Authors

Mitral Valve Clip Effective Alternative to Open-Chest Surgery

A novel mitral valve clip was proven to be as safe and effective as open-chest surgery in selected patients with mitral valve regurgitation.

Pharmacotherapy for chronic cardiovascular disease in women

Cardiovascular drugs affect women differently than they do men because of differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and physiology. Results of recent studies on the use of cardiovascular agents in women are presented, with an emphasis on the need to include an appropriate proportion of women in future studies, to adapt the dosage to the weight of the patient, and to incorporate hormonal aspects into the analysis.

Opinion: Extend Reach of Patient-Centered Medical Home, Enhance Physician Practice with Specialized Community-Based Palliative Care

As those age 65 and older face more serious illness, unprecedented burdens to serve a burgeoning population in need of high quality, coordinated care outside the acute care setting have emerged.

Look Beyond the Traditional 401(k) Plan

10 Ways to Build Resilience

One of the best ways to fight burnout is to build resilience. The American Psychological Association has put forth these tips to do just that.

Congestive heart failure in the elderly

Studies have shown that elderly patients with heart failure are undertreated with evidence-based therapy, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers, although these therapeutic options appear to be effective in this age group. The risk of some side effects may be increased in elderly patients, and physicians should be aware of those when prescribing therapy. Cardiac resynchronization therapy is predicted to play a major role in future heart failure treatment, including in the elderly population.

Emergent Management of Ischemic Stroke: Treatment ABCs

Stroke affects nearly 700,000 Americans a year. Emergency management is key to a positive patient outcome.

A Heart Swings Sadly to a Diagnosis

A 47 year old woman with no past medical history presented with back pain a month prior, and an MRI of the lumbar spine was performed and demonstrated a mass protruding into S1 concerning for hemangioma.

Navy Medicine: A Strategic Roadmap for Implementing a Virtual Mental Health Program

A military service member talks about some of the ways the Navy is implementing new programs to improve mental health conditions.

Unusual appearance of a left ventricular mural thrombus

Postpartum cardiomyopathy is a serious disorder that can present from the third trimester to up to 5 months after pregnancy. Although spontaneous resolution of cardiac function occurs in more than half of patients (over a period of 6-12 months), the balance is left with persistent cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac dysfunction results in signs and symptoms of left heart failure, formation of apical or left ventricular thrombi, and arrhythmias and requires management similar to that in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Enjoy the Family Vacation of a Lifetime

Pulmonary Medicine Quiz

Preventing atrial fibrillation recurrence

In patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and normal cardiac function, in the absence of hypertension, myocardial infarction, and cardiac insufficiency, perindopril (Aceon) or losartan (Cozaar) and low-dose amiodarone (Cordarone) therapy are more effective in preventing recurrence of AF than low-dose amiodarone alone. Adding losartan or perindopril to amiodarone therapy can inhibit left atrial enlargement.