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Heart disease testsSeveral tests diagnose possible heart disease. The choice of which (and how many) tests to perform depends on several things. These include a patients risk factors, history of heart problems, current symptoms and the doctors interpretation of these factors. People being evaluated for possible heart disease are usually given simple tests first. Then more complicated ones may be used, if needed. Specific tests depend on the patients particular problem(s) and the physicians assessment. Some of these tests are noninvasive. That means they dont involve inserting instruments or fluids into the body. Those that do are called invasive tests. Currently, the best way to find blockages in heart arteries is a test called x-ray coronary angiography. During the procedure, a catheter is threaded through a vein and used to inject a dye into the blood vessels of the heart. A series of x-rays can show blockages in the arteries, but the test can cause complications and poses at least a small risk to the patient.
 2010-03-12 Coronary Angiograms May Be Overused, Study SaysTypically, patients suspected of heart disease based on family history or, say, unexplained chest pain, first undergo non-invasive tests such as a stress echocardiogram or nuclear perfusion study to see how well the heart is functioning. Guidelines suggest such tests should indicate a potential problem before a patient is referred for an angiogram. In the study, 84 pct. of patients got at least one of these tests, but the information they provided was only modestly helpful in predicting whether patients had significant disease. Researchers said this underscored the need to find more effective ways to recommend patients for angiograms. A widely used test to detect blockages in the hearts arteries often turns up little or no evidence of disease, a new study found, suggesting that patients are frequently exposed unnecessarily to the risks and costs of the invasive examination.
2010-03-10 Cancer Society urges caution in prostate testM. D. Anderson urologist Dr. Jon Davis said the new guidelines represent "a growing shift from the more simplistic days when doctors told men to go get screened, then well deal with it. " Since then, studies have shown that most prostate cancers are so slow growing that most men die with prostate cancer rather than because of it. Surgical treatment can leave men incontinent or impotent, and men who get hormone treatment may be at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes. Routine prostate cancer screening can lead to harmful and unnecessary treatment and doctors should make the risks clearer to patients, the American Cancer Society warned Wednesday while issuing new screening recommendations.
2010-03-09 ASK A DOCTOR: Prevention best when it comes to kidney disease Wisconsin Rapids Daily TribuneAnswer: Your doctor is practicing good, preventive medicine. The kidneys are what we call "quiet organs. " They can go from normal functioning to the point of complete failure without causing clear symptoms. This is a major health concern because 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million are at high risk for it. In addition, this places these individuals at much higher risk of heart disease. In addition to making dietary changes, I recommend that anyone at risk for chronic kidney disease keep a maintenance record for their body. It helps make sure you are doing everything you can to keep your body functioning correctly. Use it to keep track of blood pressure readings, laboratory tests and your diet. Bring it along when you visit your health care provider. www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com Question: Why does my doctor test me for kidney disease - WRT-Life and Style Wisconsin Rapids WI News local news headlines stories world news
2010-03-08 Healthy kidneys should be a priority Viewpoints, Outlook Houston ChronicleThe betrayal of CKD is that it is typically a silent disease until its far advanced and damage has been done to kidneys and blood vessels. You may have no symptoms whatsoever, or you might have signs that point to another medical problem. As a result, many people will gradually progress to kidney failure (or end-stage renal disease), requiring dialysis or transplant to live. Even if kidney failure does not occur, the presence of CKD is a powerful risk factor for take notice the development of cardiovascular disease. The majority of people with advanced CKD end up dying of heart attack or stroke. - Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle news Houston news Houston local news Texas news Houston sports Houston business Houston traffic Houston weather Houston entertainment Houston
2010-03-07 The Omaha World-Herald: Health - Aspirin has limits as heart medThe study is the first to look at an apparently healthy population, screen them for their heart disease risk using a test that detects artery blockages in their legs and then try to reduce that with aspirin, lead author F. Gerald Fowkes said. Aspirin has been shown to lower heart attacks in people who have symptoms of heart disease, and more studies are needed to find a way to prevent cardiovascular problems in people who have a high risk and no symptoms, he said. Aspirin doesnt prevent heart attacks or strokes in people who have a high risk of heart disease yet show no symptoms, a study in Scotland found.
2010-03-05 Newer Blood Test Predicts Diabetes, Heart Disease - BusinessWeekNewer Blood Test Predicts Diabetes, Heart Disease This is a test thats been around for a long time, and the old dictum was that it couldnt be used to predict cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Rafael Gonzalez, director of cardiology at Scott and White Healthcare in Round Rock, Texas. "But this study shows it may be a great marker -- the higher the A1C, the greater the risk. This tells us we may need to be more aggressive with prevention in people with higher levels, maybe push for lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, emphasize lifestyle factors," he explained. A1C outperforms fasting glucose in predicting heart disease and stroke risk, study finds - Diabetes: Misc Heart / Stroke-Related: Heart Attack Heart Attack: Management / Prevention
2010-03-04 Study Questions Value of Test for Peripheral Artery Disease - BusinessWeekStudy Questions Value of Test for Peripheral Artery Disease Any recommendation for aspirin should be accompanied by a thorough explanation, Fowkes said. "We expected that people with a low ABI would get some reduction in cardiovascular events from aspirin," he said. "We were quite surprised to find the trial results to be negative. Perhaps these people were less likely to stick to the drug. There is a bit of an information gap. People dont understand why a test done at the ankle should tell a doctor something about the risk of heart attack and stroke. " Ankle-brachial index, and resulting aspirin therapy, may not be needed for healthier patients - Blood Disorders Heart / Stroke-Related Problems: Stroke Heart / Stroke-Related: Heart Attack Heart / Stroke-Related: Misc
2010-03-03 Heart testing back in spotlight - The Boston GlobeThe vast majority of athletes who die suddenly are felled by an abnormal heart rhythm, which can often be detected with an ECG, a test of the hearts electrical activity. However, the Harvard study also found a large number of false positives and no. 8217; - tests indicating a problem when there is none - that would subject athletes to additional costly testing to rule out a heart ailment. Still, based on the findings, Harvard is routinely giving ECGs to all its athletic recruits.
2010-03-01 Gene tests may find personal treatmentGene tests may find personal treatment Gooding, 75, whose medical history could fill a cardiology textbook, took a saliva test last fall to see whether he had inherited fully working copies of a gene involved in converting Plavix - the blockbuster drug given to reduce heart patients risk of lethal blood clots - to its active form. Some health-care organizations already offer pharmacogenomic testing to select patients, such as Gooding, and some test manufacturers are marketing directly to consumers, such as Negro, through the Web. As the cost of sequencing the genome drops, doctors can expect to see more patients who already know their genetic status when it comes to metabolizing certain drugs. Gene tests may find personal treatment, A small but growing number of American patients who have sought genetic testing to help guide their treatment. - Gene tests may find personal treatment Arizona News
2010-02-28 Calcium scores assesses heart attack riskCalcium scores assesses heart attack risk According to the American Heart Association, 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. By taking this simple test, you can know whether or not you have heart disease while you still have time to improve your heart health and lower your risk of a potentially fatal heart attack. A calcium-scoring exam is new way to detect your heart-attack risk, before you display any symptoms. This painless, non-invasive screening test uses computed tomography (also known as CT) to determine if there is calcium build-up in the arteries of your heart, an early indicator of heart disease. Calcium scores assesses heart attack risk, Painless, non-invasive screening test uses computed tomography to see if there is calcium build-up in arteries - an early indicator of heart disease. - Calcium scores assesses heart attack risk Gilbert Citizen Reporter Gilbert Community Local Arizona News
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