When people say, “This job is killing me,” in the case of a young advertising agency employee it may very well be true.

According to several sources, 24-year-old Li Yuan suffered a heart attack due to the overwhelming number of hours and stress he endured with his job. Leading up to his death, Yuan had been working a significant amount of overtime each day at the Ogilvy & Mather China offices in Beijing, reports MSN.

On Monday, 5 pm local time, witnesses’ state Yuan suddenly cried out and collapsed while at work. His colleagues called for emergency services and he was rushed to Peking Union Medical College for treatment. Unfortunately, Yuan died, having suffered from cardiac arrest.

Several people suspect Yuan’s unexpected, premature death was due to work exhaustion, causing the myocardial infarction. Which, based on a report mentioned in the China Youth Daily, is not uncommon given nearly 600,000 employees in China die on average from being overworked – suffering strokes and heart attacks that stem from copious amounts of anxiety.

The Inquisitr previously reported on a study, which indicated there was strong evidence to suggest that occupational burnout can contribute to coronary heart disease, or at the very least negatively impact overall cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, and is the leading cause of deaths worldwide.

Cardiac, vascular, and peripheral arterial diseases are types of cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis (thickening of the arteries typically from accumulated cholesterol) and hypertension (high blood pressure) are the most common causes – either of which can be attributed to stress, diet, and genetics.

Heart attacks results from the partial interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart muscle. This is most commonly due to an occlusion of a coronary artery following the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque. The resulting ischemia (restriction in blood supply) and ensuing oxygen shortage, if left untreated for a sufficient period of time, can cause damage or death of heart muscle tissue.

Heart attacks are rare but not impossible among younger individuals. Risk factors can include smoking and tobacco use, a comorbidity of other diseases, use of oral birth control, obesity, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol use, abnormal lipoproteins present in the blood, genetics, and stress.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Overworked 24-Year-Old Died From Heart Attack is a post from: The Inquisitr

Washington, PA – Former police chief, 49-year-old Darryl Briston, was pronounced dead, after an altercation with officers. Briston had been fired from his job as police chief of Rankin, Pennsylvania in 2003 after being convicted of stealing more than $5,000.

While attending the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington County, Washington, Pennsylvania last weekend, Briston crossed paths with his estranged wife and her male companion.

Per CBS News, according to the police report:

“Briston approached the couple and punched the man in the face and ran away. He had a history of domestic violence.” In 2009, Briston had been arrested for allegedly assaulting an ex-girlfriend, but charges were dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

Local police managed to apprehend him less than a mile from the casino grounds. However, while being arrested for assault, Briston failed to comply with the officer’s instructions. He was warned and, when he continued to refuse compliance, was tased in the leg. He was taken into custody without further resistance. Shortly after being placed in the squad car, Briston expressed difficulty breathing and an onset of chest pains and went into cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest is a sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. It can result from a disruptive electrical disturbance in the heart.  Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked. Without immediate medical attention and CPR, death can occur within minutes.

Police requested an ambulance. Unfortunately, Briston was pronounced dead upon arrival at Canonsburg General Hospital. An autopsy is pending regarding the official cause of his death.

The use of tasers has been a hot topic since its inception as standard equipment for officers. The make and model of the taser used on Briston was not available. However, based on a New York Times published study, it is possible the taser was responsible for the cardiac arrest. The study analyzed records from the eight separate cases of people who went into cardiac arrest after receiving shocks from a Taser X26.  Seven of the people in the study died; one survived. This particular model of taser inflicts 50,000 volts.

Former Police Chief Dies After Being Tased is a post from: The Inquisitr

Unemployment may increase a worker’s chance of having a heart attack.

This is the conclusion of a Duke University study. Researchers found that older Americans who lost their job may be about 20 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack, reports CBS News.

The percentage climbs as job losses mount. For workers, overall heart attack risk remains small despite unemployment. However, for those in the study who were already at risk, the stress of losing a job could be enough to cause such a cardiac episode. The study also said that the chance of having a heart attack increases with each job loss the person experiences. Four job losses may raise a person’s risk to 63 percent.

According to the Associated Press, the study analyzed data on more than 13,000 men and women ages 51 to 75. They had been taking part in this ongoing health study, partly sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, since 1992. Participants have been interviewed every two years about their employment and health. The study is not the first to make the connection between job loss and heart trouble, but Time indicates the 18 year study is the longest of its kind.

