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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Statins underprescribed for those with ASCVD

A study of more than a quarter of a million heart patients in Canada has revealed statins are “significantly” underutilized to treat lipid abnormalities in individuals with and at risk for ASCVD.

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High levels of pollutants threaten heart health in China

Heavy air pollution in China could be contributing to a greater instance of coronary atherosclerosis among the country’s general population, according to research out of the University of Buffalo.

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New consensus document attempts to streamline MRI protocol after MI

The Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, a research foundation in Madrid, Spain, has coordinated the first international consensus document to streamline MRI protocol after myocardial infarction in clinical trials and experimental models.

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Marriage improves ACS prognosis—especially for men

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association this month identified marriage as a predictor of better short- and long-term outcomes in patients with ACS, most notably male patients.

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Nearly half of sudden cardiac death victims had prior, undetected MI

A recent study of autopsy data in Finland suggests nearly half of individuals who experience sudden cardiac death without a prior diagnosis of CAD actually had a history of silent MI—but that history wasn’t detected until after their deaths.

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Cognitive function may deteriorate faster after MI, angina

Incident coronary heart disease might be an early indicator of accelerated cognitive decline, according to work published ahead of print in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Are Americans prone to heart attack during vacation?

With a recent rise in heart-attack related deaths among Americans vacationing overseas, one domestic cardiologist is speaking up about CV health while traveling.

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5 ways to tackle mental health after a heart attack

CVD and depression are a two-way street, capable of inflicting considerable damage on one another. So how do heart patients protect their mental health after a life-threatening event like MI?