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Hundreds of Strokes Found to Be Avoidable Story

Hundreds of Strokes Found to Be Avoidable

A University of Manchester study has found that hundreds of strokes could be prevented each year if patients suffering from "mini-strokes", or transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), were assessed sooner by specialist clinicians. Researchers found that almost two thirds of patients attending what are termed 'rapid access' TIA clinics took more than the recommended seven days to be seen by a professional. A transient ischaemic attack is a temporary weakening of one side of the face and corresponding arm which drastically increases a person's chances of suffering from a major stroke within days of the symptoms. Some studies have put the risk as high as a one in for probability. (Read more about Hundreds of Strokes Found to Be Avoidable)

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What is Carotid Stenosis? Story

What is Carotid Stenosis?

Dr. Sateesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses "What is Carotid Stenosis?", the treatments, who should be screened and future developments, such as new stenting techniques. (Read more about What is Carotid Stenosis?)

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Hospital Rankings Partially Accurate for Heart Patients Story

Hospital Rankings Partially Accurate for Heart Patients

It appears that for heart attack patients, the rating by U.S. News & World Report may be justified. A new study published in the July edition of Archives of Internal Medicine found that patients treated at hospitals ranked by U.S. News & World Report are less likely to die 30 days after being admitted than those at an unranked hospital. The study also found that ranked hospitals were more likely to have lower than expected overall death rates.. (Read more about Hospital Rankings Partially Accurate for Heart Patients)

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Your First Visit Story

Your First Visit

By Tauseef Ahmed, MD, FACP
Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Oncology / Hematology at New York Medical College

Your tests have come back. The news is not good and your doctor refers you to a specialist. Oncologist, Orthopedist, Neurologist, each one trusted by your doctor, each one trained to help you, whatever your problem might be. Each one can and should be helped by you.
Here are a few tips to help your caregiver help you: (Read more about Your First Visit)

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PRE- HYPERTENSION TREATMENT Story

PRE- HYPERTENSION TREATMENT

There is important new research out tonight that may be the start of a different approach in medicine: to treat high blood pressure before it even gets high.

The fact is about 69 percent of people who have a first heart attack, 77 percent of those who have a first stroke, and 74 percent of patients with heart failure have blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm hg.

So why not catch blood pressure early, before it does its damage? (Read more about PRE- HYPERTENSION TREATMENT)

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Low Salt Heart Danger Story

Low Salt Heart Danger

It is dictum in the medical universe, that a low salt diet is a heart healthy way to eat. It’s common knowledge….like one plus one equals two.

“The evidence is really not clear,” says Dr. Hillel Cohen, a public health expert at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Whoa! Wait a second!

Not clear?

Most will say it is! (Read more about Low Salt Heart Danger)

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holiday headaches Story

holiday headaches

But that’s where the question lies: at what point does one really get life-protecting benefit from exercise--beyond the benefits of a better figure? (Read more about holiday headaches)

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HEART VALVE SURGERY STUDY Story

HEART VALVE SURGERY STUDY

Would you get heart valve surgery if you didn’t have any symptoms?
New research says many patients with a common heart valve problem should have performed a heart valve surgery.
The study looks at a problem with the mitral valve, which is the heart valve that separates the upper and lower chambers on the left side of the heart. A condition called mitral valve regurgitation sometimes affects this valve, requiring heart valve surgery. (Read more about HEART VALVE SURGERY STUDY)

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