Travel to high altitudes could be dangerous for people with heart conditions
Heart Disease News
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Apr. 1, 2024 — Researchers have discovered a gene on the Y chromosome that contributes to the greater incidence of heart failure in men, opening the door to new ...
Mar. 28, 2024 — Younger women are generally thought to have a low risk of heart disease, but new research urges clinicians to revisit that assumption, especially for women who suffer from certain mental health ...
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Mar. 28, 2024 — There has been a redistribution in the risk of arterial disease in type 1 and 2 diabetes. The risks of heart attack and stroke have decreased significantly, while complications in more peripheral ...
Mar. 28, 2024 — Researchers have studied hundreds of elements of the built environment, including buildings, green spaces, pavements and roads, and how these elements relate to each other and influence coronary ...
Mar. 27, 2024 — Sleeping fewer than seven hours is associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure over time, according to a new ...
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Mar. 26, 2024 — A new analysis involving over 13,000 people has found changes to blood vessels in the brain that can increase the risk of stroke and dementia are common in people with a range of heart conditions, ...
Mar. 26, 2024 — Nontraditional risk factors such as migraines are as important as traditional risk factors like high blood pressure for adults younger than ages 35-45, finds new ...
Mar. 25, 2024 — Air pollution and night-time outdoor light each were associated with harmful effects on brain health, finds new ...
Mar. 22, 2024 — A team of engineers has recently built a tissue-like bioelectronic mesh system integrated with an array of atom-thin graphene sensors that can simultaneously measure both the electrical signal and ...
Mar. 20, 2024 — SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can damage the heart even without directly infecting the heart tissue, a new study has found. The research specifically looked at damage to the hearts of ...
Mar. 20, 2024 — Treating anxiety and depression significantly reduced hospital readmission and emergency room visits in people with heart disease.This may be the first study to show that treating anxiety and ...
Mar. 20, 2024 — A study of over 20,000 adults found that those who followed an 8-hour time-restricted eating schedule, a type of intermittent fasting, had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular ...
Mar. 18, 2024 — Coronary heart disease is a major global health problem, especially among people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers have identified novel protein biomarkers that are associated with the development of ...
Photon-counting CT Improves Coronary Artery Disease Assessment, Reveals Study
Ultrahigh-spatial-resolution photon-counting detector CT improved assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD), allowing for reclassification to a lower disease category in 54% of patients, according to a new study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The technology has the potential to improve patient management and reduce unnecessary interventions.
Coronary CT angiography is a first-line test in the assessment of coronary artery disease. However, its diagnostic value is limited in patients with severe calcifications, or calcium buildup in the plaque of the coronary arteries.
Ultrahigh-spatial-resolution photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) improves image quality compared to conventional CT. Additionally, it provides better spatial resolution, or the ability to differentiate two adjacent structures as being distinct from one another.
"Our study provides a glimpse into the potential impact of performing coronary CT angiography using ultrahigh spatial resolution technology on risk reclassification and recommended downstream testing," said study co-author Tilman Emrich, M.D., attending radiologist at the University Medical Center Mainz in Germany, and assistant professor of radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
For the study, researchers evaluated coronary stenoses, or narrowing in the coronary arteries, in a vessel phantom (in-vitro) containing two different stenosis grades (25%, 50%), and retrospectively in 114 patients (in-vivo) who underwent ultrahigh-spatial-resolution cardiac PCD-CT for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. In-vitro values were compared to the phantom's manufacturer specifications, and patient results were assessed regarding effects on coronary artery disease reporting and data system reclassification (CAD-RADS).
"The study used a combination of artificial vessel models and real-world patient data," Dr. Emrich said. "It simulated three types of reconstructions from a single PCD-CT scan, resembling conventional CT, high-resolution, and ultrahigh-spatial-resolution scans. Observers evaluated the severity of stenosis and generated CAD-RADS classifications, guiding further patient management decisions."
In-vitro results demonstrated a reduced overestimation of the stenosis by ultrahigh-spatial-resolution scans by reducing the adverse effects of the calcifications on the image.
