Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) News and Research

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A Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

Heart attack is a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. But fortunately, today there are excellent treatments for heart attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD). In CAD, a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your heart). Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery.

Coronary stents have no impact on mortality over the long term

While the placement of stents in newly reopened coronary arteries has been shown to reduce the need for repeat angioplasty procedures, researchers from the Duke Clinical Research Institute have found that stents have no impact on mortality over the long term.

8 Nov 2004

Atenolol beta-blocker may not be effective in reducing heart attacks

A study published in this weeks issue of THE LANCET suggest that atenolol - one of the most widely prescribed beta-blockers for reducing blood pressure - may not be effective in reducing heart attacks or death from cardiovascular causes.

5 Nov 2004

Vioxx linked with risk of cardiovascular disease

With the support of the National Research Programme (Musculoskeletal Health - Chronic Pain) , researchers at the University of Berne analysed the data in publicly available studies on the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx.

5 Nov 2004

Vaccine contributions to health highlighted at PAHO meeting

Vaccine programs in the Americas have made major contributions to improving health in the Americas and new vaccines could go even further, said Dr. D.A. Henderson, a global expert who chairs a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) technical group here today.

4 Nov 2004

Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors tested in both prevention and treatment clinical trials

Numerous compounds are examined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their potential to prevent or treat cancer. One class of compounds, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, is currently being tested in both prevention and treatment clinical trials.

4 Nov 2004

A British first, patient receives heart pump through groin, avoiding the need for surgery

A patient at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust has become the first in the UK to receive an artificial heart pump inserted without the need for surgery.

4 Nov 2004

High-dose statin therapy for aggressive cholesterol-lowering outperforms typical care

Patients treated with high doses of atorvastatin had about a one percent lower annual rate of heart attacks than similar patients receiving usual care, according to a new study in the Nov. 2, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

2 Nov 2004

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

International researchers will, for the first time, present findings from the landmark 4D trial about whether a cholesterol-reducing drug decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes with type 2 diabetics on dialysis at the American Society of Nephrology’s 37th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.

1 Nov 2004

Controversial theory about how diabetes causes extensive tissue damage

A controversial theory about how diabetes causes extensive tissue damage will appear in the November issue of Diabetes. At stake in the heated debate over the theory are researchers' efforts to find new ways to reduce loss of vision, kidney failure, heart damage and other side effects of diabetes.

29 Oct 2004

100,000 Iraqi civilians have died as a result of the March 2003 invasion

Public-health experts from the USA and Iraq estimate that around 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died as a result of the March 2003 invasion-the majority being violent deaths among women and children relating to military activity.

29 Oct 2004

Study supports earlier findings, and even showed a significantly higher prevalence of periodontal diseases in cardiac patients

Research is racing to help healthcare professionals further understand how periodontal diseases are linked to cardiovascular disease.

28 Oct 2004

Friends and family could be the cure for work related stress

On-the-job stress can increase your blood pressure, adding to your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, according to evidence from two new studies by Heart and Stroke Foundation researchers.

26 Oct 2004

Blood pressure at the high end of normal still a risk for heart disease

If you’re male, and your systolic blood pressure is a little bit on the high side, even though it is still within the normal range, you could be at an increased risk of having heart attack compared to men whose systolic blood pressure is on the low end of normal, Heart and Stroke Foundation researchers say.

26 Oct 2004

Following the withdrawal of Vioxx, the European Medicines Agency has been asked to review of COX-2 inhibitor medicines

Following the worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx (rofecoxib), the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has been asked by the European Commission, as a precautionary measure, to conduct a review of COX-2 inhibitor medicines.

25 Oct 2004

To avoid metabolic syndrome is relatively simple – 30 minutes of physical activity once a week

Metabolic syndrome is a condition that is affecting thousands of Canadians and is putting them at risk of heart disease and stroke, especially those aged 50 and over.

25 Oct 2004

Gene variations explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease

New studies by an international team of scientists led by Joslin Diabetes Center have found variations in a gene that help explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death for this group.

21 Oct 2004

Early reports of thrombosis after insertion of drug-eluting stent

Authors of a research letter in this week’s issue of THE LANCET highlight how the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) may carry a risk of subsequent thrombosis if stenting is accompanied by a withdrawal of antiplatelet therapy.

21 Oct 2004

Researchers have developed a novel drug-antidote pair

In a discovery that could give physicians more control over the actions of medications, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a novel drug pair – a potent anti-coagulant with a matched "antidote."

18 Oct 2004

Study links possible role of ephedrine in sudden cardiac arrests

Each year 80,000 - 100,000 people in the U.S die suddenly from heart attacks without ever having had any symptoms of heart disease. In some cases, the victims of these unheralded sudden cardiac deaths had been taking dietary supplements containing ephedrine.

16 Oct 2004

People who drank alcohol on a regular basis appeared to have less cardiovascular disease

Many previous studies have shown a link between moderate alcohol consumption, versus abstinence or heavy consumption, and decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease.

16 Oct 2004

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) News and Research

Further Reading

Coronary stents have no impact on mortality over the long term

Atenolol beta-blocker may not be effective in reducing heart attacks

Vioxx linked with risk of cardiovascular disease

Vaccine contributions to health highlighted at PAHO meeting

Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors tested in both prevention and treatment clinical trials

A British first, patient receives heart pump through groin, avoiding the need for surgery

High-dose statin therapy for aggressive cholesterol-lowering outperforms typical care

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

Controversial theory about how diabetes causes extensive tissue damage

100,000 Iraqi civilians have died as a result of the March 2003 invasion

Study supports earlier findings, and even showed a significantly higher prevalence of periodontal diseases in cardiac patients

Friends and family could be the cure for work related stress

Blood pressure at the high end of normal still a risk for heart disease

Following the withdrawal of Vioxx, the European Medicines Agency has been asked to review of COX-2 inhibitor medicines

To avoid metabolic syndrome is relatively simple – 30 minutes of physical activity once a week

Gene variations explain why people with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk for coronary artery disease

Early reports of thrombosis after insertion of drug-eluting stent

Researchers have developed a novel drug-antidote pair

Study links possible role of ephedrine in sudden cardiac arrests

People who drank alcohol on a regular basis appeared to have less cardiovascular disease

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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