Cardiology

Newly diagnosed hypertension in a patient whose blood pressure is 152/94 mm Hg. What agents will you consider for this patient? Beta-blockers? Think again.

PCSK-9 inhibition in patients with recalcitrant hypercholesterolemia has reaped reductions in LDL-C of up to 85% after the first week of therapy.

Platelet function monitoring and adjustment of treatment based on results after coronary stenting does not improve clinical outcomes . . . and other findings from the AHA Scientific Sessions.

What is a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and dementia? What we eat is a key part of the answer. For one thing, doctors can suggest an appropriate diet to motivated patients, or to those who prefer a non-drug approach.

Stroke survivors who smoke cigarettes are at higher risk for additional strokes, heart attacks, and death than those who never smoked, according to research reported by the American Heart Association.

A new analysis of data from a large international registry finds that use of beta-blockers in patients with and without a history of coronary artery disease does not reduce cardiovascular events.

In 2000, MI was defined as any necrosis in the setting of myocardial ischemia. The 2007 update to this definition recognized that different conditions can lead to myocardial necrosis and 5 types of myocardial infarctions were defined.

In patients deemed statin-intolerant, lifestyle changes and alternative classes of drugs should be pursued to lower LDL-C.

Omega-3 fatty acids used to treat patients with dysglycemia in the ORIGIN trial failed to reduce cardiovascular death or ischemic events. Follow-up was 6 years.

The popular media recently took a look at the connection between systemic inflammation and the many human diseases it’s responsible for. A lengthy article in the Wall Street Journal focused on the role of daily diet in the development and modulation of inflammation and noted the clinical use of biomarker C-reactive protein to measure inflammation levels. Harvard cardiologist Christopher Cannon offered tips on eating to beat inflammation and shed pounds at the same time from his new book titled The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Anti-Inflammation Diet. Alarming health news paired with a new book on diet can create a perfect storm of questions from you patients.

Here: a summary of 10 actionable items written specifically for primary care practice to help combat hypercholesterolemia.

Ticagrelor is the newest P2Y12 inhibitor approved to treat patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. AHA/ACC guideline update.

The key diagnostic considerations hypokalemia, periodic paralysis, and ischemia should lead the assessment of a patient with acute generalized weakness.

Novel anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban) are gaining wide acceptance over warfarin, for their simplicity of use and proven efficacy.

Statin medications were associated with significant tiredness and exertional fatigue in men and women without cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Azithromycin has been linked to sudden cardiac death in patients with cardiovascular disease that require an antibiotic.

A genetic analysis questions the benefits of raising HDL-C levels to reduce the risk of MI and of the value of HDL-C as a surrogate marker of risk.

Use of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease must be based on individual risk-benefit analysis and is not appropriate for patients at low risk.

Frequent coffee drinkers have a lower risk than those who drink little or no coffee, of death related to heart and respiratory disease, stroke, and infections.

The European Society of Cardiology just weighed in on the 3 new alternatives to warfarin for oral anticoagulation. The response is tempered enthusiasm.

High HDL levels track with low MI risk. But a Harvard medical geneticist tells why you may not be able to reduce that risk by intervening to raise them.

Also known as “broken-heart syndrome,” Takotsubo syndrome is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

Findings of the TIPS-2 study, announced at the recent 2012 World Congress of Cardiology, put the promise of the polypill-a simplified, one-size-fits-all approach to prevention of cardiovascular morbidity-back on the table for international discussion. Here, Dr Christopher Cannon puts the TIPS-2 results in perspective.

Are these findings another green light for dark chocolate? Some experts say “yes” as they also point to a recommended upper daily “dose.” What does this new research add to the current data on the health benefits of the flavinoid-rich sweet? Drs Payal Kohli and Christopher Cannon discuss study results and what you should tell your patients.