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

A Hearty Life focuses on the heart and its supporting system; all combined called the cardiovascular system. There are a number of health conditions that fall under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease. Each week, we’ll take a closer look at a heart condition and learn how to live a hearty life.
This week’s condition is: ARRHYTHMIA
Arrhythmias are disorders of the regular rhythmic beating of the heart. They’re common — as many as 2.2 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (one type of rhythm problem). Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. They …read more