E-connect: Saskatoon Health Region's employee newsletter 4/7

E-connect: Saskatoon Health Region's employee newsletter volume 4, issue 7, April 3, 2009 is now available online

Olive oil protects against heart attack

"Portuguese researchers have identified a vital component of olive oil that gives greatest protection from heart attack and stroke. Lead researcher Fatima Paiva-Martins from University of Porto has discovered an antioxidant called DHPEA-EDA that protects red blood cells from damage more than any other part of olive oil. "These findings provide the scientific basis for the clear health benefits that have been seen in people who have olive oil in their diet," said Paiva-Martins. During the study, research team led by Paiva-Martins compared the effects of four related polyphenolic compounds on red blood cells subjected to oxidative stress by a known free radical generating chemical. Heart disease is caused partly by reactive oxygen, including free radicals, acting on LDL or "bad" cholesterol and resulting in hardening of the arteries. Red blood cells are particularly susceptible to oxidative damage because they are the body's oxygen carriers. They found that DHPEA-EDA was the most effective and protected red blood cells even at low concentrations. The new discovery, Paiva-Martins believes, can lead to the production of "functional" olive oils specifically designed to reduce the risk of heart disease. The study is published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research" - Times of India

Caraco Pharma recalls heart drug Digoxin

"Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd said it was recalling batches of the heart drug Digoxin distributed prior to March 31, saying these tablets could vary in size and thus dosage levels. While a lower than labeled dosage may pose a risk of lack of efficacy resulting in cardiac instability, excessive intake of the drug could lead to death, the company said. Shares of the company closed down about 23 percent at $3.52 Tuesday on the American Stock Exchange. Digoxin is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline Plc's drug Lanoxin to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The company said it was voluntarily recalling 0.125 mg and 0.25 mg tablets of the drug to the consumer level. Digoxin toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, and bradycardia, the company said" - Reuters

Coronary angiography improves outcomes for cardiac arrest patients

"People who suffer cardiac arrests and then receive coronary angiography are twice as likely to survive without significant brain damage compared with those who don't have the procedure, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers. The study, published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine and now available online, showed that patient outcomes improved with coronary angiography, an imaging procedure that shows how blood flows through the heart, regardless of certain clinical and demographic factors that influenced who received the procedure" - News-Medical.net

Heartbeat away from making medical history (Australia)

Marshall Hastings has a very rare genetic heart condition that causes his heart to beat abnormally fast, but what makes him extraordinary is that he still alive. The 10-year-old was pulled from the bottom of a swimming pool by lifeguards after he suddenly and inexplicably sank mid-race during a swimming carnival last October. A combination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator - which the Botany Aquatic Centre, Australia, had recently installed but never used - saved Marshall from certain sudden cardiac death (SCD). - SMH

Oklahoma Heart Institute

"Oklahoma Heart Institute is the region's largest and most advanced hospital dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Located on the campus of Hillcrest Medical Center, OHI combines the expertise of nationally recognized cardiovascular physicians with the region's most advanced technology and personalized patient care. From groundbreaking research and first-time procedures to exceptional quality outcomes, Oklahoma Heart Institute has earned a reputation as one of the finest tertiary cardiovascular care programs in the country. Whether you are a patient, a family member or a medical professional, we invite you to learn more about our new, state-of-the-art facility and the services we provide"

Hormone Relaxine helps treat heart failure: study

Relaxine, a naturally occurring hormone that helps women adapt to pregnancy, is showing promise as a treatment for acute heart failure, a new study has found. The research, conducted by scientists from the United States and Italy and presented Sunday at an annual conference of the American College of Cardiology, said the hormone helped patients to breathe more easily. Given in addition to standard treatment, the hormone relaxin also reduced hospital time for patients and prevented heart failure from worsening during hospitalization, the study said. The hormone substantially relieved shortness of breath, or dyspnea, within just a few hours, an improvement that persisted over several days, the authors pointed out. - Physorg.com

Reality EP: Tackling Left Atrial Tachycardias after Catheter Ablation for AF

Reality EP: Tackling Left Atrial Tachycardias after Catheter Ablation for AF - April 22, 2009, 6:00PM CDT - Live from Chicago, hosted by the Heart Rhythm Society with footage obtained from University of Chicago Medical Center. "This Heart Rhythm Society live webcast will feature video of an ablation procedure for a patient left atrial tachycardia post atrial fibrillation ablation procedure" - ORLive

