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.

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More than half of ASCVD patients at ‘very high risk’ for future events

A study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology confirms that patients defined as “very high risk” for future ASCVD events by updated society guidelines do indeed carry a much higher risk of adverse outcomes down the road.

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Even minor spikes in troponin indicate risk of early death

A group of researchers in the U.K. reported this week that even slight increases in a person’s cardiac troponin levels predict adverse outcomes—including early death—in patients of all ages.

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Gout drug colchicine makes waves as potential CV therapy

Results of the late-breaking COLCOT trial, which explored the efficacy of low-dose colchicine in reducing CV risk in heart attack patients, were a highlight of the American Heart Association’s 2019 Scientific Sessions this month in Philadelphia.

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Insomnia linked to higher odds of CVD, stroke

Research out of Peking University in Beijing, China, has established a link between insomnia and heart disease, ABC News reports.

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13.5M in the US can’t name a single heart attack symptom

Millions of Americans are unaware of common heart attack symptoms, according to researchers, including a subset of 13.5 million people who admit to not knowing a single symptom of MI.

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FDA warns of biotin interference in diagnostic troponin tests

The FDA issued a safety communication Nov. 5 reminding the public, healthcare providers and lab workers that the common supplement vitamin B7, or biotin, can interfere with certain diagnostic tests, including troponin tests that can be integral to a heart attack diagnosis.

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Facebook provides users with personalized CV advice

Facebook introduced a new tool this week that provides the platform’s users with personalized healthcare recommendations, CNN reports.

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Data breaches linked to more fatal MIs

Cardiac care is suffering at hospitals that experience data breaches, PBS reported Oct. 24, with one study finding that heart attack rates soar in the weeks and months after a center’s cybersecurity is compromised.