Surviving a heart attack: what does it mean for a patient to have survived a non-STEMI? Non-STEMI or Non-ST elevation Myocardial Infarction is the dominant presentation of acute coronary syndrome. This occurs when the blood supplied to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. Other presentations include unstable angina and STEMI or ST-Elevation Myocardial…
Surviving a Heart Attack: the Big One!
The widow maker heart attack, also known as "the big one", is an acute occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery that can lead to severe heart muscle damage and/or death. If not treated in a timely matter, surviving a heart attack of this magnitude is very difficult. While visiting Austin, Texas, my wife and I…
Cholesterol treatment and atherosclerosis: a new frontier
The problem with cholesterol treament and atherosclerosis: Over the last decade, cholesterol treatment and atherosclerosis has evolved significantly. Atherosclerosis is a general term for hardening and thickening of the arteries. In its most common form, atherosclerosis is a slow progressive disease that usually starts in early adulthood and becomes dangerous later in life. Atherosclerosis is a…
Treatment of High Blood Pressure: When Medicines Don’t Work
The treatment of high blood pressure can be very challenging, especially when medicines don't work. Hypertension is defined as a consistent elevation of blood pressure. In the pre-hypertension stage, the systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 or the diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 89mmhg. In stage I, the systolic blood pressure is between…
Stem Cells in the Treatment of Heart Failure
Can stem cells help improve heart muscle in patients with congestive heart failure? The use of stem cells in the treatment of heart failure cases is currently being investigated. Cardiovascular disease is the # 1 killer in the United States accounting for one third of all deaths. Heart disease kills more people than cancer, HIV, diabetes or trauma. Many advances in…
