Depression linked to death following heart attack…Depression nearly triples the risk of death following a heart attack, even when accounting for other heart attack risk factors, according to research presented today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting, which showed that among 360 depressed, post myocardial infarction patients followed for more than six years, those who did not recover from their depression in the first six months were more than twice as likely to die.

Implanting Embryonic cardiac cells prevents arrhythmias-The most dangerous consequence of heart attacks…When researchers at Cornell, the University of Bonn and the University of Pittsburgh transplanted living embryonic heart cells into cardiac tissue of mice that had suffered heart attacks, the mice became resistant to cardiac arrhythmias, thereby avoiding one of the most dangerous and fatal consequences of heart attacks.

Blood transfusions linked to surgery complications in women… Women die and get infections more often than men after heart surgery because they tend to receive more blood transfusions, which boost the risks of bad outcomes, according to a study published in the December Journal of Women’s Health.

Post from: Blisstree

Some Interesting Hearty Links

In the bloodstream, iron-rich hemoglobin consumes, on contact, any free nitric oxide released by the blood vessels, so the idea that hemoglobin participates in forming nitric oxide had seemed implausible until recently.

Basically…hemoglobin is the iron rich oxygen transport protein in the red blood cells. That is the easiest way I know to explain it but you could always Google if you feel the need, haha.

But seriously, this new implication for this mighty little molecule is big!

…describe how hemoglobin, through a catalytic reaction that does not change its own chemical properties, converts nitrite salt to the vasodilator nitric oxide. The paper further documents how the nitric oxide activity harnessed by hemoglobin escapes the red blood cell to regulate blood flow and how the process, surprisingly, relies on the oxidized, or rusted, form of hemoglobin, previously associated only with diseased states.

Since nitrite has been the subject of heavy research in the recent, this could further aid in such conditions as sickle cell, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and stroke. This really is an amazing find being that the specifics of hemoglobin’s intermediate molecule has eluded researchers for centuries.  Gosh, I love science!

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

New Function Of Hemoglobin To Aid In Cardiovascular Disease

“In our study we focused on the coronary disease pattern underlying coronary artery disease and found that, for left main coronary artery disease, 49 percent of the phenotypic variation that is due to genetic effects was inherited. This substantial heritability is even higher than that for coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction in general.”

Why is this important? It can provide for more intensive screening and treatment strategies for patients that have known heart disease clumped in their family. It really does offer some very important clinical implications. Let’s hope we can pinpoint even more aspects of left sided heart disease. Think of the good that would come out of that!

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Left Main Coronary Heart Disease Is Proven To Be Inherited

1. What is a MI?

Myocardial Infarction- right oh!

2. What is a normal cholesterol number?

low 100 to mid 100’s- he is so good!

3. What is a normal triglyceride number?

what are they?- oh brother.

4. What is Plavix?

is it a blood thinner?- very surprising!

5. Who dies more from heart attacks, men or women?

I think it is men, but the answer might be women. I know that African American’s die more from cardiac problems- he actually listens to me, the answer is women in 2007!

6. Where does cholesterol come from?

animals- what a good boy!

Wow, he surprised me, he must actually pay attention to all my ramblings and stories. I am so happy, now if I could get him to exercise everyday with me, we would be set! Baby steps though, baby steps!

Post from: Blisstree

A Hearty Quiz… See How Many Answers You Know!