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.

Genes linked to cardiovascular disease more common among African Americans than those of European descent

Three gene variants that have been associated with heart attack risk in Japanese studies occur more frequently among African Americans than those of European descent

7 Jul 2004

Anticoagulant therapy with enoxaparin is an effective alternative to heparin therapy for patients with acute coronary syndromes

Two new major studies suggest that anticoagulant therapy with enoxaparin is an effective alternative to heparin therapy for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS)

7 Jul 2004

Protein controls acid in cells by direct detection of volume changes

A protein responsible for regulating acid levels within cells - and pumping out acid accumulated in cardiac cells after a heart attack - activates in direct response to changes in a cell's volume, according to a new study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

5 Jul 2004

Maths, not medicine, could prevent fatal heart attacks

Fatal heart attacks claims more lives than lung cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined but it seems that maths, not medicine, holds the key to preventing these deaths among young people.

5 Jul 2004

Even in the middle of a heart attack, women are less likely than men to think their symptoms are heart-related

Most people assume that the typical heart attack patient is male, says René Martin, R.N., Ph.D., of the University of Iowa, so women and the people around them tend to look for other explanations of their symptoms, such as stomach problems.

2 Jul 2004

Questions about this once widely-accepted treatment for postmenopausal ills

In the past two years, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trials of Premarin-based hormone therapy came to early ends because the risks outweighed the benefits.

2 Jul 2004

Gum disease vaccination aim of world-first research

Vaccinating people against gum disease will be the aim of world-first Melbourne research that today receives a $21.2 million boost from the Federal Government.

2 Jul 2004

Gene mutation gradually causes devastating effects on cellular structure and function in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

A mutation of the gene for lamin A protein gradually causes devastating effects on cellular structure and function in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

29 Jun 2004

Nearly 50 million U.S. adults have hypertension, more than two-thirds of them also have high cholesterol

People who have high blood pressure are highly likely to also have untreated or insufficiently treated cholesterol problems that significantly increase their risk for heart attack and stroke

29 Jun 2004

Vascular dementia, a common form of dementia often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s isn’t always the cause of a progressive loss of memory and other mental skills.

29 Jun 2004

Americans list lack of insurance coverage and cost as top reasons for not seeking mental health services

Insurance coverage problems and costs supplant stigma as the number one obstacle to accessing mental health services according to a survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association.

29 Jun 2004

Heart scans detect problems before symptoms appear

Many times, people with heart disease have few visible symptoms. This is one of the reasons why heart disease is the number one killer for both men and women in America.

25 Jun 2004

Senior citizens cutting back on medications due to high costs

The findings are based on an in-depth study over a three-year period of nearly 8,000 older adults who were regularly taking prescription medicines at the beginning of the study.

25 Jun 2004

Stubbing out smoking in all American workplaces would save more than 2,420 lives and $280 million

Making workplaces smoke-free would prevent an estimated 610 stroke and heart attack deaths in the first year alone, mostly among non-smokers. Over seven years, the study projects that more than 2,420 lives and $280 million would be saved – not including the costs associated with other smoking-related illnesses or lost productivity.

24 Jun 2004

A new single pill is available for treating both high blood pressure and high cholesterol

Caduet, which was recently approved by the FDA, is the first medication that treats high blood pressure and high cholesterol in one pill.

24 Jun 2004

Over half of older adults hospitalized for heart disease also have reduced kidney function

Over half of older adults hospitalized for heart disease also have reduced kidney function, suggests a study in the July Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

21 Jun 2004

Valsartan may reduce cardiac illness and death

Results of a study in this week's issue of THE LANCET provide further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk. The study also emphasises the importance of early blood-pressure lowering after the start of treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

17 Jun 2004

Further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk

Results of a study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET provide further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk. The study also emphasises the importance of early blood-pressure lowering after the start of treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

17 Jun 2004

Heart attack patients are discharged without evidenced-based, guideline recommended, life-prolonging therapies

Heart attack care is more likely to match recommended guidelines when health care providers use standardized forms and other reminders, and institutional systems reinforce goals for treatment and patient lifestyles, according to a new study in the June 16, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

16 Jun 2004

Link between adult leg length and coronary heart disease in women

Researchers at Bristol University have found a link between adult leg length – an indicator of diet and living conditions during childhood – and coronary heart disease in women.

15 Jun 2004

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) News and Research

Further Reading

Genes linked to cardiovascular disease more common among African Americans than those of European descent

Anticoagulant therapy with enoxaparin is an effective alternative to heparin therapy for patients with acute coronary syndromes

Protein controls acid in cells by direct detection of volume changes

Maths, not medicine, could prevent fatal heart attacks

Even in the middle of a heart attack, women are less likely than men to think their symptoms are heart-related

Questions about this once widely-accepted treatment for postmenopausal ills

Gum disease vaccination aim of world-first research

Gene mutation gradually causes devastating effects on cellular structure and function in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

Nearly 50 million U.S. adults have hypertension, more than two-thirds of them also have high cholesterol

Vascular dementia, a common form of dementia often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease

Americans list lack of insurance coverage and cost as top reasons for not seeking mental health services

Heart scans detect problems before symptoms appear

Senior citizens cutting back on medications due to high costs

Stubbing out smoking in all American workplaces would save more than 2,420 lives and $280 million

A new single pill is available for treating both high blood pressure and high cholesterol

Over half of older adults hospitalized for heart disease also have reduced kidney function

Valsartan may reduce cardiac illness and death

Further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk

Heart attack patients are discharged without evidenced-based, guideline recommended, life-prolonging therapies

Link between adult leg length and coronary heart disease in women

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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