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Not So Deadly Heart Attacks
October 29, 2009 |
Promising news for those with heart disease. A recent study finds more people are
surviving heart attacks.
“I think it’s a combination of what we’re doing in respect to diagnosis, but also,
patients are getting more astute,” explains Lee Memorial Health System cardiologist,
Dr. John Macaluso.
The new report, published in this summer’s Circulation, notes that fatal
heart attack cases are down across the country. Dr. Macaluso believes the reason
is two-fold, “I think it’s a combination of getting people on aspirin, getting their
cholesterol numbers down, treating the diabetes and blood pressure more effectively.”
He says patient are also doing their part. “They’re coming to the doctors a little
more earlier, so that we get to find this out before they come into the hospital
with what we a call a thru-and-thru heart attack. These are the more severe heart
attacks.”
Earlier detection of heart disease as well as better medications and medical procedures
are also playing a role. “Nowadays, we’re getting into the little warning signs
of heart attacks before they happen, the short-lived episodes which discomfort that
lasts an hour, compared to when people come in with really bad heart attacks where
their color is terrible,” he adds.
Knowing your risk is also key. Any family history of heart disease automatically
raises your risk. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes can also increase
your chances of a heart attack.
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