Dr. Eric Peterson, a cardiologist and senior author on the study, said:

“The magnitude of the impact was striking to us. There is this compounded effect of multiple job losses on an individual’s health. I think that was interesting and unique to see.”

The Time article stated that, though it appears unemployment does increase the chances for heart failure, a good application of the knowledge may be to help employers develop ways of letting an employee go that will not pose a devastating blow to his or her health.

Unemployment May Increase Chances Of Heart Attack is a post from: The Inquisitr

Much of the focus on heart disease studies is on men, but heart disease strikes women as well.

Since women develop heart disease later than men, some of the same indicators are useful but they are not enough an now researchers have another marker to help them predict which women suffer a higher risk of heart disease. Early menstruation and puberty have now been linked to women likely to develop heart disease.

MedicineNet explains that the full report will be published in January’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Early menstruation is also linked to obesity and body fat distribution among women.

Women’s hearts are shielded by the hormone estrogen, until menopause. As a result, women develop heart disease nearly 10 years later than their male counterparts. Time notes that the new report confirms previous studies which suggested that menstruating before age 12 may contribute to a 23 percent greater risk of developing heart disease.

One thing that isn’t clear is what is the cause. Early menstruation has recently been tied to childhood obesity, and women who menstruate early are more likely to be obese later in life. As such, researchers admit that it is difficult to tell whether the later in life heart disease is linked to childhood obesity, or to reproductive factors or early puberty.

“Ultimately, the important question is whether female reproductive risk factors can be used to target lifestyle interventions in high-risk women to prevent the metabolic consequences of obesity and cardiovascular disease,” lead author Dr. Subbulaxmi Trikudanathan, of Harvard Medical School said.

One possible takeaway from the study is that doctors could begin discussing healthier lifestyle options with young patients who begin puberty early and show signs of obesity.

Early Puberty May Raise Heart Disease Risk In Women is a post from: The Inquisitr

The leading cardiothoracic surgeon at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Doctor Farzan Filsoufi, says normal angiograms are not enough to detect hard-to-spot heart diseases in women:

“Women who have an angiogram (which is notices blockages in large arteries) is likely to show their arteries to be normal. If you receive a ‘normal’ angiogram but still have other heart symptoms, ask your doctor whether you might have a problem with your small arteries and request a functional vascular imaging test.”

Women are more likely to have coronary MVD, the hard-to-spot heart disease, than men, research and autopsy studies have shown. The pathology of women who die from heart attacks is often quite different than those of men who die similarly.

With women, it is more likely that plaque is deposited uniformly in the inside of small vessels, which could result in chronic inflammation. Plaque is more likely to build up in isolated areas for men.

It is thought that the inflammation which is brought on by MVD diseases happens because of drops in estrogen levels associated with menopause.

The leading cause of deaths worldwide is heart disease. Nearly two-thirds of women who die unexpectedly from coronary heart disease, likely had no previous symptoms, the American Heart Association says.

Women who experience any symptoms should take notice and consider hard-to-spot heart diseases. Filsoufi advises women to act quickly if they experience any symptoms:

“Even if you’re not sure you’re having a heart attack, act quickly—call 911 immediately. Hospitals have clot-busting medicines and other artery-opening procedures that can stop a heart attack.  These treatments work best when given within the first hour after a heart attack starts.”

Hard-To-Spot Heart Disease; Women Beware is a post from: The Inquisitr

Professional wrestler and long-time commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler is in stable condition in a Montreal hospital after suffering a heart attack ringside during the filming of Monday Night Raw, and his Raw co-host Michael Cole has reported that Lawler is awake and speaking to friends.

It has also been revealed that paramedics had to use a defibrillator multiple times, needing 15 minutes to revive Lawler. More importantly though, an early CT scan shows no signs of brain damage, and word is now that Lawler is alert.

WMCTV.com reported that friends of family of the wrestling legend have been arriving at the hospital and that they had been waiting with baited breath for the results of his CT scan. Citing Joe Cooper, who is Lawler’s best friend and business partner, WMCTV reports Lawler did not suffer brain damage.

WMCTV also posted this quote from Lawler’s son Brian, also a wrestler, writing on his father’s Facebook page.

