Anxiety affects a high percentage of patients with ICD

According to the conclusion of a study published in EP Europace, nearly one-third of patients who had a device implanted to prevent sudden death suffered from anxiety within the first year while depression affected one in five. 

Study author Hannah Keage (University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia) said: "The implantable defibrillator (ICD) is very good at prolonging a patient's life, but we need to make sure it is a good quality of life”. "The prevalence of mood disorders is much higher in individuals with ICD than in the general population, suggesting that psychotherapy assessment and therapy should be integrated into the routine care of these patients." 

An ICD is recommended for people at high risk for life-threatening heart rhythms and those in cardiac arrest.  

Anxiety and depression are associated with a higher likelihood of premature death in patients with  ICD. This study synthesized the best available evidence to determine the extent of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with  ICD.  “I am a professor of psychology and have worked with cardiologists for many years,” says Keage. "They found that mood disturbances were common in their ICD patients, so we collaborated to understand the extent." 

The review included 109 studies involving 39,954 ICD patients. When rates of anxiety, depression, and PTSD were examined from the time of ICD placement over a year of follow-up, the rates were 23%, 15%, and 12%, respectively. The prevalence of these conditions in the general population is estimated to be 13%, 7%, and 1‒2%, respectively. 

 Additional details are available for anxiety and depression, showing higher rates in the early post-implantation period. During the first five months, 32% and 23% experienced anxiety and depression, respectively. Six to 12 months after placement, levels of anxiety and depression were reduced by 29% and 21%, respectively. Further deterioration was observed  12 months after transplantation, when rates were 22% and 15%, respectively. 

 When the ICD detects a dangerously fast heart rate, it delivers a shock to return it to normal, which can make you feel like you've been punched in the chest. The analysis found that patients who experienced shock were four times more likely to be anxious and almost twice as likely to be depressed than those who did not experience shock. In an analysis by sex, women were more likely to feel anxious than men after receiving DAI. 

“The incidence of all three mood disorders is exceptionally high compared to what we would expect in people without an ICD, especially for PTSD,” says Keage. About 30% of patients with an ICD  will experience shock within the first two years, and for some patients, it is a constant fear that influences decisions to drive, swim, etc. Mood disturbances that fade over time can be due to a number of factors, including the patient's receiving psychological help or adjusting to a new life. 

 “We cannot rule out the possibility that people in better health tend to stay in school longer while those in poor health are more likely to drop out. Gender differences were to be expected because anxiety rates are generally higher in women than in men. 

The analysis also looked at mood disorders in people who did not participate in the ICD in 109 studies. An estimated 23% of DAI patients' partners experience post-transplant anxiety and 14% have depression, a rate similar to the prevalence in the patients themselves. Patients with heart disease but without an ICD also had similar rates of mood disturbances as those with an ICD. 

 “Partners are clearly worried their loved one is about to undergo surgery and may then go into shock,” says Keage. The involvement of ICD patient partners in psychotherapies is more effective in improving a patient's physical and psychological well-being than participation alone. The findings in heart patients are significant because heart health and mood disorders go hand in hand. 

“Poor psychological health can also lead to heart problems due to chronic stress and unhealthy lifestyles. Psychologists are less involved in the care of cardiovascular patients, but that must change. I  encourage patients and partners to seek help if their mood is low or they are overly anxious, as there are evidence-based therapies for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Six-Year Research Reveals Intermittent Fasting's Benefits

 We hear a lot about the benefits of intermittent fasting, but a six- time study in JAHA set up that the length of time between the first and last mess had no effect on weight loss. rather, the number and size of refections may be the more important factor. 

 Although intermittent fasting has come a popular weight- loss strategy, strictly designed studies have yet to determine whether confining the mess window can effectively control body weight over the long term. 

 For the study, the exploration platoon developed a mobile app for 550 actors to track diurnal habits in real time. Actors were regularly asked to use the app during the first month and again during" power weeks" one week per month during the six- month intervention period. 

 After six times, the authors noted 

 * Mess timing wasn't associated with weight change. 

                    * This included the time between the first and last mess, between waking up and eating the first mess, between eating the last mess and going to sleep, and total sleep time. 

* Rather, the diurnal number of large( over 1 000 calories) and medium( 500- 1 000 calories) refections were each associated with weight gain. 

* Smaller small refections( under 500 calories) were associated with lower weight. 

 The conclusion 

 There has been important debate about the benefits of intermittent fasting for weight. Does it really count when you eat your refections, or is it just the fact that eating within a narrower time window promotes lower calorie input? This study seems to give substantiation that eating lower and smaller refections matters further than when exactly those refections are eaten.

Check out the other stories here CARDIOLOGY BLOGS

Hardening of the arteries....You can prevent it !!!

Atherosclerosis, also called "hardening of the arteries," occurs when fat, cholesterol and other substances are deposited in the walls of the arteries. These deposits are called plaques. Over time, these plaques can narrow or completely block arteries and cause problems throughout the body.

Atherosclerosis is a common disease.

Exercise training and physical exertion are effective styles for lowering the threat of cardiovascular events, still, multitudinous studies have shown that aged and middle-aged athletes are more likely to have coronary atherosclerosis, which is generally assessed by coronary roadway calcification. The frequence of coronary roadway calcification and atherosclerotic pillars, which are dependable pointers of unborn cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, was advanced in athletes than in controls, and it was advanced in the most active athletes than in the less active athletes, according to our review of the medical literature. still, study of the shrine's morphology showed that athletes had smaller mixed pillars and more constantly solely calcified pillars, which may indicate that the pillars' atherosclerotic makeup is more benign. In order to more understand the implicit negative goods of the topmost tablets of exercise training on the coronary highways, this review examines the goods of physical exertion and exercise training on coronary atherosclerosis in athletes who are middle-aged and aged. We'll review the correlation between exercise and coronary atherosclerosis as determined by reckoned tomography for this purpose, talk about implicit beginning mechanisms for exercise- convinced coronary atherosclerosis, determine the clinical applicability of coronary atherosclerosis in middle-aged athletes, and bandy clinical operation strategies for athletes with coronary atherosclerosis to prop croakers in clinical decision- timber and treatment of athletes.

