soybean and canola oils being more healthy. But if you already have heart disease, it's best to limit saturated fats and eat more fish, vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods and soy products. Plus, regular physical activity is just as important as a healthy diet for protecting your heart.

January 2006

Sibling's Heart Disease Dramatically Raises Risk

A new study has determined that a sibling's heart disease increases heart disease risk by nearly half (45%) for white middle-aged adults. This risk is even more pronounced than if a parent had heart disease at a younger age. Further study is needed to determine if these findings also apply to ethnic and racial groups.

Heart Patients Fail to Take Their Meds Properly

Almost half of heart patients in a recent study said they were not taking their beta-blockers, cholesterol lowering drugs and even aspirin as prescribed. Most disturbing, 80% of heart failure patients did not consistently take their ACE inhibitor medicines. The cost of drugs was cited as a major culprit, particularly among seniors (the new Medicare drug benefit should help reduce that barrier), along with unpleasant side effects, lack of understanding of a drug's benefits and physicians' poor communication skills.

December 2005

Heart Attack Survivors Fear Another Attack More than Death

A new online survey of heart attack survivors conducted for Mended Hearts found that most considered their heart attacks a "wake-up" call that gave them renewed priorities and a second chance at life. However, many felt depressed, hopeless and most fearful of another attack ... but 40% admitted they do not do everything they can to avoid one. Also, 80% said they needed more information to manage their heart health.

Women were less likely than men to see their healthcare professional on a regular basis and to get help with their treatment from someone else aside from their healthcare professional.

Women Tougher or More Stoic?

A new study of patients treated for heart attacks or chest pain found that the men and women rated their heart disease about the same even though the women had much worse disease, took more medicines, and experienced more symptoms and limitations on their daily lives. Women also rated their heart disease as "mild to moderate" as did men with far less severe heart problems. Further, men were more likely than women to perceive their disease as severe. (Perhaps childbirth raises the bar for women's definition of "pain"...)

November 2005

Uncooked Soy Protein Lowers Cholesterol

A new study determined that two daily servings of soy protein -- such as that found in tofu, soy milk or soy powder -- can lower cholesterol levels by as much as 9 percent as long as the soy is uncooked. Soy-fortified muffins, cereals or nutritional bars in which the soy protein was baked at high temperatures do not provide the benefit.

Caffeinated Colas Increase Blood Pressure Risk

Data from two studies that followed 155,000 women for 12 years show that heavy coffee drinkers do not risk developing high blood pressure. There was, however, an entirely unexpected finding: women who drank just one caffeinated cola drink (regular or diet) every day had a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure. And that risk went up as the women drank more daily colas.

Benefits of Fish Outweigh Mercury Risk

An important new study has confirmed the health benefits of eating fish and encourages increased consumption of fish and seafood by women, including those of childbearing age. While many studies have demonstrated the positive health effects of seafood consumption on brain function, heart health, neonatal development and women's health, many Americans have actually decreased their fish consumption because of fears of mercury poisoning. However, the low risk of mercury poisoning in many commonly consumed fish is outweighed by the greater benefits that come from the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. Eating just one fish meal per week gives significant nutritional benefit.

October 2005

Cholesterol Levels Fall While Other Risk Factors Rise

Cholesterol levels are dropping in older Americans as a result of increased statin use. Between 1960 and 2002, average cholesterol in Americans age 60 to 74 fell from 232 to 204 in men (a 12 percent decline) and from 263 to 223 in women (down 15 percent). However, triglyceride levels as well as obesity rates have increased, especially among younger people. As a result, their cholesterol decline is less significant than in older Americans. Experts acknowledge the value of statins, but warn these drugs are no replacement for lifestyle changes to reduce heart disease risk.

Heredity Plays Big Role in Heart Disease Risk

Two new studies report that heredity plays a major role in two risk factors of coronary artery disease: cholesterol levels and heart rate variability, which is the heart's ability to respond to changing demands. Researchers found that family genes determined cholesterol levels by 60 to 80 percent and heart variability by about 70 percent in both white and African American patients. These results may eventually help scientists develop more targeted treatments for people at risk for heart disease.

September 2005

Women Less Likely to Survive Bypass Surgery

A new study found that women were nearly twice as likely as men to die from complications of bypass surgery. Researchers attribute this to women's smaller blood vessels and that women undergoing bypass are generally older than men and more likely to have diabetes and advanced heart failure. Interestingly, researchers found that even when taking these factors into account, there is still a higher death risk among female patients. "Just being female is itself a risk factor," said the study's lead author. Frightening.

Heart Ailment Under-Recognized in Women

Women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are more likely than men to be diagnosed later in life and with more severe symptoms. This condition is genetic and occurs equally between men and women, but is diagnosed predominantly in men. Patients with HCM suffer from a progressive weakening and enlargement of the heart. For more information, contact the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association.

August 2005

Most Women Don't Know Their Cholesterol Levels

A recent survey found that while women understood the importance of knowing their cholesterol numbers, 81 percent couldn't name their good and bad cholesterol levels and 84 percent couldn't name their Triglycerides levels. In addition, more than half the women did not know the difference between HDL ("good") and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

CRP Levels Differ Among Sexes and Races

A new study found that levels of CRP, a blood marker for inflammation and predictor of heart disease risk, vary depending on sex and race. Researchers reported that overall, women had higher levels of CRP than men. The study was necessary because current CRP recommendations are based on studies of white men. Further studies are needed to set standard CRP levels for various segments of the population.

July 2005

Women's Fear of Heart Disease Nearly Doubles, But Still Not Most Feared Disease

A survey commissioned by the Society for Women's Health Research found that, while women's fear of heart disease has almost doubled since 2002, breast cancer continues to be the most feared disease. "Through improved research, increased advocacy and better news reporting, women and their health care providers are getting the message that heart disease is the number one killer of women," said Phyllis Greenberger, the Society's President and CEO.

Fat in Bloodstream Linked to Heart Attack Risk

New research finds that a specific fat type -- an oxidized phospholipid -- found in the bloodstream triggers clogging in blood vessels, the leading cause of heart attacks. People with the highest fat levels were three times more likely to have blockages than those with the lowest levels. Measuring the levels of this fat may one day be as useful as testing cholesterol to assess heart attack risk.

June 2005

Heart Rate Changes Tied to Depression in Women

A new study revealed that middle-aged women whose heart rates vary less than expected in response to fluctuating hormones appear more prone to depression and the eventual development of heart disease. Researchers evaluated post-menopausal women with no obvious signs of cardiac problems and found that increased hormone levels not only affect mood but can also contribute to higher blood pressure, heart rhythm problems and blood platelet stickiness, which can trigger a heart attack.

Depression Screening Needed for Heart Patients

Researchers estimate that more than 1,000,000 American patients with a history of heart disease are experiencing psychological distress and depression, and they recommend that doctors routinely screen their heart patients for depression. Several factors increase risk for psychological distress, including being female, Hispanic or African American, obese and/or sedentary. In addition, those with less than a high school education, non-drinkers and smokers are also at increased risk. Go here for more information.