Walgreen giving free care to jobless and uninsured (USA)

"Drugstore operator Walgreen will offer free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of the year, providing tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics - though patients will still pay for precriptions. Walgreen said patients who lose their job and health insurance after March 31 will be able to get free treatment at its in-store Take Care clinics for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments. Typically those treatments cost $59 or more for patients with no insurance. Hal Rosenbluth, chairman of the Take Care Health Systems division, described the plan as something close to an experiment: He said Walgreen isn't sure of patient demand or how much providing the services might cost the company. It's likely to generate more attention for the clinics, however. Rosenbluth said a typical Take Care patient tells eight other people about his or her experience. So far, about 30 percent of Take Care patients were new customers to Walgreen. The program is expected to last through the end of 2009. Walgreen runs 341 Take Care clinics in 35 markets around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Cleveland" - AP

Lost without Words - your online exhibition (UK)

During the Lost without Words campaign, the Stroke Association asked stroke survivors to recount their experiences of living with a communication disability. Many have sent in stories, poems, photos and pictures and they have created a section of their website to exhibit these pieces of art work

Many smokers don't seek doctor's help (USA)

Twenty-one percent of U.S. smokers never talk to a healthcare provider about their smoking, a survey indicates. Cheryl G. Healton, president and chief executive officer of the American Legacy Foundation says on average, smokers make six to 9 attempts to kick the habit in a lifetime. "Even more alarming is that when conversations do take place about smoking, patients don't seem to be getting the information they need to begin a successful quit attempt," Healton says in a statement. National government guidelines state that the most effective way to quit smoking is through a combination of medication and counseling. Fifty-two percent of the respondents said they think healthcare providers should help them quit smoking. While talking to their healthcare providers about smoking, 54 percent of respondents felt the negative emotions of guilt, uneasiness, annoyance, pressure or embarrassment, while just 28 percent reported the positive feelings of motivation, pleasure, or confidence, Healton said. The survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of The American Legacy Foundation from November 13-December 12, 2008 among 1,012 U.S. adults, who smoke cigarettes at least occasionally. No margin of error was provided. - UPI

Medicine crisis hits Russia's poor

"The impact of the global economic crisis has forced some Russians to make a desperate choice between food and medicine, the BBC's Richard Galpin reports from Russia's second city, St Petersburg" - BBC

Insomnia raises risk of high blood pressure

"Insomniacs who sleep less than five hours a night are five times more likely to develop high blood pressure than sound sleepers who get enough rest, a new study shows. The link between another sleep disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension is well established. But the newly published study is one of the first to find that insomnia also raises the risk for high blood pressure. Researchers estimate that 8% to 10% of the U.S. population may be at risk for high blood pressure related to chronic insomnia. "We have known for many years that insomniacs have a high risk for depression and other psychiatric disorders," study researcher Alexandros N. Vgontzas, MD, tells WebMD. "Now we are increasingly recognizing the association with medical morbidities like high blood pressure." Vgontzas, who directs the Sleep Research and Treatment Center at the Penn State College of Medicine, says the major strength of the new study is that it included both subjective and objective measures of insomnia" - webMD

National Workplace Wellness Week - April 5–11, 2009 - (USA)

"The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on September 26, 2008, that designates the first full week of April as National Workplace Wellness Week. Initiated by the American Heart Association and introduced by Reps. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) and Charles Boustany (R-LA), the week serves to encourage private and public employers across the country to invest in the health of their employees by creating worksite wellness programs and to share their best practices with other employers." - AHA

Watching your team lose can give you a heart attack

Watching your team lose can be more than heart breaking, it can be fatal, especially for die-hard fans, warns a new study. "The emotional stress of loss and/or the intensity of a game played in a high profile rivalry such as the Super Bowl can trigger total and cardiovascular deaths," ABC Online quoted Dr Robert Kloner, a professor of medicine at the University of Southern California, as saying. "In contrast, a win in a lower intensity game may actually have a favourable effect on mortality," he added. According to Kloner, fans who get excited during sporting events and have risk factors for heart disease should consult their doctor before a big game. Drugs such as beta-blockers, aspirin or anti-anxiety drugs could help them, as could relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, he says. "I'm not suggesting that people not watch the Super Bowl. People should be aware of this and I suspect it applies to other sports as well," he added. - Zeenews