Septic pulmonary embolism in China: clinical features and analysis of prognostic factors for mortality in 98 cases - BMC ...
Heart Disease News
May 1, 2024 — Researchers have found that cells inside clogged arteries have cancer-like properties that aggravate atherosclerosis, and anticancer drugs could be a new ...
May 1, 2024 — A simple blood test could allow doctors to determine whether a person may be at higher risk for stroke or cognitive decline during their lifetime, according to a new ...
Apr. 30, 2024 — Researchers have discovered over a hundred new regions of the human genome, also known as genomic loci, that appear to influence a person's blood pressure. In total, over 2,000 independent ...
Apr. 30, 2024 — Researchers have discovered that the smooth muscle cells that line the arteries of people with atherosclerosis can change into new cell types and develop traits similar to cancer that worsen the ...
Apr. 29, 2024 — Groundbreaking new research finds that an increased cardio fitness level will reduce your risk of death from any cause by nearly ...
Apr. 26, 2024 — Climbing stairs is associated with a longer life, according to new ...
Apr. 26, 2024 — Regenerative heart therapies involve transplanting cardiac muscle cells into damaged areas of the heart to recover lost function. However, the risk of arrhythmias following this procedure is ...
Apr. 25, 2024 — A multicenter study has identified a potential new treatment for acute heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalization and ...
Apr. 24, 2024 — Investigators have uncovered a way to unleash in blood vessels the protective effects of a type of fat-related molecule known as a sphingolipid, suggesting a promising new strategy for the treatment ...
Apr. 24, 2024 — Cognitive decline among Black women linked to poor heart health in middle ...
Apr. 23, 2024 — Using light pulses as a model for electrical defibrillation, scientists developed a method to assess and modulate the heart function. The research team has thus paved the way for an efficient and ...
Apr. 22, 2024 — Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide with around 59 million people concerned in 2019. This irregular heartbeat is associated with increased risks of heart failure, ...
Apr. 22, 2024 — Atrial fibrillation (Afib), a common type of arrhythmia that is on the rise in people under the age of 65, is more dangerous in this increasingly younger population than previously thought, according ...
Apr. 18, 2024 — A heart attack will leave a permanent scar on a human heart, yet other animals, including zebrafish, can clear cardiac scar tissue and regrow damaged muscle as adults. Biologists sheds new light on ...
Apr. 17, 2024 — In a new study, researchers show that elevated levels of proteins related to cellular senescence, or aging, in the blood and the placenta are linked to this form of heart ...
Apr. 17, 2024 — Adults with congenital heart defects were more likely to experience an abnormal, irregular heartbeat, finds a new ...
Apr. 11, 2024 — A new study showed that a non-invasive imaging test can help identify patients with coronary artery blockage or narrowing who need a revascularization ...
Apr. 11, 2024 — A drug approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension may be effective at managing hypertension and end-organ damage in patients with sickle cell disease, according to a new study. An early phase ...
Apr. 11, 2024 — Health researchers identify patients at risk for preventable death in the year after ...
Apr. 10, 2024 — Over 200 million people around the world experience peripheral artery disease (PAD) -- a condition caused by the narrowing of the blood vessels from the heart to the lower limbs that leads to pain ...
How To Achieve Zero Strokes And Heart Attacks For All
How to achieve zero strokes and heart attacks for all
Emerging technologies are fundamentally transforming healthcare.
In the last few years, telemedicine and remote patient monitoring solutions have become more commonplace, while AI is being used to develop new drugs and vaccines, predict heart attack risks, detect cancers and even treat strokes.
The coronavirus pandemic rapidly accelerated the trend for telehealth and at-home medical monitoring as patient movement became restricted and hospitals grew increasingly overwhelmed with cases. These innovations have helped bolster and supplement existing healthcare infrastructure while raising the prospect that emerging digital tools can allow effective, remote treatment of millions of patients worldwide.
One medical condition into which these new digital technologies promise significant inroads is hypertension. WHO figures show hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults globally, more than 1.2bn people. Known as the "silent killer", the condition is one of the leading causes of death, elevating risks of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and other health problems.
