Sudden Cardiac Death News and Research

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The term sudden cardiac death refers to natural death from cardiac causes, heralded by abrupt loss of consciousness within one hour of the onset of acute symptoms.

GnuBIO to complete development of SCD genetic panel

GnuBIO, Inc., a pioneer in scalable desktop DNA sequencing and the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) have announced today that they will complete the development of a genetic panel in order to screen patients to determine the risk for sudden cardiac death, SCD.

12 Jan 2012

Trail of research that led to discovery of aspirin's role in prevention of first heart attack

Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., DrPH, the first Sir Richard Doll Research Professor as well as first recipient of an endowed chair in the new Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, has published a Citation Classic in the current issue of Clinical Chemistry. Hennekens was the founding principal investigator (PI) of the landmark Physician's Health Study and was the first to demonstrate that aspirin prevents a first heart attack.

7 Jan 2012

Clinical trials highlight beneficial effect of CRT in heart failure

However, large-scale clinical trials have highlighted the beneficial effect of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in the improvement of symptoms and reduction of mortality, and CRT is now recommended in the major European and American guidelines for the treatment and prevention of heart failure.

19 Dec 2011

ADHD drugs not bad for the heart: Study

Drugs widely prescribed for attention disorders like Ritalin, Adderall and other drugs, did not increase the risk of serious heart problems in a major study published Monday. This could assure parents of children on these medications on heart-related safety of the medicines.

12 Dec 2011

Hormone-blocking therapy for prostate cancer does not raise risk of heart attacks

Hormone-blocking therapy for prostate cancer doesn't raise the risk of fatal heart attacks - as some recent studies had suggested - according to a new report from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center.

7 Dec 2011

Boston Scientific provides new warranty for ICDs and CRT-Ds

Boston Scientific Corporation announced that, along with today's introduction of a new family of INCEPTA and ENERGEN implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds), it is providing an extended warranty for these devices in the U.S. and many international countries of up to 10 years, depending on model.

1 Dec 2011

Combination of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs may increase risk of CV mortality

People taking anti-psychotic drugs and anti-depressant drugs have a much higher risk of dying during an acute coronary event of a fatal arrhythmia than the rest of the population, finds a Finnish study published in the European Heart Journal.

16 Nov 2011

Smoke-free workplace laws help reduce heart attacks and save lives

Mayo Clinic researchers have amassed additional evidence that secondhand smoke kills and smoke-free workplace laws save lives.

14 Nov 2011

Herat risk screening inadequate in high school sports physicals: Study

Following incidents of deaths of high school athletes who collapse suddenly during practice or a game, new guidelines for screening prep athletes for hidden heart problems before the start of a season had been in place since 1996. About one of every 30,000 to 50,000 high school athletes dies each year from cardiac arrest.

14 Nov 2011

Data shows cost-effectiveness of ZOLL LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that data showing the cost-effectiveness of the LifeVest Wearable Defibrillator was presented in two scientific presentations and posters at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011 in Orlando over the weekend.

14 Nov 2011

Treatments can help most HCM patients

Most of the 600,000 Americans with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) -- a genetic heart muscle disease -- can live normal life spans, according to the first science-based guideline for diagnosing and treating this disorder.

9 Nov 2011

Broader screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Around one in 500 Swedes carry a genetic mutation which can cause sudden cardiac death. The diagnosis can lead to major lifestyle changes, but quality of life can be maintained with the right advice and support, reveals a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

2 Nov 2011

ADHD medications do not increase risk of heart attack in children, young adults

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications do not increase the risk for heart disease or heart attack in children and young adults, according to a Vanderbilt study of 1.2 million patients taking drugs including Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and Strattera between 1998 and 2005.

2 Nov 2011

Largest prospective study of MRI in patients with implanted devices

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), an important diagnostic test, has traditionally been off limits to more than 2 million people in the United States who have an implanted pacemaker to regulate heart rhythms or an implanted defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death.

4 Oct 2011

Over 13,000 youth to receive cardiac screenings in Oct.

During National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness (SCA) Month in October, thirteen organizations from across the nation are participating in Screen Across America, a national initiative that provides cardiac screenings to youth ages 5-24. The goal of this collaborative effort is to increase awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth and the importance of cardiac screenings and early detection in saving young lives.

3 Oct 2011

Study helps predict which ARVD patients are at highest risk of sudden cardiac death

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22 Sep 2011

U-M Professor to review data from three prominent studies on heart failure

Roughly 5 million people in the United States live with heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood around the body effectively. The causes and types of heart failure vary greatly, and treatment must be tailored to each patient. In some cases, doctors will prescribe a class of diuretic drugs called aldosterone antagonists.

20 Sep 2011

Researchers describe new function of HCN channels in the heart

The heartbeat is the result of rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle, which are in turn regulated by electrical signals called action potentials. Action potentials result from the controlled flow of ions into heart muscle cells (depolarization) through channels in their membranes, and are followed by a compensating reverse ion current (repolarization), which restores the original state. If the duration of the repolarization phase is not just right, the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death increases significantly.

12 Sep 2011

UC Davis computer model can test effects of anti-arrhythmia medications

UC Davis researchers have developed an accurate computer model to test the effects of medications for arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm, before they are used in patients.

2 Sep 2011