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Today's Feature |
Welcome to Dr. Caren and Dr. Urman's
Heart Health e-Newsletter
We hope you find this complimentary monthly educational service for our patients and their families helpful. Please click on the header above or here to enter our website and learn more about our practice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or wish to make an appointment.
The column on the right has heart-related stories from the last several weeks which we feel are most important and most likely to be of interest to our patients. Additional general information and recent news about our office can also be found to the right. The latest news items from the last week about heart health are found below under "Health News."
It's flu season. Don't forget to get your flu shot!
Call our office to make an appointment for an influenza vaccine.
Even if your cholesterol & blood pressure are normal...
your heart may still be at risk
CardioHealth®
Fact: In a recent study, 77% of patients hospitalized with Coronary Artery Disease had normal LDL Cholesterol Levels!1
Measuring Carotid Artery Wall Thickness is a powerful predictor of heart attack & stroke in adults with no symptoms of cardiovascular disease2
1. Sachdeva A, Cannon CP, Deedwania PC, et al. Lipid levels in patinets hospitalized with coronary artery disease: an analysis of 136,905 hospitalizations in Get With The Guidelines. Am Heart J. 2009; 157(1): 111-117.
2. Greenland P, Alpert JS, Beller GA, et al. ACCF/AHA Practice Guideline 2010 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Adults. A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;56e50-103. |
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Likelihood of complications, death higher for patients with this blood disorder, study says |
THURSDAY, Oct. 6
Anemia increases the risk of death and complications in patients who have different types of surgery, not just heart operations, a new study says.
It was known that patients with anemia have worse outcomes after heart surgery, but anemia's impact o... » Read the full article |
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People with newer implanted heart devices can have scans for other medical problems, research finds |
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 5 Many people with pacemakers and implanted defibrillators can safely undergo MRIs to screen for cancer and other diseases, as long as certain procedures are followed, a new study finds.
Those pr... » Read the full article |
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And women are more likely than men to need emergency treatment 6 months later, study finds |
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 5 Smokers have heart attacks earlier in life than nonsmokers, and women smokers are more likely than men to suffer complications after a heart attack, according to a new study.
Researchers examined data on 3,588 patients ad... » Read the full article |
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Study found lowered risk related to higher levels of 'good' cholesterol |
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 5 Three hours of vigorous exercise a week can reduce a man's heart attack risk by 22 percent, a new study suggests.
The Harvard School of Public Health researchers also found that about 38 percent of that decreased risk was... » Read the full article |
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Researchers say doing artery-opening procedure on outpatient basis saves money, is just as safe |
TUESDAY, Oct. 4 Heart patients who have stenting procedures to open up narrowed arteries fare just as well if they are released the same day as if they are sent home a day or two later, new research shows.
"[Discharging patients the same day] wasn't associated with ... » Read the full article |
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Dissolvable gel stems blood flow while joining vessels |
TUESDAY, Oct. 4 LeGoo, a gel to stem blood flow temporarily during surgery that requires joining blood vessels, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The product allows surgeons to avoid use of clamps or elastic loops and clearly see where to st... » Read the full article |
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Still, most cases of sudden cardiac death are caused by coronary artery disease |
TUESDAY, Oct. 4
Obesity and alcohol consumption are among the leading causes of sudden cardiac death not caused by coronary artery disease, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed data from autopsies of almost 2,700 people in Finland who died of sudden cardiac deat... » Read the full article |
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Paves the way for hypertension in adulthood, researchers say |
TUESDAY, Oct. 4 Overweight or obese children are nearly three times as likely to have high blood pressure as kids who are a normal weight, according to a new study from the American Heart Association.