The number of hypertension patients has increased globally over the last few decades, especially in low- and middle-income countries. More worryingly, nearly half of those affected are unaware they are hypertensive. In many cases, the condition is only discovered after a patient visits an emergency room for another reason.
While the worst of the pandemic is now behind us, nearly half of the global population still lacks access to basic diagnosis and medical treatment for common conditions such as hypertension.
Healthcare accessibility is therefore a crucial priority for global health outcomes and poverty alleviation. Emergent medical technologies can help overcome physical distances for patients in remote locations and aid overstretched doctors and nurses in underserved areas. Equally important, these innovations must make healthcare accessible economically not just for the privileged few, but as a fundamental right for all.
Raising awareness and availability of hypertension monitoring"One of the longstanding challenges in reducing hypertension is that of awareness. Many people still do not realise that the condition needs to be monitored regularly and treated," says Daisuke Nozaki, general manager of cardiovascular disease business planning strategy at OMRON.
Daisuke Nozaki, general manager of cardiovascular disease business planning strategy at OMRON.
Since releasing its first home-use blood pressure monitor in 1973, OMRON has sold a cumulative 350m devices and is today recognised as a global leader in the field. Over half a century, it has made monitors available to patients in over 130 countries globally and expanded its line-up of products to be affordable at different price points. In 2022, it announced an ambitious long-term company vision known as "Going for Zero", which involves monitoring hypertension to eliminate heart attacks and strokes.
Despite efforts to educate the public and practitioners about hypertension, there is still wide variation in the rates of home monitoring devices across countries, even in nations with a growing middle class such as India, where only 5 per cent of households have home monitors. Overall, many people remain unaware of the risks of hypertension. Nozaki says OMRON has accelerated its outreach efforts in recent years with IT tools, including the establishment of a free medical e-learning platform called OMRON Academy for medical professionals.
The company has sold 350 million home-use blood pressure monitors.
Business of the heartManaging hypertension effectively requires more than infrequent blood pressure checks during medical appointments. Patients who consistently and accurately monitor fluctuations in their blood pressure can share more comprehensive data with healthcare providers, ensuring better treatment plans.
To achieve this ideal, OMRON has launched the firm's first remote patient monitoring (RPM) service for patients with high-risk levels of hypertension. This service allows patients to measure biological data sets from home with clinically approved devices and share their data easily with healthcare professionals.
Patients plug in their cellular-connected data hub, which is pre-paired to the monitor, to start the service. Patients who do not have a home WiFi connection can therefore still access the RPM service.
OMRON's remote patient monitoring service for patients with high-risk levels of hypertension.
Such remote monitoring has been shown to have therapeutic and economic benefits. In a clinical study with Northwestern University, hypertensive patients in the United States recommended to use OMRON's RPM solution were found to have controlled their condition at significantly higher rates compared with a control group. In a separate study conducted jointly with insurance firm Highmark, those using OMRON's RPM services saved on treatment costs for cardiovascular diseases by 46 per cent (an average of $108 per month), compared to those not using the service.
Along with measuring and monitoring, the next step to battling hypertension is to predict when medical events may occur. One strategy is monitoring atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a form of heart arrhythmia. People with A-fib are estimated to be five times more likely to develop a stroke than those without. Moreover, the condition is difficult to detect only through occasional checks at the hospital and is better managed through regular monitoring at home. OMRON has also released a device that can analyse ECG data to check for A-fib within one 30-second sitting.
The company is working with Kyoto University to develop AI technology for personalised blood pressure management, using these and other devices. By analysing biological data sets and habits, researchers are working to detect abnormal data and better predict potential medical events.
Going for Zero for over fifty yearsMed-tech solutions achieve true accessibility when they are practical, cost-effective and thereby capable of bridging geographic, digital and socio-economic divides. With "Going for Zero", OMRON aims to position itself at the forefront of this positive trend, ensuring that healthcare innovations reach the broadest possible audience.
"Although we have been selling blood pressure monitors for decades, we realise that it's not how many monitors we sell that's important for society, but how many medical events that cause deaths and complications are reduced," says Nozaki. "We therefore shifted our vision to a goal of 'Going for Zero' and are working towards it broadly by utilising emerging technologies."
