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Archive for the ‘heart disease’ Category

Yale researchers find out how new arteries form after a heart attack

Monday, April 29, 2013 by:Amanda Cuda
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Scientific collaborators from Yale School of Medicine and University College London (UCL) have uncovered the molecular pathway by which new arteries may form after heart attacks, strokes and other acute illnesses,  bypassing arteries that are blocked. The study appears in the April 29 issue of Developmental Cell.

According to a press release put out Monday by Yale, arteries form in utero and during development, but can also form in adults when organs become deprived of oxygen — for example, after a heart attack. The organs release a molecular signal called VEGF. Working with mice, the Yale-UCL team discovered that in order for VEGF-driven artery formation to occur, VEGF must bind with two molecules known as VEGFR2 and NRP1, and all three must work as a team.

The researchers examined mice that were lacking a particular part of the NRP1 molecule that transports VEGF and VEGFR2 to a signaling center inside blood vessel walls. They observed that the internal organs of these mice contained poorly constructed arterial branches. Further, the mice where unable to efficiently repair blood vessel blockage through the formation of new arteries.

“We have identified an important new mechanism that regulates VEGFR2 transport in vascular cells,” said corresponding author Michael Simons, director of the cardiovascular research center at Yale School of Medicine, in the press release. “This opens new therapeutic opportunities for developing drugs that would either stimulate or inhibit blood vessel formation — important goals in cardiovascular and anti-cancer therapies, respectively.”

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HL62289) and a Wellcome Trust Junior Investigator award.

Dental Association sinks its teeth into new ad campaign

Wednesday, March 6, 2013 by:Amanda Cuda
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The Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) will launch a new television public awareness campaign to educate the public on the relationship between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. The new campaign, “Want a healthy body? Start with a healthy mouth,” kicks off this month with a 30 second television commercial and three 15 second spots slated to air statewide.

You can glimpse one of the 15-second spots below:

“This is an awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of regular dental checkups and the role dentists can play in the overall health and well-being of their patients,” said Dr. Carolyn Malon, president of the CSDA, in a press release put out by the association. “We want Connecticut residents to take ownership of their dental health. This includes scheduling and keeping their routine appointments and carefully following the advice and guidance provided on good dental hygiene. We have found that the condition of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole, and that dentists are in a great position to see the early warning signs of a health problem.”

The CSDA says the lips, tongue, gums, salivary glands and oral tissue can all warn of trouble in your general health and a trip to the dentist may reveal the first signs of a systemic disease. Some of the area’s dentists have had success in providing guidance on several conditions, including oral cancer.

Studies have shown that people with severe periodontal disease, an inflammation of the gums that affects an estimated 200 million Americans, are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without gum infection. Additionally, a February 2005 study showed older adults who have higher proportions of four periodontal-disease-causing bacteria in their mouths also tend to have thicker carotid arteries, a strong predictor of stroke and heart attack. The study was published in the journal, Circulation, and is supported by four agencies of the National Institutes of Health. The report is the first to draw a direct connection between cardiovascular disease and bacteria involved in periodontal disease.

To view the television campaign visit, http://www.csda-public.com/HealthyMouth/HealthyMouth.html.

Valley Women’s Health Initiative honored with caring heart award

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by:Amanda Cuda
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Members of the Valley Women’s Health Initiative/Women Making a Difference committee, from left, Dolores Chew, Kate Cosgrove, Pat Tarosovic, Michelle Moore, Dorothy Gandy, and Peggy Marlowe received the Community Caring Heart Award at The 8th Annual Women and Heart Disease.

Naugatuck Mayor Robert Mezzo and Valley Women’s Health Initiative/Women Making a Difference recently received the Community Caring Heart Award at The 8th Annual Women and Heart Disease program, according to a press release sent out by Griffin Hospital.

The award recognizes individuals and groups that foster initiatives that promote and improve the general health and well-being of all. This is the fifth year that the award will be bestowed.

Mezzo was selected for his efforts to promote Griffin Hospital’s breast cancer education efforts in Naugatuck, where there is a high incidence of breast cancer death as compared to the rest of the state. The Valley Women’s Health Initiative was selected for its 13 years of work to address health disparities in Lower Naugatuck Valley women, especially heart disease and breast cancer. The group raises money so women can have free mammograms, works with area doctors to help remind women of their annual breast cancer screening, and secured grants to fund women’s health educators and coordinator at Griffin Hospital to help women navigate the testing and treatment process.

More than 100 people attended this year’s Women and Heart Disease program, which raises funds for the Women and Heart Disease Fund.

Americares report — 40 percent of visits to free clinic are for heart problems

Monday, February 25, 2013 by:Amanda Cuda
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Forty percent of all patient visits to free clinics – two out of every five visits – are for cardiovascular disease, according to clinics surveyed by the Stamford-based global health and disaster relief organization AmeriCares. AmeriCares operates three clinics in Connecticut, in Bridgeport, Danbury and Norwalk.

The online survey was sent to 318 free and charitable clinics that receive donated medicines and supplies from AmeriCares U.S. Medical Assistance Program to better inform its donations of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. More than half of the clinics responded to the survey, representing 18 percent of all free clinics nationwide.

In addition to those suffering from heart disease, clinic officials also reported 50 percent of their patients have high blood pressure – much higher than national averages for the uninsured. Nationwide, 20 percent of uninsured adults in the U.S. have hypertension, according to the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. AmeriCares is releasing the findings today to raise awareness about the prevalence of heart disease among free clinic patients during American Heart Month.

