San Diego Psychologist

San Diego Psychologist: Good News for Cardiac Care

A recent article summarizes a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicating that overall picture of cardiac care has improved overtime in the U.S.  This included factors ranging from people becoming more aware of heart attack symptoms, quicker visits to the ER/Hospital, better pharmaceutical care, hospital procedure outcomes, less mortality.

According to the article, Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a cardiology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted, “These findings show the substantial efforts to provide physicians and hospitals with detailed feedback on performance coupled with targeted quality improvement efforts are producing measurable and meaningful benefits to cardiovascular disease patients.”

Article available at: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=641040

Original study located at: http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/short/56/4/254 (Journal Access Needed)

Dr. Schwartz

San Diego Psychologist

www.integrative-health.net

San Diego Psychologist: Being Young is Not Enough…

Although children, adolescents, and sedentary behavior has been a hot topic these days, a new 20 year study indicates that being young (young adults) without exercise can have negative long term effects when it comes to hypertension.

According to the article, “4,618 men and women between 18 and 30 years old were recruited for a long-term study of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Study volunteers completed a treadmill test and a physical activity questionnaire when the study began. In addition, their overall health was assessed at six follow-up appointments over 20 years.”

The article also noted, “If people moved more and were able to increase their fitness level, the researchers estimate that about 34 percent of hypertension cases could be prevented.”

Lead researcher, Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, Ph.D., assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago stated, “Those who were the least physically fit, as determined by the amount of time on a treadmill and self-report, were more likely to develop hypertension.”

Article available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=639705

Original Study Abstract at: http://hyper.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.147603v1?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Mercedes+Carnethon%2C+Ph.D&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

Dr. Schwartz

San Diego Psychologist

www.integrative-health.net

San Diego Psychologist: Certain Anti-Depressants May Also Reduce Cardiac Risk

A recent news release from the American Physiological Society indicates that people taking a certain type of anti-depressant called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) [for example, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa] may actually have a second benefit of reducing potential heart problems.

According to the article, the researchers noted that the medication “may help protect cardiovascular health by slowing the clumping of blood platelets, thus reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries and blood clots that can cause heart attack and stroke.”

Article available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=638424

Dr. Schwartz

San Diego Psychologist

www.integrative-health.net

San Diego Psychologist: New Drug For Migraines: Telcagepant Has Potential For Some Patients

A new migraine drug shows promise for some patients.  According to the article, “Telcagepant relieves pain in a similar way to the drugs known as triptans that are used to treat migraines. But it doesn’t cause blood vessels to constrict, a troublesome side effect for people with heart disease.”  The drug is still under testing.  Article available at http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=638322.    A summary of the study discussed in the Healthday article is also available at http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2960323-6/abstract#.

Dr. Schwartz

San Diego Psychologist

www.integrative-health.net

San Diego Psychologist: Light Drinking Reduces Risk of Stroke & Heart Disease…but only if…

In the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Toronto, a study suggested that the potential heart healthy benefits of light drinking are eliminated if you drink and smoke.  For non-smokers, they found that drinking 3-14 approximate glasses of wine lowered the risk of stroke about 37% as compared to non-drinkers.  They did not specify red or white (although many studies point to red wine as being more effective).  However, the study showed that these benefits were not found in the participants who also smoked.

Now, I would NOT recommend running out to the liquor store and starting to drink 3-14 glasses of red wine per week (if you don’t smoke) so you can reduce your stroke risk.  Also, one of the authors notes in other research, “the protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption was seen among both smokers and nonsmokers.”

Therefore, (and as always) please make sure you talk to your primary care physician or other health care provider(s) about the contents of this blog or the article/study it refers to before making any decisions about your health.  Article available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_97536.html.

Dr. Schwartz

San Diego Psychologist

www.integrative-health.net

San Diego Psychologist: Salt and Your Heart: Dropping a Little Goes a Long Way

A government-industry collaboration study announces that even as little as a 10% reduction of salt in the U.S. population can very significantly reduce the amount of heart attacks, strokes, etc. per year.  Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_95859.html

Dr. Schwartz

San Diego Psychologist

www.integrative-health.net