The increased risk applies to children of all ages, researchers sa... » Read the full article |
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Featured: |
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked To Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease |
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Low vitamin D levels are common and heart attacks and death also are connected with low levels, but it's still too early to know for sure whether popping a daily vitamin D supplement can cut your risk for heart problems. |
Vigorous exercise boosts vitamin D while lowering heart risk |
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Vigorous physical activity for 3 or more hours a week reduces the risk of a heart attack by 22% and is associated with higher levels of good cholesterol and vitamin D as well as better levels of other factors involved in heart disease. |
Experts Point Out Signs of Dangerous Heart Rhythm |
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'Fish flop' or 'drumming' feeling in chest can be atrial fibrillation |
Many With Irregular Heartbeat Unaware of Raised Stroke Risk |
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Knowledge gap affects more than 1 million Americans with atrial fibrillation, survey shows |
Learn more about atrial fibrillation |
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Read about the most common arrhythmia |
"Alpha" males (Type-A personalities) Linked to Increased Heart Risks |
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Aggressiveness Aids Rise to Top, But the Stress Can Harm a Body |
Erectile Dysfunction May Be Linked With Cardiovascular Trouble |
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Independent risk factor for heart disease, stroke and death, researchers say |
Protecting Heart May Improve Erectile Dysfunction |
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Cardiac drugs, lifestyle changes improve sexual function in men with ED, study shows |
Cholesterol Deposits Around Eyes Linked to Heart Risk |
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Researchers find an association, but don't prove 'cause and effect,' study says |
New Drug Boosts 'Good' Cholesterol in Study Patients |
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Imaging technology suggests novel treatment may help prevent some heart disease, researchers say |
MRI May Be Safe For Majority Of Patients With Implanted Heart Devices |
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A new protocol may allow patients who have implantable defibrillators or pacemakers to safely have an MRI scan |
Even Slightly Higher Blood Pressure May Boost Stroke Risk |
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Adults with prehypertension should start with lifestyle changes, researchers say |
Learn more about Hypertension |
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The higher your blood pressure is, the higher the risk of heart disease. How to treat hypertension with medications and lifestyle changes. |
Certain Risk Factors Could Spur Heart Failure in Normal-Weight People |
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High blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin levels worse than obesity for some, study finds |
Lifestyle Changes May Prevent Heart Failure |
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Watching your weight, not smoking, exercising and eating your veggies top the list |
Learn more about Heart Failure |
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Recognizing and treating congestive heart failure (CHF) can lead to therapeutic success |
Antioxidants Not Behind Red Wine's Healthy Effect on Heart: Study |
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No effect seen when people drank polyphenols in dairy-based drinks, researchers say |
Scientists ID More Genes Linked to Heart Disease |
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Five genes added to the list of many already known to affect risk of coronary artery disease, study says |
Cardiac Rehab May Help Heart Patients Live Longer |
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Program that trains heart to return to normal beat rate after exercise is underutilized, experts say |
Health Tip: Undergoing Cardiac Rehab |
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What you may achieve |
Heart Defect Seems to Pose Low Risk of Aorta Tear |
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People with bicuspid aortic valve at low risk of aortic dissection, but high risk of aneurysm, researchers say |
An Apple a Day Really May Keep the Doctor Away |
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Fruits and vegetables with white flesh associated with drop in stroke risk, but probably still a good idea to eat the "rainbow" of fruits and vegetables |
Can't Find Time to Exercise? Schedule It, Experts Say |
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Fitness goals, and health benefits they bring, seem to remain elusive for many Americans |
Aging, Not Menopause, Raises Women's Heart Risks, Study Finds |
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Hormonal changes not linked to fatal heart attacks in older women, researchers say |
Smoking May Double Risk for Stroke |
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Those attacks occur about a decade sooner than for non-smokers, study finds |
Weight Watchers Produces Bigger 'Losers' Than Standard Weight-Loss Care |
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Group members shed 15 pounds on average versus 7 pounds with standard diet, study finds |
Experts Assess What Works for Weight Loss |
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Popular behavior-based programs can help trim waistlines, medications may also help, study finds |
How Old Are Your Arteries? |
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Find out about the latest technology available at our office to look for hidden plaque which helps assess your risk of heart attack or stroke |
Insurance and Billing FAQ's |
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Also, learn why we believe our policies allow us to maintain our high level of personalized patient care.
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Meet Dr. Caren |
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Get to know the man behind the camera. |
Meet Dr. Urman |
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Learn more about the founder and medical editor of our patient newsletter |
Office News |
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Recent news about our doctors and office. |
Newsletter Archive |
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In case you have missed our previous newsletters |
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