Results from the patients with suspected or diagnosed coronary artery disease confirmed a lower median degree of stenosis for calcified plaques (29% vs. 42%) with ultrahigh-spatial-resolution PCD-CT compared to standard CT. Ultrahigh-spatial-resolution often led to patients being reclassified to a lower CAD-RADS category. Of the 114 patients, 54% were given a lower CAD-RADS classification than they were originally assigned. The researchers found in-vitro quantification of the 193 coronary CT angiography-based stenoses was also more accurate using ultrahigh-spatial-resolution than standard resolution.
"We found that ultrahigh-spatial-resolution reconstructions resulted in significant changes in recommendations for over 50% of patients," Dr. Emrich said. "The impact was particularly notable in cases with calcified plaques, where ultrahigh-spatial-resolution reduced the overestimation of stenosis."
Dr. Emrich explained that ultrahigh-spatial-resolution may address the current limitations of conventional cardiac CT angiography by reducing the overestimation of stenosis due to calcium blooming, an effect which can cause small, high-density structures-such as calcifications-to appear larger than their true size.
"This could significantly alter recommendations for downstream testing, potentially leading to a reduction of unnecessary procedures (and their potential complications) and reduced healthcare costs," he said.
No substantial benefits of ultrahigh-spatial-resolution were observed for mixed and non-calcified plaques.
"It is important to note that these findings are from a simulation study, and further validation is needed in real-world comparisons," Dr. Emrich said.
Reference:
Moritz C. Halfmann, Stefanie Bockius, Tilman Emrich , Michaela Hell, U. Joseph Schoepf, Gerald S. Laux, Larissa Kavermann, Dirk Graafen, Tomasso Gori, Yang Yang, Roman Klöckner, Ultrahigh-Spatial-Resolution Photon-counting Detector CT Angiography of Coronary Artery Disease for Stenosis Assessment, Radiology, https://doi.Org/10.1148/radiol.231956
Peripheral Artery System At Risk Of Disease Due To Family History, Lifestyle
Most people have heard of heart attacks occurring because of a blocked coronary artery. But the body has two types of artery systems: the coronary artery system, which relates to the heart, and peripheral artery system, which involves the arteries carrying oxygenated blood to the arms, legs, brain and the rest of the body.
"Just like coronary arteries, peripheral arteries can become diseased," says Michel Barsoum, M.B., Ch.B., a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic Health System. "This condition, called peripheral artery disease, or PAD, narrows arteries and reduces blood flow due to a buildup of fatty and calcium deposits on the artery walls."
This can cause claudication, which is muscle pain and cramping when a person is active but usually disappears after a few minutes of rest.
"So who is at risk of peripheral artery disease? People who smoke or have diabetes at any age are at the greatest risk," says Dr. Barsoum.
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Other risk factors include:
"If neck arteries to your brain are affected, symptoms may include difficulty talking, weakness in the arms and legs, or loss of vision," says Dr. Barsoum. "If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with a vascular medicine specialist, who will conduct a physical exam and record your health history."
The exam will include finding a pulse in the affected neck artery and comparing it with the pulse in the unaffected neck artery. Vascular medicine specialists have a wide range of tools available, depending on the degree of your symptoms, to help you return to the activities you love.
For example, if you can walk a few blocks with only mild pain, they may prescribe medications such as aspirin, statins or blood thinners. They also may discuss ways you can modify your risk factors, including quitting smoking; controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes; and increasing your activity level.
If you have more significant symptoms, such as not being able to tolerate the pain when walking, a vascular medicine specialist typically will order an ultrasound or a CT scan with contrast, or even an angiogram to determine the location and degree of the blockage. Your care team will discuss a variety of surgical options to deal with the blockage.
"Prevention of peripheral artery disease is always the best treatment," says Dr. Barsoum. "Quit smoking, eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise regularly, keep your blood sugar in check if you have diabetes, maintain a healthy weight, and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels."
In addition, if you have one or more risk factors, avoid certain over-the-counter cold remedies that contain pseudoephedrine. These medications constrict your blood vessels and might worsen your symptoms.
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