“He was shocked a total of seven times at the arena and underwent a balloon stint to open up a clogged artery when he arrived at hospital,” he wrote prior to the CT scan. ”Everyone out there needs to say a special prayer for his brain at this point, please.”

The Examiner reports that Lawler’s co-host, Michael Cole, appeared on Fox & Friends on Wednesday to discuss Lawler’s condition.

Cole reports that he’d seen Lawler apparently snoring earlier in the show but thought it may have been a gimmick. When “The King” passed out, however, Cole knew it was real and immediately muted his headset to go alert medical personnel.

Cole also reported that the 62-year old Lawler, who competed in a tag team match a half hour before collapsing at ringside, wrestles in approximately 150 to 200 matches per year at various promotions around the country.

The best news concerning Lawler’s condition though came from Cole’s tweets around 5:30 pm on Wednesday.

“#wweuniverse you will never believe this! I just got off the phone with #jerrylawler and he is alert and in great spirits!”

Cole also tweeted Thursday morning that “the King” was in good spirits once again. There is no time table on his return to WWE at this time.

WWE’s Lawler Awake And Alert: Spent 15 Minutes Being Resuscitated is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hanks discussed his memories of Duncan with Entertainment Tonight, telling the show:

“I am terribly saddened at the loss of Big Mike. He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of The Green Mile. He was magic. He was a big love of man and his passing leaves us stunned.”

Hanks was far from alone in his tribute to Duncan. The Green Mile director Frank Darabont had previously spoken of his memories of the actor:

“Our experience making The Green Mile together was immersive and incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime journey. What sticks most in my mind was his devotion to his craft and the strides he made as an artist during that time, which was beyond inspiring to those of us who took the journey with him. Never has an actor more richly deserved the recognition of an Academy Award nomination than Michael did for his performance as John Coffey. Michael has left us far, far too soon. We lost a great man and a great spirit today. My thoughts and condolences go out to his fiancee, Omarosa, and to his family.”

Another star of The Green Mile, Gary Sinise, took to Twitter to speak of his own Mchael Clarke Duncan recollections:

Had the pleasure of working on 2 things with Michael Clark Duncan.The Green Mile, & as guest star on CSI NY.A real gentleman.R.I P my friend

— Gary Sinise (@GarySinise) September 3, 2012

Sinise was in turn joined by many other actors and celebrity friends of Clarke including Olivia Munn:

Michael Clarke Duncan always had a smile on his face & a big bear hug ready for you. My thoughts & prayers are with his family&friends. RIP

— oliviamunn (@oliviamunn) September 3, 2012

La Toya Jackson:

My prayers are with the family and to the loved ones of Michael Duncan Clark. What a kind sweet & loving guy you were! May you R.I.P

— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) September 3, 2012

Donald Faison:

Michael Clarke Duncan i’ll never forget you. Such an awesome man taken way too soon. Rest In Peace my friend.

— Donald Faison (@donald_faison) September 4, 2012

Bobby Brown:

Rest In Paradise Mr. Michael Clark Duncan…

— Bobby Brown (@KingBobbyBrown) September 3, 2012

… and plenty more!

Tom Hanks: Michael Clarke Duncan Was A ‘Treasure’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michael Clarke Duncan, the star of such motion pictures as The Green Mile, Armageddon, and Daredevil, sadly passed away on Monday. Numerous celebrities and actors have taken to various outlets to express their sadness over the Duncan’s death including filmmaker Frank Darabont, who helped the actor achieve mainstream success with The Green Mile.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Darabont said that Duncan was “one of the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with or know. Michael was the gentlest of souls — an exemplar of decency, integrity and kindness. The sadness I feel is inexpressible.”

Wikipedia states that Duncan, who previously worked as a bodyguard for Notorious B.I.G. until the rapper’s death in 1997, landed his role in The Green Mile with the assistance of Armageddon co-star Bruce Willis. The part in this critically-acclaimed drama would ultimately help propel the sizable actor into stardom.

Darabont explained that their time together was something truly special:

“Our experience making The Green Mile together was immersive and incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime journey. What sticks most in my mind was his devotion to his craftand the strides he made as an artist during that time, which was beyond inspiring to those of us who took the journey with him. Never has an actor more richly deserved the recognition of an Academy Award nomination than Michael did for his performance as John Coffey.”