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Always Be Happy 😁😁

 Health experts proved that LAUGHTER is good medicine.   

A good laugh can get 20% more blood flowing through your body. One study found that people's blood flow increased when they watched a funny movie. 

That's why laughter could be the perfect antidote to stress. When you laugh, the lining of your blood vessel walls relaxes and stretches, says Krasuski.

So have a good laugh. Your heart will thank you.

A real story of Ella Dunmore's heart recovery....

Just came across a real story of Ella Dunmore from ABIOMED... Thought to share about it...

Ella Dunmore, who is a mother and former soldier, made the decision to seek medical attention, she had been experiencing headaches, chest pain, and shortness of breath for several weeks. Ella was advised to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery after a local hospital team discovered a critical blockage in her left main artery. However, Ella was concerned about undergoing invasive open-heart surgery and sought a second opinion.

She was referred to Dr. Amir Kaki, an interventional cardiologist at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit and director of mechanical circulatory support. Additional blockages were discovered by Dr. Kaki, and Ella's heart had a reduced ejection fraction of 45%. After that, he decided Ella was a good candidate for an Impella®-protected PCI procedure. Dr. Kaki implanted Impella CP® on March 18, 2021, while he cleared blockages and inserted stents. Ella went back to her house the following day.

Ella is feeling better today, and her ejection fraction, which is 60 percent, is normal. She works out three times a week, enjoys nature once more, and spends time with her daughter, Ashley.

Right Doctor at Right Time is the key to Recovery.

6 simple steps for a heart-healthy lifestyle

 It is very important to secure your heart...

Healthy Heart = Healthy You

The stylish thing you can do to ameliorate heart health is to produce a good life plan that's designed to strengthen your cardiovascular system. A good plan can start with the 6 simple ways below. 

1) Add Physical Activity to Your Day

A good way to start strengthening your heart is sculpturing out 75 twinkles or further per week of vigorous aerobic exertion or 150 minutes or further per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exertion. 

 

Don't let this discourage you if you're new to exercising!!  

2) Control Your Cholesterol

Fried foods are yummy... but it results in high risk and sometimes high-risk can create heart disease and stroke too. 

Still, you should bandy if life changes and/ or add a cholesterol-lowering drug, similar to statins If you presently have high cholesterol then with your physician on a plan will help heart complaints move forward.

3) Examine Your Blood Pressure

Checking your blood pressure regularly, whether from your physician or indeed the cuff at the drugstore, can keep hypertension from sneaking up on you. For some people, diet changes and some exercise are completely enough. Some need to get advice from their physician about how they can reduce or control hypertension.

4) Lose Weight

Losing weight is the best tip to reduce heart disease. When you exfoliate redundant fat and unessential pounds, you reduce the burden on your heart, lungs, blood vessels, and shell. You give yourself the gift of active living, by lowering your blood pressure. Weight operations, including medical weight loss, can help you with a long-term plan.

5) Quit Smoking

The number one thing anyone can do to reduce heart disease is to stop smoking. Smoking, including cigarettes, is the most preventable cause of death in the United States. Giving up the habit can have a tremendous effect on your health, life span, and capability to enjoy life down the road. 

 

Being open with your physician about your tobacco use is important so we can help understand what walls may live that decelerate your progress and help you quit. There are numerous programs available for cases both virtual or in-person options, as well as different nicotine relief and pharmacologic options to help you quit. 

6) Get good sleep

Sleep is a foundational element of the human system and a demand for life. Sleep has been shown that people who don't regularly admit enough sleep, at least 7 to 8 hours a night, are more likely to have high blood pressure and heart disease. Conditions like sleep apnea, when your airway is blocked while sleeping, and sleeplessness can impact your heart health over time. However, working with a sleep specialist to regulate your sleep schedule can ameliorate your sleep quality and cover your heart health, if you constantly have problems sleeping. 

What is ANDROGRAPHIS? How it is used in the treatment process?

The plant Andrographis is native to South Asian nations like India and Sri Lanka. Medicine is made from underground stems and leaves. 

Andrographis is frequently used to treat and prevent influenza (colds and flu). Despite the fact that this claim is unproven, some individuals assert that Andrographis halted the Indian flu epidemic of 1919. 

Andrographis is also used to treat a wide range of other problems. 

It is used to treat digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, gas in the intestines, colic, and pain in the stomach; for conditions that affect the liver, such as jaundice, an enlarged liver, and medication-related liver damage; for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, leprosy, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, cholera, leptospirosis, rabies, and sinusitis; and for skin conditions like itchiness, wounds, and ulcers. 

For sore throats, coughs, swollen tonsils, bronchitis, and allergies, some people use Andrographis. Additionally, it is used to prevent heart disease and diabetes as well as "hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis). 

In addition, it is used to treat pyelonephritis (a kidney condition), hemorrhoids, and an inherited condition known as familial Mediterranean fever. 

Additionally, Andrographis is used as an astringent, bactericide, pain reliever, fever reducer, and worm treatment. Andrographolide, an additional amount of an active ingredient, can be found in some products sold on the internet under the brand name Andrographis. 

A portion of these items is practically 30% andrographolide. However, take caution; It is unknown whether Andrographis preparations with a high andrographolide content are safe and effective.