“While it’s been well documented that low-income, uninsured Americans are disproportionately affected by chronic disease, the survey results are startling because of the degree of disparity,” said AmeriCares Director of U.S. Programs Leslie McGuire in a press release. “More research needs to be done to determine why so many free clinic patients have heart disease so that interventions specific to this vulnerable population can be developed.”

The survey backs up a previous AmeriCares study that identified caring for patients with heart disease as a major burden for safety net clinics. Clinic directors surveyed in 2011 ranked cardiovascular medicines as among their top needs, second only to diabetes medications. The AmeriCares 2011 survey of free clinics nationwide found more than half were forced to turn away eligible patients due to resource constraints such as limited medical and support staff, expensive lab tests and medications, inadequate facility space and declining financial support.

Bridgeport Hospital seeks comfort food recipes

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by:Amanda Cuda
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Bridgeport Hospital is seeking favorite comfort food recipes from the public for possible use in its upcoming cookbook, “Heart Smart Comfort Food: New Approaches to Old Favorites.” The cookbook will be published later this year and offered for free through the hospital’s call center and website.

Recipes may be sent online to www.bridgeporthospital.org/heartrecipes, faxed to 203-384-3943 or mailed to the Bridgeport Hospital Marketing Department, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610.
The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2013. The limit is three recipes per sender. Submissions should include a brief note about why the recipe is special to the sender.

An expert Bridgeport Hospital clinical dietitian will review each recipe and retool it to reduce salt, fat and sugar content and increase its nutritional value—without sacrificing taste.

Overindulging could lead to ‘holiday heart’

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 by:Amanda Cuda
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Lending new meaning to the phrase “party hearty,” doctors caution that overindulging at seasonal bashes could lead to a syndrome known as “holiday heart.”

The condition is basically an irregular heartbeat that occurs in people who are otherwise healthy. It’s common during the holidays for a variety of reasons, but the prime culprit is a spike an alcohol consumption during office parties and the like, said Dr. Steven Kunkes, Bridgeport Hospital medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and wellness. “Many people who are not used to drinking will go to a party and consume, in the course of a night, five or six drinks,” Kunkes said.

He said doctors tend to get a lot of traffic following long holiday weekends and holiday heart is a major reason. Alcohol isn’t the only things that can cause hearts to get out of sync this time of year. Stress, excessive caffeine ingestion and “anything that serves to stimulate the heart” can cause you some trouble, Kunkes said.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep your ticker under control. For one thing, if you’re a moderate drinker, don’t suddenly turn into Bluto from “Animal House” once your neighbor’s Christmas party rolls around. “Don’t drink a lot at one sitting,” Kunkes said.

Here are some more helpful hints, from the American College of Emergency Physicians:

  • Get exercise: Go to the gym, take regular walks or do something else to stay active. This can reduce your stress level.
    Watch your diet: People tend to eat larger quantities of rich foods during the holidays. If you’re going to indulge, do it in moderation.
    Get a checkup: If you haven’t had one recently, the holidays might be a good time to visit the doctor and have routine physical.
    Get enough sleep: You should underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep, as well as daily down time. Take a nap, take time for yourself, re-energize and relax.
    Don’t ignore symptoms: If an irregular heartbeat lasts for longer than a few hours, you should seek medical attention or go to the nearest emergency room. If you feel chest pain or think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.

    • Million Hearts event tomorrow at Mohegan Sun

    Tuesday, May 29, 2012 by:Amanda Cuda
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    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region I Director Christie Hager will hold a Million Hearts launch event at the Mohegan Sun Casino, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd.,  Uncasville tomorrow (Wednesday, May 30) at 10:30 a.m.  Director Hager will be joined by Mohegan Tribal Chief Lynn Malerba and Mohegan Sun President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Hartmann, as well as members of the Mohegan Tribe and employees and patrons of the Mohegan Sun Casino.

    The event will include resource tables staffed by Medical Reserve Corps volunteers who will provide cholesterol and blood pressure screenings as well as information on preventative measures.  Private partners including Walgreens, Anthem Blue Cross, and the American Heart Association are also supporting the event.

    Million Hearts™ is a national initiative by HHS to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years by bringing together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners. For more information, please visit the Million Hearts website.

    How to keep your cool in hot temps

    Tuesday, May 29, 2012 by:Amanda Cuda
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    So we just survived a hot — if beautiful — Memorial day weekend, and there’s supposed to be more of the same today, with temperatures predicted to hit the mid-80s. So how do you keep your cool? Here are some tips from the state Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Naugatuck Valley Health District:

    • Wear protective clothing (shirt, hat, pants, sunglasses) when in the sun for more than 15 minutes; seek shade as much as possible; avoid mid-day sun.
    • Apply sunscreen to exposed skin. Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure; apply a generous coat and reapply every 2 hours or more often if getting wet or sweating heavily. Choose sunscreen wisely. Look at the label. Choose a sunscreen that:
    • Offers broad spectrum (UV-A & UV-B) protection
    • Is rated as SPF 15 or greater
    • Contains zinc oxide as the active ingredient or as a blend with titanium dioxide. These
      mineral blockers are preferable to chemical absorbers.
    • Is water resistant
    • Drink more fluids, regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him or her how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
    • Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar. These actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.
    • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
    • Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
    • Though anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness some people are at greater risk including infants and young children, those aged 65 or older, those with a mental illness and those who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure.

    For more tips, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.asp.

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