Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is most commonly caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction) where blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot from a ruptured coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque. Other causes include spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which most commonly occurs in women. ACS is usually treated in a cath lab with angioplasty and the placement of a stent to prop the vessel open.

Estrogen may prevent depression after heart attack

Estrogen may protect against heart failure (HF)-related depression by preventing the creation of inflammation-causing chemicals in the brain, according to research published in the American Journal of Physiology.

August 13, 2018

Women have a better chance of surviving heart attack if treated by female doctor

Women are more likely to survive a heart attack if their emergency room physician is also a woman, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

August 10, 2018

Physical activity can lower CVD risk in seniors

New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, coupled with less sedentary time, is associated with more favorable levels of heart and vessel disease markers in older individuals.

August 8, 2018

Inflammation persists years after heart attack, may signal CVD risk

Most people who suffer a heart attack maintain elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) several years later, which can only partially be explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors, researchers reported in the American Heart Journal.

August 6, 2018

Young bankers in the UK are having more heart attacks

Cardiologists in the U.K. note young investment bankers in their 20s and 30s are being admitted to the hospital more frequently with heart-related conditions, despite employers implementing measures to reduce workload and stress. One cardiologist told Business Insider he has seen a 10 percent increase in heart attacks among bankers under 30.

August 6, 2018
Blood test

High-sensitivity troponin allows faster diagnosis of heart attack

A hospital protocol incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) enabled a quicker rule-out of heart attack than a conventional troponin test, according to a research letter published online Aug. 6 in Circulation.

August 6, 2018

NASA, cardiologists collaborate on CVD risk calculator

Researchers have developed an online tool to more accurately calculate which middle-aged individuals are at the highest risk of heart attack or stroke during the next 10 years.

August 1, 2018
Siemens Healthineers

FDA clears Siemens’ high-sensitivity troponin diagnostic test for acute MI

Siemens Healthineers received FDA approval of its High-Sensitivity Troponin I assays (TnIH)1 for the Atellica IM and ADVIA Centaur XP/XPT in vitro diagnostic analyzers. The new troponin assays will allow physicians to correctly diagnose patients for acute myocardial infarction (MI).

July 27, 2018