Fortunately for fans of Michael Clarke Duncan, the actor still has a few films that have yet to be released. In addition to writer-director Kent Morgan’s upcoming drama The Challenger, Duncan can be seen in the 2012 adventure The Loud: Around the Time and filmmaker Robert Townsend’s In the Hive with Loretta Devine and Vivica A. Fox.

“Michael has left us far, far too soon,” Darabont explained. “We lost a great man and a great spirit today. My thoughts and condolences go out to his fiancée, Omarosa, and to his family.”

Are you a fan Michael Clarke Duncan’s movie The Green Mile?

‘Green Mile’ Filmmaker Frank Darabont Fondly Remembers Michael Clarke Duncan is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rosie O’Donnell allegedly spent eight months negotiating a pre-nuptial agreement with her now bride, Michelle Rounds. The Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Rounds pre-nup discussions did not end until hours before the wedding, the New York Post reports. Michelle Rounds, 40, reportedly receives none of Rosie O’Donnell’s wealth is she cheats on her 50-year-old wife.

Michelle Rounds and Rosie O’Donnell were married in an intimate and largely secret ceremony on June 9. The wedding was held at Rosie O’Donnell’s home in Nyack. A New York Post source maintains the talk show host was “extremely generous” with Michelle Rounds in the pre-nuptial agreement — unless she cheats.

The couple had originally planned to be married in August, but the wedding was pushed up to June after Michelle Rounds was diagnosed with an aggressive form of fibromatosis. Rounds had surgery for the rare desmoid tumors on June 14. Rosie O’Donnell has also suffered from health issues; the comedienne recently had a heart attack.

Although both women have had health issues, the days leading up to the Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Rounds wedding were “pretty fraught,” according to the New York Post source. O’Donnell allegedly wanted the pre-nuptial agreement signed under her stated terms and was “no in the mood to make any compromises.”

Rosie O’Donnell is quoted in a source interview with the New York Post as saying:

“Despite this, Rosie and Michelle truly love each other, and they wanted to marry before Michelle underwent surgery.”

A second wedding celebration will reportedly be planned by the couple when they are both feeling better, according to comments Rosie O’Donnell posted on her blog. Michelle Rounds has undergone multiple gastrointestinal operations and is currently recovering at home with O’Donnell.

Rosie O’Donnell Allegedly Subjected Her New Wife To Eight Months Of Pre-Nuptial Negotiations is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michael Clarke Duncan, the acclaimed actor who suffered a heart attack nearly three weeks ago, is still being kept under the watchful eye of doctors, according to his representative. Although Duncan has apparently made some progress since July 13, his condition is still severe enough to keep him hospitalized for a little while longer.

According to the Associated Press, Duncan’s publicist, Joy Fehily, stated that the 54-year-old thespian was “just moved from the intensive care unit, but remains hospitalized.” She added, “His family are firm believers in the power of prayer and have asked that you keep him in yours during this time.” Unfortunately, no other information was given as to his current condition.

Back in July, the star of “The Green Mile” and “Daredevil” experienced a sudden cardiac arrest, which nearly ended the actor’s life. Fortunately for Duncan, girlfriend Omarosa Stallworth was staying with him at the time, and administered CPR in order to keep her beau alive until paramedics arrived on the scene. In fact, Omarosa’s actions are believed to be what saved the man’s life.

Although Duncan has made progress as of late — recent reports indicated that the actor was beginning to breath above his respirator — apparently his condition hasn’t improved enough for Duncan to return home. However, the fact that he was recently moved from the intensive care is a very good sign that he’s on the mend.

While attempting to break into the business by taking roles in commercials, Michael Clarke Duncan served as a bodyguard for such celebrities as Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and Notorious B.I.G. However, following the murder of Notorious B.I.G. in 1997, Duncan decided to give up life as a bodyguard. The actor received his first major role in the summer blockbuster “Armageddon”. His friendship with star Bruce Willis ultimately helped him land a major part in “The Green Mile”, a turn which served as his breakthrough performance.

Michael Clarke Duncan Remains Hospitalized Following Heart Attack is a post from: The Inquisitr

Depression and anxiety are in and of themselves conditions that negatively impact the lives of those who suffer them, but new research shows that even mild depression and anxiety could harm your cardiovascular system.

Depression and anxiety have long been linked with negative health effects, but a larger meta-analysis of ten studies reveals that the risk of mortality increases in the presence of even less intense manifestations of the conditions. The data was culled from initial studies of men and women participating in the Health Survey for England between 1994 and 2004.

