Heart Disease News? Have You Heard Any?

"U.S. Panel Backs Nitromed Heart Drug for Blacks"

"The first medicine for patients of one particular race moved closer to U.S. approval on Thursday after an advisory panel endorsed a NitroMed Inc. heart failure pill for blacks."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25297.html

"After Heart Attack, First 30 Days Riskiest"

 

"The risk of sudden death or cardiac arrest after surviving a heart attack is highest during the first 30 days and declines thereafter, investigators report."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25400.html

Here's a continuation of the first article above, relating RA to CAD from 6-4-2005...

"Rheumatoid-arthritis sufferers are at an increased risk of death if they also suffer from coronary artery disease, U.S. researchers have found.

In a report to be published in the June 29 issue of the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy, the researchers said patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in combination with multi-vessel coronary artery disease show an increased risk of death from heart disease compared to those who do not have both conditions."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25485.html

June 28, 2005  MedlinePlus.gov

"Diabetic women's heart-disease risk higher"

"Women suffering from type 2 diabetes are at significantly higher risk of suffering a fatal heart attack than their healthy counterparts, Swedish researchers report."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25450.html

This is an excellent article, Teri! I am going to send this to my doctor I think. This was of particular concern to me, also being diabetic:
"Some significant differences in other outcomes were seen; for example, fatal or nonfatal heart disease occurred 73 percent more often among subjects with impaired fasting glucose who were on the ACE inhibitor than those taking the diuretic. Heart failure was more common among individuals with diabetes and those with normal blood glucose levels who taking the ACE inhibitor or the calcium channel blocker compared to those on the diuretic." I take lasix (frusemide), 40 mg. every day, plus an ace inhibitor, and have impaired fasting blood glucose. I'm glad you located this article!

Well, that is one stunning piece of news!
I can't help but wonder if the same is true (ace inhibitor vs diuretic) for the general CHF population without diabetes too? Maybe it just hasn't been studied.

"Splitting Zocor Tablets Saves Millions"

 

"Halving high-dose Zocor tablets leads to significant cost savings without reducing the drug's cholesterol-lowering effects, researchers report."

 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25601.html

"FDA Updates Consumers on Guidant Corporation’s Implantable Defibrillators"

 

"As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to evaluate the safety and performance of certain implantable defibrillators manufactured by Guidant Corporation, the Agency has now classified the recalled devices."

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2005/NEW01198.html

 

These are both interesting and useful articles. I'm glad you started this string/topic, Ms. T! Here is another link related to Teri's article about cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), as well as why people who have survived heart attacks die suddenly. http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/defibrillators/a/MISD_p.htm
The summary "This means: don't necessarily rely on your doctors to tell you everything that ought to be done after a heart attack. Find out for yourself, and make sure that everything that ought to be done is being done. One of the things that ought to be done is to screen you for a high risk of sudden death". There is also a link that describes everything your doctors should do for you after you survive a heart attack.

"Diet Pills Hard on the Heart"

 

"Supplements that contain ephedra and caffeine-rich guarana, which may be used for weight loss, result in significant cardiovascular and metabolic changes, investigators have found. These changes could be harmful in people with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), or glucose intolerance, a precursor to diabetes marked by elevated blood sugar. All of these conditions are strongly associated with obesity."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25697.html