Harvard Heart Letter articles from November 2008

Harvard Heart Letter archives from November 2008

Sleep apnea wakes up heart disease.(Report)
November 1, 2008... Sleep apnea wakes up heart disease Pauses in breathing at night can lead to heart trouble and shorten life. The snorts, whistles, gasps, and groans you make while sleeping may do more than rob you and your bed partner of a good night's...

Flap over tilapia sends the wrong message.(Report)
November 1, 2008... Flap over tilapia sends the wrong message Most fish is good for the heart; some types are better than others. Heart-healthy omega-3 fats are one reason why many people eat fish. Some types of seafood have more of this polyunsaturated...

No-surgery valve repair puts excitement to the test.(Report)
November 1, 2008... No-surgery valve repair puts excitement to the test Through-the-artery approaches aren't yet ready to replace surgery for failing valves. Balloon angioplasty, which is done through a small nick over a blood vessel in the groin,...

Living with long QT syndrome.(Report)
November 1, 2008... Living with long QT syndrome Slow recovery between heartbeats can cause problems, including sudden death. When people talk about the heartbeat, the forceful contractions of the heart's four chambers get most of the attention. But the...

Slow down and savor the flavor.(Report)
November 1, 2008... Slow down and savor the flavor Eating at a more leisurely pace, what some call mindful eating, may help you eat less. Thanksgiving kicks off the eating season that stretches until Super Bowl Sunday. It can be a daunting time for anyone...

Heart Beat: Drugs, angioplasty nearly equal for angina relief.(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Heart Beat Drugs, angioplasty nearly equal for angina relief In 2007, the results of the COURAGE trial forced doctors to rethink how stable angina (chest pain with exercise or stress) should be treated. In the trial, artery-opening...

Heart Beat: Uncertainty dogs Zetia and Vytorin.(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Heart Beat Uncertainty dogs Zetia and Vytorin It's been a confusing time for the millions of people who take ezetimibe, a cholesterol-lowering drug. Ezetimibe is sold alone as Zetia and with simvastatin (Zocor) as Vytorin. In January...

In brief.(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... In brief Drug combination warning. If you take both simvastatin to control cholesterol and amiodarone to control your heart rhythm, let your doctor know right away if you experience any muscle pain, and think about switching to a different...

Ask the doctor: Is low blood pressure a problem?(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Ask the doctor Is low blood pressure a problem? Q. You are always talking about high blood pressure. Mine is always on the low side, about 80/60. Is that a problem? A. Healthy blood pressure is defined as anything under 120/80...

Ask the doctor: Are there different kinds of heart failure?(Report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Ask the doctor Are there different kinds of heart failure? Q. Several years ago, a friend in my sewing circle was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. My doctor just told me I have heart failure. Are these the same condition or...