Heart failure is a very common disease and affects approximately 1-2 percent of the adult population in developed countries. The prevalence of congestive heart failure rises to about 10% among the population over 70 years of age. Projection in the United States shows that heart failure will increase by more than 40% by the year…
Gut Microbiota: An Important Factor in the Effectiveness of Exercise to Prevent and Mitigate Diabetes
In this article from February 1, 2020, Dr. Martin Juneau of the Montreal Heart Institute looks at an important factor — gut microbiota — in the effectiveness of exercise to fight diabetes. OVERVIEWIn overweight, prediabetic and sedentary men, exercise-induced changes in the gut microbiota are correlated with improvements in blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.The…
What is Cardiomegaly?
The term cardiomegaly usually refers to an enlarged heart as seen on imaging tests, usually the chest X-ray. The heart is composed of four chambers, and an enlargement of any of the chambers can result in cardiomegaly. A patient with an irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, can have a severe enlargement of the heart's…
Eggs: To Consume with Moderation
In this article from September 2, 2019, Dr. Martin Juneau of the Montreal Heart Institute looks at the relationship between the consumption of eggs and cardiovascular health. The old debate over whether egg consumption is detrimental to cardiovascular health has been revived since the recent publication of a study that finds a significant, albeit modest, association between…
Optimism Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality
In this article from February 10, 2020, Dr. Martin Juneau of the Montreal Heart Institute looks at studies into the relationship between optimism and the lowered risk of cardiovascular disease as well as longevity. OVERVIEWAccording to a meta-analysis of 15 studies, optimism was associated with a 35% lower risk of cardiovascular events and a 14%…
Can Regular Exercise Compensate for Long Periods Spent Sitting?
In this article from April 9, 2019, Dr. Martin Juneau of the Montreal Heart Institute looks at the interplay between regular exercise and sedentary periods as it relates to health risk factors. It is well established that regular physical exercise improves lipid levels, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity, all of which are cardiovascular risk factors.…
Plant or Animal Proteins: An Impact on Health
OVERVIEWPlant-based proteins meet all the amino acid requirements if care is taken to vary the diet and include plants high in protein such as whole grains, legumes, and oleaginous seeds.Excessive consumption of sulfur amino acids, which are found in greater amounts in animal proteins, has been associated with a higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases.In animal…
COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease
Originally published April 9, 2020, on observatoireprevention.org OVERVIEWPeople with cardiovascular disease are more likely to develop the more severe forms of COVID-19, which significantly increases the mortality rate of this disease.In addition to being an important risk factor for COVID-19, cardiovascular disease can also be a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection.Patients with severe COVID-19 frequently…
New Breakthrough in Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure
Experts are heralding the use of SGLT2 inhibitors as a breakthrough in the treatment of congestive heart failure. In this episode of the MyHeart.net podcast, Dr. Bouchard and Dr. Ahmed discuss the new approach with heart failure specialist Dr. Jason Guichard of Prisma Health in South Carolina, covering the incredible benefits of a class of…
Mick Jagger’s Heart Surgery — Explained by a Cardiologist
In 2019, Mick Jagger underwent heart surgery on a heart valve. Amazingly, he was able to get back to his musical activities rather quickly after surgery. This is a result of his heart surgery being performed through a very minimally invasive technique. Mick Jagger's heart surgery is known as ‘aortic valve replacement’. The aortic valve…