Nearly 70,000 adults over the age of 35 were involved in the depression and anxiety research, and all ten of the studies sought connections between psychological stressors and risk of death from heart-related causes, cancer and a variety of other conditions.

The meta-analysis mined for patterns in the studies, looking for deaths over the eight years of follow-up included. What they found when mild depression or anxiety was involved was that risk of mortality from all causes rose 20%, and from cardiovascular causes like heart attack, the risk of death shot to 29%.

Dr. Gregg Fonarow is a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles, and he acknowledged that the study was not the first to link depression and anxiety with overall mortality risk. He explained that while treating the conditions may not necessarily reduce risk of death, there are steps those with anxiety and depression can take to mitigate the overall cardiac risk:

“For people with depression or anxiety, focusing on proven cardiovascular risk factor interventions, including maintaining healthy blood pressure, body weight, cholesterol levels, engaging in regular exercise and not smoking, may represent the best course of action to lower their cardiovascular risk.”

The depression, anxiety and cardiovascular risk study was published in the July 31st online edition of BMJ.

Depression And Anxiety, Even Mild Forms, Harm Heart, Study Finds is a post from: The Inquisitr

Alex Trebek has suffered a mild heart attack. The Jeopardy! host suffered the heart attack on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors caring for the famed talk show host say he is expected to make a full recovery.

A Sony Television spokeswoman says Trebek is expected to make a full recover and return to his hosting duties when a new season of Jeopardy! begins filming in July 2012. The new season will be the 29th for the popular game show.

The 71-year-old talk show host checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and remained there until Sunday afternoon.

According to Sony’s Paula Askanas:

“Trebek is in good spirits and is currently under observation and undergoing further testing.”

Askanas added:

“He is expected to fully recover and be back at ‘Jeopardy!’ when production begins taping in July for the new season, the show’s 29th.”

Alex Trebek’s heart attack occurred just after he won the best game show Emmy award at the Daytime Emmy awards on Saturday.

This is not the first time the famed talk show host has suffered from a heart attack, in 2007 he also suffered a mild attack that saw him return to his hosting duties only a short time afterwards. In July 2011 Trebek also injured his Achilles tendon while chasing down a burglar.

While Alex Trebek was not the first host of the popular question-based talk show he has served for the longest period of time, taking over the show on September 10, 1984 and continuing his hosting duties ever since.

Alex Trebek Suffers Heart Attack is a post from: The Inquisitr

Heart attacks not only put patients at future risk for further complications, 1 in 8 patients who survive those attacks develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to a new research study. With 1.4 million patients being discharged from hospitals in the United States each year because of a coronary event that means up to 168,000 patients develop PTSD.

Most typically found in combat veterans and victims of violent crime, the condition is now being discovered in patients as they pay anxious attention to each heartbeat and pull of their chest muscles of their hearts.

The new report was conducted by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center who combined 24 smaller studies documenting post-traumatic stress in a total of 2,383 heart patients.

Published in the online journal PLoS the study found that PTSD was far more common in heart attack victims than originally thought. The study also found that PTSD is doubled the risk of dying from a second heart related event in the next one to three years.

According to the study issues of PTSD can lead to frequent intrusive thoughts, nightmares, sleep problems and anxiety.

Donald Edmondson, assistant professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia and the study’s lead author says of the issue at hand:

“I think that the broader cardiology community and medical community haven’t really paid attention to this issue. When you think of P.T.S.D. due to combat or a traumatic event, the patient experiences intrusive memories reliving an external event. But this type of trauma is something that is internal.”

When heart attacks are teams with depression and PTSD the results can be even more deadly as patients suffer bouts of anxiety along with a non-active lifestyle often brought on by depression.

The problem is exacerbated further by the fact that the severity of the patients first heart attack doesn’t appear to play a role in the development of P.T.S.D.

Researchers believe second heart attacks may occur more frequently because PTSD patients do not want to be reminded of their heart attack and therefore skip needed medication.

The group hopes that by exposing this issue further more patients will begin taking antidepressants and seeking therapy to lessen their PTSD symptoms following a heart attack.

