Harvard Heart Letter articles from June 2008

Harvard Heart Letter archives from June 2008

Slow rehabilitation of drug-coated stents.(Report)
June 1, 2008... Slow rehabilitation of drug-coated stents New research supports the safety of drug-coated stents, but they aren't for everyone. It's been a tough time for drug-coated stents. After being hailed as a revolutionary new therapy, these...

Don't delay when heart failure threatens.(Report)
June 1, 2008... Don't delay when heart failure threatens Ignoring the warning signs of worsening heart failure can get you into big trouble. When the "Check Engine" light starts flashing on the dashboard and a grinding sound emanates from under the...

A second look at beta blockers and blood pressure.(Report)
June 1, 2008... A second look at beta blockers and blood pressure A beta blocker alone isn't usually the best choice for simple, uncomplicated high blood pressure. Beta blockers have long been a mainstay for controlling blood pressure when it creeps...

Seeing the heart with sound.
June 1, 2008... Seeing the heart with sound Ultrasound-based echocardiograms yield ultra images of the heart. Silent sound waves don't seem like they'd be much use. They are, though. They're the force behind submarine trackers and fish finders. In...

Heart beat: Warfarin home monitoring program expanded.
June 1, 2008... Heart Beat Warfarin home monitoring program expanded If you take warfarin (Coumadin) because you have atrial fibrillation or have had a blood clot in a leg or lung, Medicare will pay for you to check your blood clotting time at home....

Heart Beat: Chrome dome doesn't mean sicker ticker.(Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Heart Beat Chrome dome doesn't mean sicker ticker Some men * think Yul Brynner, Sean Connery, or Michael Jordan * make balding look good. For most of us, though, it's a pain. A double pain, if balding is a risk factor for...

Follow-up.(Home defibrillators)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Follow-up Home defibrillators. Every day, nearly 500 Americans collapse with sudden cardiac arrest. Their only hope for survival is getting a shock from a defibrillator. These devices can often halt the deadly rhythm that is preventing the...

Ask the doctor: can I keep myself from fainting when I have blood drawn?
June 1, 2008... Ask the doctor Can I keep myself from fainting when I have blood drawn? Q. I want to donate blood, but I faint or come close to it nearly every time I have blood drawn at the doctor's office. Can I do anything to keep myself from...

Ask the doctor: Is high blood pressure in the morning a problem?(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Ask the doctor Is high blood pressure in the morning a problem? Q. My blood pressure is high when I first get up in the morning, generally around 150/80, but always drops back to normal (around 120/60) by 9 a.m. and stays that way...