Harvard Heart Letter articles from September 2003

Harvard Heart Letter archives from September 2003

Anemia: Beyond iron-poor blood.
September 1, 2003... This often overlooked condition can affect the heart and health. Getting more iron doesn't always help. If you're of a certain age, you may remember commercials on the old Ted Mack Amateur Hour telling you how Geritol could put the pep...

Isolating atrial fibrillation.
September 1, 2003... A circle of scar tissue may offer an end to this common and hazardous rhythm problem. Most people with atrial fibrillation learn how to manage this aggravating rhythm problem so it doesn't interfere with their lives. What they would really...

Enriching mental health good for the heart.
September 1, 2003... Mental health problems after a heart attack or diagnosis of heart disease should raise the same red flags as do risk factors like smoking and high cholesterol. As a group, heart attack survivors who are depressed or socially isolated don't...

Do alternate paths lead to healthier hearts?(safety of alternative therapies for heart disease)
September 1, 2003... More and more people with heart disease are turning to alternative therapies, with uncertain results. Do you use an alternative therapy to treat or control heart disease? If so, you aren't alone. In fact, a survey suggests you're in the...

Walk away from diabetes and heart disease.(health benefits of walking)
September 1, 2003... The most natural of human activities is also the best medicine for these connected health problems. Something that you do every day without thinking (though maybe not for long enough) can help you outdistance two of the most important...

Heart Beat - Diabetes drugs a problem in heart failure.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Drugs that control blood sugar by making the body more responsive to insulin are important diabetes fighters. Unfortunately, they pose potentially serious problems for people with heart failure. Metformin (Metaglip, Glucovance, Glucophage,...

Heart Beat - Healthy variety is the spice of life.(health aspects of the Mediterranean diet)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A mix of good-for-you foods, not a magic ingredient like olive oil, is probably what gives the so-called Mediterranean diet its healthful reputation. In a four-year study of more than 22,000 Greek adults, those who most closely followed a...

Heart Beat - Chelation therapy on trial.(cholesterol plaque dissolving agent tested)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A controversial, and expensive alternative therapy for heart disease is finally getting its day in court. Each year, thousands of people pay thousands of dollars apiece for chelation (key-LAY-shun) therapy. Proponents say this series of 30 or...

Ask the Doctor - Can exercise help my failing heart pump better?(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Q After having had atrial fibrillation under control for several years, I found I was having trouble catching my breath when climbing stairs. Tests showed I had developed heart failure, and my ejection fraction was 20%. I've been taking...

Ask the Doctor - Is it okay to take a beta blocker if I have diabetes and heart failure?(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Q I have diabetes, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. I know this is not a good combination. My doctor wants to start me on atenolol, a beta blocker, but I have read that beta blockers are considered dangerous for people with diabetes...