PTSD Often Follows Heart Attacks, Study Finds is a post from: The Inquisitr

Vitamin D supplements and calcium supplements have been in the news a lot this week, mainly after a US Preventive Services Task Force guideline was issued indicating that the vitamins did little or nothing to prevent osteoporosis-related fractures in older women not residing in an assisted living facility.

But another study on vitamin D and calcium supplements is out, and this one indicates some very compelling benefits for older folk, demonstrating a unique benefit in increasing lifespan.

While the other research made some mention of Vitamin D supplements, calcium supplements and heart attack risk, a study published out of Denmark in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reviewed data from eight previous clinical studies on the effects of Vitamin D and calcium supplements.

Lead researcher Dr. Lars Rejnmark explained that the type of study he led examining Vitamin D and calcium supplements provides the best data, and said to Reuters in an email that the 9% risk in mortality was similar to that of certain efficient drugs used in seniors such as statins:

“In my view, a 9 percent reduced mortality in the general population of elderly is of major importance… Except for stopping smoking,” he added, “there are not many other known interventions that are capable (of) such a reduction in the risk of death.”

Rejnmark noted that supplements such as Vitamin D and calcium supplements have indeed been tied to higher heart risks in older adults, but that it wasn’t clear whether the supplements themselves were to blame for the increased risk.

Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements Linked to Longer Life is a post from: The Inquisitr

Calcium supplements and Vitamin D have been in the news this week after a US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation was handed down indicating the supplements may actually do more harm than good, and are not particularly effective in preventing fractures in older women.

In regards to calcium supplements and Vitamin D, US Preventive Services Task Force member Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, MD, said earlier this week that there is not “evidence to suggest that 400 IU of vitamin D plus 1,000 milligrams calcium can prevent fractures among postmenopausal women who do not live in assisted living or nursing home facilities,” but lack of beneficial effect is just one of the factors when it comes to calcium supplements at least.

Late last month, a study was released regarding the use of calcium supplements and heart attack risk. Published in the medical journal Heart, researchers Ian Reid and Mark Bolland of the University of Auckland in New Zealand commented on the effects of calcium supplements in an editorial accompanying the research:

“Calcium supplements have been widely embraced by doctors and the public on the grounds that they are a natural and therefore safe way of preventing osteoporotic fractures… It is now becoming clear that taking this micronutrient in one or two daily [doses] is not natural, in that it does not reproduce the same metabolic effects as calcium in food.”

The pair continues:

“We should return to seeing calcium as an important component of a balanced diet, and not as a low cost panacea to the universal problem of postmenopausal bone loss.”

The study’s data on calcium supplements was concerning. Among 24,000 German men and women aged 35 to 64, those using calcium supplements regularly were 86% likelier to suffer a heart attack, and those who relied solely on calcium supplements for recommended calcium intake were a staggering 139% likelier to suffer cardiac arrest.

Calcium Supplements, Vitamin D Now Questioned, Heart Attack Risk Eyed is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda suffered a heart attack Monday and was taken to a New York Hospital. The former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers had a stent inserted for a blocked artery and is expected to make a full recovery.

In a statement, Lasorda said:

“The doctors confirmed I do bleed Dodger Blue… I’m looking forward to being back at the stadium to cheer on the Dodgers.”

Joe Torre, the former manager of the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers told USA Today that he had talked to Lasorda this morning. According to Torre, Lasorda should be released from the hospital on Wednesday.

Torre said:

“I talked to him this morning. He’s feeling a lot better.”

MLB.com reports that Lasorda was in New York for the First-Year Player Draft. The hall of fame manager fell ill on Monday night and was taken to the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital after suffering a mild heart attack. Lasorda, 84, is currently resting in stable condition.

This isn’t Lasorda’s first heart-related health issue. The 84-year-old ended his managerial career in 1996 shortly after suffering a heart attack. Lasorda did return as an interim general manager in 1998.

During his 20-years with Dodgers, Lasorda won 1,599 games, two World Series, and four National League pennants.

Tommy Lasorda Hospitalized After Heart Attack is a post from: The Inquisitr

STEMI is the most deadly form of heart attack which hits almost 300,000 people each year in the United States. STEMI is caused when a blood clot completely blocks an artery to the heart. To save a patients life blood flow must quickly be restored.

To successfully fight such a severe case of myocardial infarction ambulances must be outfitted with specialized equipment to diagnosis the heart attack on the way to the hospital while fixing the issue often involves teh artery-opening procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention, aka angioplasty.

