The role technology plays in our life is rapidly evolving. The rise of wearable technology from fitness trackers to the Apple watch has been possible by the technology getting smaller and faster. Technology is becoming part of us. As these technologies are being developed and tested, there is a need for guidelines to address…
MRI Scans in Patients with Pacemaker Defibrillators
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a completely noninvasive test that uses a magnetic field and radio frequency waves to create detailed pictures of the heart and blood vessels. It depicts the heart wall and valves structure and display its function. It provides information on the regional and global heart function, valves and their function…
Women and Stress Cardiomypathy or Takotsubo
Points to Remember: - Takotsubo was initially regarded as benign but can be associated with severe clinical complications including death- Most common symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath similar to a heart attack- 5 - 6% of female present with suspected STEMI- Women are frequently affected by emotional stress such as death of…
Gene Therapy for Heart Failure
The use of gene therapy for heart failure is currently being investigated. Heart failure is a major public concern which affects an estimated 1% of the Western world, including over 5 million Americans with over half a million new cases each year. The current medical treatment of heart failure includes proven beneficial medicine such as…
How long should I take my Plavix after stenting?
How long should I take my Plavix after coronary stent is a frequent and debatable question facing our field of interventional cardiology. Background Coronary artery disease is a progressive condition that is a result of atherosclerosis. From damage of the inner layer of the artery, lipid or fat accumulates in the wall and leads…
Not All Heart Attacks Are Created Equal
Not all heart attacks are created equal. The type of heart attack can influence the prognosis greatly. A heart attack can be recognized by clinical features of chest pain or shortness of breath, ECG or cardiac imaging findings and elevated biochemical markers including the cardiac troponin, the so-called “heart attack blood test”. The…
WHAT DOES CARDIAC CT SHOW?
Noninvasive cardiac imaging has evolved significantly over the last several years. Advances in technology has led to development of newer CT (Computed Tomography) systems with improved spatial and temporal resolution, shorter imaging time, and with ECG gating, allows for the imaging of the beating heart. Cardiac CT is the fastest growing imaging modality in the field…
UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION INCLUDING HYPERTENSION EMERGENCIES
Uncontrolled hypertension and hypertension emergencies are a powerful risk factor for future cardiac and non-cardiac events. Hypertension affects almost 1/3 of adults and over 1 billion people globally. Hypertension prevalence increases with aging of the population affecting over 50% of people over 60-years old. The new guidelines identified ideal blood pressure, even among the…
HEART FUNCTION INCLUDING EJECTION FRACTION ( EF )
Heart function including ejection fraction (EF) is important in clinical practice because it is related to prognosis. Whether the patient suffers from valvular heart disease or ischemic heart disease, a measure of heart function including ejection fraction (EF) can predict future clinical outcome and assist in risk stratification. Several approaches to detect patients at…
What is the best coronary stent for our patients?
Whenever we start a clinical trial to test a new coronary stent we always ask ourself; “what is the best stent for our patients”? Coronary artery disease is a progressive pathological condition that results from atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. As atherosclerosis progresses from damage of the inner layer of the artery, fat or…
