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    New Survey Shows Heart Patients’ Quality of Life Significantly Improved After Angioplasty Procedure

    Date: 10/17/2012
    Today, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) announced results from a new survey that found four out of five (81 percent) patients say their lives have changed for the better following angioplasty, a procedure to open blocked arteries and allow blood to circulate freely. Simultaneously, SCAI published a comprehensive review of research on quality of life following angioplasty and stenting. The paper offers recommendations to guide healthcare providers in choosing the best cardiovascular treatment to benefit patients and enhance their quality of life. The consensus paper appears in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions (CCI).

    What to Do When Your Heart Disease Is “Stable”: For Many Patients, Open Arteries Are Better Than Closed Arteries

    Date: 8/28/2012
    According to a study published today, when a stable heart disease patient has one or plus medications. The study, known as FAME 2, found that patients who underwent angioplasty and stenting were significantly less likely to require an unplanned hospitalization leading to urgent revascularization (angioplasty) than patients who had been treated with medications alone. In addition, the angioplasty and stenting patients felt better and were less likely to need medications for their chest pain. In this recent study, doctors made a measurement of how severe blockages in the heart arteries were using a test called fractional flow reserve (FFR). Learn more about FFR and treatment of stable coronary artery disease here.

    Your Child’s Heart on Sports: What Parents Should Know About Screening Athletes for Heart Problems

    Date: 5/4/2012
    When a young athlete dies on the field as a result of a heart condition no one ever imagined he or she had, it’s tragic for everyone involved. And it’s also terrifying for every parent, grandparent, aunt and uncle who loves a child who plays a sport. Questions that naturally come to mind may be: Should I let my child play a sport at all? What sports can my child play, and which ones should be avoided? Should we get our child screened and if so, how? Should all kids be screened? How can we make sure this never happens to anyone ever again?

    Men: Study Espouses a Spouse in the House

    Date: 4/18/2012
    It was already known that being married, particularly for men, lowers risk of death. But one study pinpointed a specific benefit that may contribute to this overall lower risk of death: men who are married get to the hospital faster after heart attack symptom onset than single men.

    Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Undergoing Angioplasty and Stenting or Bypass Surgery

    Date: 3/27/2012
    Why did my doctor recommend bypass surgery for me, but my uncle, neighbor, or spouse underwent coronary stenting? The answer to this question is unique for every patient, and your doctor considered many factors before making the recommendation. It is impossible for a website to answer which treatment is right for you. However, SecondsCount can provide general, up-to-date information, and suggest questions to ask your doctor to understand why a procedure is right for you.

    Are You Sipping Too Much Sugar? Heart-Smart Tips for Quenching Your Thirst.

    Date: 3/13/2012
    You want to eat “heart-smart”, right? A rainbow of colors from fruits and veggies, whole grains, fish and lean meats, a morsel of dark chocolate every now and then…Every bite counts. But what about the stuff you’re sipping? Are the beverages you consume each day adding up to increased risk for heart attack?

    Increase Your Heart Smarts During Heart Month:  Learn About Risk Factors

    Date: 2/1/2012
    With the start of American Heart Month, SecondsCount is encouraging everyone to get to know the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Download questions to ask your healthcare provider about cardiovascular disease and risk factors here.

    SecondsCount.org 2011 Highlights

    Date: 1/9/2012
    Throughout 2011, SecondsCount has featured important cardiovascular news and information: both preventive and therapeutic, conveyed through articles, charts and videos, and paired with key "Questions to Ask Your Doctor." And perhaps most important, SecondsCount has been honored to share some remarkable stories of cardiovascular disease survivors. We invite you to review and click through the year with us.

    SecondsCount Survival Guide. Protecting Your Heart When It Gets Really Cold

    Date: 1/5/2012
    When temperatures drop, the heart has to work harder to help maintain your body’s core temperature. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, heart failure is the cause of most deaths from hypothermia - a dangerous condition in which the body’s temperature falls below normal.  

    Holidays Stress You Out?  Try Exercise to Relieve the Pressure

    Date: 12/28/2011
    The holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration, but what about holiday stress (sometimes brought on by family stress). And when the pressure’s on to get so much done on top of your usual responsibilities, it’s tempting to let your exercise routine slide. Resist that temptation! Dropping your exercise routine could be one of the biggest mistakes of the season.