Besides fighting hypertension, the company has also committed to minimising respiratory disease and chronic pain, conditions that impact hundreds of millions worldwide, by developing and distributing devices to support treatments and diagnoses.
Find out more about OMRON
Malnutrition Is Silently Stealing Uganda's Future
Malnutrition is silently stealing Uganda's future
...It is imperative that we make intentional investments in reducing malnutrition, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups
Every year, the world commemorates World Nutrition Day on the 28th day of May to highlight the importance of nutrition.
The National Development Plan(NDP) places a high priority on developing human capital to drive economic growth. It believes that improving education and cognitive achievement will lead to increased productivity, earnings, and gross domestic growth. Uganda Vision 2040 also recognises the importance of investing in nutrition to ensure a high standard of living for its population.
Under NDP III, the Ugandan government acknowledges that achieving a demographic dividend is crucial for economic growth and social development. Demographic dividends are where a country enjoys accelerated growth rates that among others stem from declining mortality rates. By investing in ending malnutrition, not only can Uganda accelerate its economic growth and move closer to middle-income status, but it can also improve the daily lives of its people.
Uganda faces several nutritional challenges, including maternal iodine deficiency, low birth weight, stunting, and anemia. These issues are so widespread in Uganda that the country is wasting its greatest resource: the potential of its children. Ending malnutrition is essential for maximizing the potential of Uganda's children, as mental capacity, intellectual development, and school performance all rely on good nutrition.
Despite being known as the food basket of East Africa and having abundant arable land, Uganda still struggles with nutrition insecurity. The country consistently grapples with multiple forms of malnutrition. According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys 2022, 24.4 percent of children under five years old are stunted, over 3.2 percent are wasted, 9.7 percent are underweight, and 3.4 percent are overweight.
Additionally, more than 53 percent of women of reproductive age in Uganda suffer from anemia. This situation has serious implications for the quality of human capital, education outcomes, and the healthcare costs for women, infants, and children.
According to the World Health Organisation, malnutrition remains a major global and national health concern. It impacts cognitive development, physical work capacity, and school performance, leading to reduced productivity, socioeconomic growth, and development. Among school-going children, malnutrition can negatively affect cognitive and motor development, resulting in decreased learning capacity and poor school attendance. Moreover, it weakens the immune system, making children more susceptible to infections. This is particularly evident in Uganda, where the population relies heavily on staple foods, resulting in a high prevalence of stunted children in the southwest region, which is the country's main food producer. It is important to note that malnourished children have a higher mortality and morbidity rate, as they are prone to respiratory infections and diarrhea.
Women's access to nutritious food is disproportionately affected by national and transnational crises. For instance, the crises in Karamoja and refugee hosting districts push millions of mothers and children into hunger and severe malnutrition. Expectant mothers face even greater challenges, as poor diets lacking key nutrients can lead to complications like anemia, pre-eclampsia, hemorrhage, and death. Hemorrhage alone accounts for 41 percent of maternal deaths in Uganda. Furthermore, poor nutrition during breastfeeding makes it difficult for mothers to replenish their nutrient stores and meet the additional dietary needs of breastfeeding.
Pregnant adolescents also face a higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes compared to adult women. These include fetal complications such as prematurity, low birth weight, perinatal mortality, congenital defects, hypertensive disorders, abortion, urinary infections, and premature rupture of fetal membranes. Pregnant adolescent girls are more likely to suffer from malnutrition and its associated medical challenges than older women.
In order to address the current situation, it is imperative that we make intentional investments in reducing malnutrition, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups. Given the high rate of teenage pregnancy in our country, which currently stands at 24 percent, it is crucial that we prioritize support for teenage mothers. Adolescent pregnancy is known to have negative effects on fetal growth and development, thereby increasing the risk of childhood wasting and underweight. These vulnerable groups consist of adolescent girls, women, and children.
To effectively combat malnutrition, it is essential for the government to implement policies and enforce mandatory legal measures aimed at expanding the large-scale fortification of commonly consumed foods, such as flour, cooking oil, and salt.
Mr Peter Eceru works at Action Against Hunger.
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