This past weekend, two veteran law enforcement officers suffered fatal heart attacks while running the Los Angeles Marathon. They demonstrate the three to four-fold increase in risk of sudden cardiac death in men compared to women. An estimated 6% to 17% of all sudden cardiac deaths in men occur during extreme exertion.
Not only are women less susceptible to heart attacks due to sudden heavy exertion, regular moderate to vigorous exercise for four or more hours a week actually reduce their risk of sudden cardiac deaths by almost 60%. Women who exercise regularly also have a much lower …read more

If you’re a woman, a member of a minority group, or one of the elderly, take care to find a doctor who truly understands and respects your special needs. In a recent study, researchers found people in these categories are less likely to receive adequate care after a heart attack. They are often taken to community hospitals which are not equipped to perform bypass and angioplasty procedures.

African-Americans were 69 percent as likely as Caucasians to be transferred to hospitals that could offer appropriate treatment.
Hispanics were 53 percent as likely as Caucasians.
Women were 84 percent as likely as men.
People …read more

Defibrillators may soon be saving lives all over Canada. Various health initiatives, including the Durham Cardiac Safe Community Program, want to place defibrillators in public places, such as sports arenas and shopping malls.
Not only do the defibrillators save lives upon immediate use, they also send a signal to emergency workers automatically when they’re removed from the wall. Seven people out of 11 (63%) have been saved thus far reflecting the general survival rate when public access defibrillators are used. In particular, people with arrhythmia can benefit from having defibrillators readily accessible.
Dave Rivers collapsed at a local community centre …read more

One of the frustrating things about studying heart disease is the lack of consistent data regarding risk factors. In two recent studies presented at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting, lower levels of homocysteine did NOT appear to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke. These findings contradict the study I presented last week.
Paul Taylor of The Globe and Mail reports:
In both trials, those who took the real vitamins [a daily mix of folic acid, plus B6 and B12] experienced a dramatic reduction in homocysteine levels. However, they were no less likely to die of a heart …read more