The study conducted by the American Heart Association included 381 regional STEMI-care systems that included 900 hospitals in 47 states. The study found that at least one hospital in each system performs angioplasty.

Researchers also found that 67 percent of the STEMI systems follows standard procedures such as admitting a patient even when a bed is not available, placing a single call to open the catheterization lab for angioplasty, the ability to open the catheterization lab without first consulting with a cardiologist and being part of a data collection registry.

The survey found that 67 percent of the systems were in urban areas and most followed standard procedures and policies, such as:

You can read the full study about improvements to teh ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction system in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Regional Health Care Systems Getting Better At Treating Severe Heart Attacks is a post from: The Inquisitr

A 67-year-old man has died while he received a lap dance at a Texas strip club last Friday evening.

Robert Gene White reportedly received a number of lap dances at the Red Parrot club in El Paso. Yet when White was expected to pay for his evening’s entertainment, workers at the club found him unresponsive. CPR was performed to try and save White, but the attempts tragically failed.

KTSM reports that White suffered a heart attack as he was receiving a dance.

See also: The 10 Most Awesome Ways To Die

While the investigation is still ongoing, El Paso Sheriff’s deputies told KTSM that there were no signs of foul play.

Man Dies During Lap Dance is a post from: The Inquisitr

Actor Dustin Hoffman is being hailed as a hero this week after he saved the life of Sam Dempster, a jogger who began having a heart attack while running through London’s Hyde Park.

Hoffman immediately realized something was wrong with Dempster and dialed 999 (London’s equivalent to 911).

Dustin witnessed Dempster begin to foam at the mouth and then take a fall and quickly called for help. Hoffman than stayed by the mans side for 15 minutes and waited with him as paramedics performed CPR to save his life.

As paramedics got the joggers heart beating again Hoffman simply said “Great job, guys” before going on his way.

After doctors performed a life saving procedure on the jogger he said of the actors quick thinking and his paramedics actions:

“I just want to thank Dustin Hoffman, Martin and Luke, who successfully resuscitated me with CPR, and all the staff at both Chelsea and Westminster, and Royal Brompton Hospitals.

“I can’t wait to get running around the park again.”

The procedure carried out on Sam Dempster was the same one used on Bolton soccer star Fabrice Muamba who also collapsed recently while running.

The procedure involved installing a new device that zaps the heart if there is a problem, ensuring a full out heart attack doesn’t stop Sam’s heart completely.

Sam, 27, tells The Sun:

“I have no memory of what happened. The paramedics told me I had been saved by Dustin Hoffman. It’s unbelievable.”

Are you impressed with Dustin Hoffman’s quick thinking that helped save Sam Dempster’s life?

Dustin Hoffman Saves Life Of Jogging Heart Attack Victim is a post from: The Inquisitr

Burger King Japan is currently offering customers the chance to add an additional 15 slices of bacon to their order for a mere ¥100, or $1.25.

After hearing of this, Japanese site RocketNews did the honorable thing and decided to create the bacony behemoth you see above. The 1,050 strips of bacon added roughly $87 to the cost of the burger. It also meant that 15 slices of were added … 70 times over.

Offering calorie-stuffed burgers is nothing new. Back in February, a man who ate at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas went into cardiac arrest during his attempt to eat something called the “Triple Bypass Burger.” He lived to appreciate the irony.

At least one burger at the Heart Attack Grill soars past the recommended daily caloric intake – The “Quadruple Bypass Burger” contains more than 8,000 calories, three times the number of recommended daily calorie intake. ‘Flatliner Fries’ and ‘Butterfat Milkshakes’ are also offered at the restaurant, while customers who weigh over 350 pounds are allowed to eat for free.

Yet while America remains the, er, heartland of the mega burger, it’s nice to see other nations taking part. Scroll down to watch our Japanese friend attempting to tackle his bacon skyscraper of a burger:

Japan Whopper Burger Ordered With 1,050 Bacon Strips [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dick Clark has passed away at the age of 82, it is being reported.

The longtime host of New Years’ Rockin’ Eve had been in failing health in recent years, following a 2004 stroke that forced him to cut back on his place hosting the show on ABC. Clark was a prominent pop-culture presence for many decades, starting his career way back in the 1940′s. But he rose to national fame when he began hosting American Bandstand in the early to mid-fifties.

The show was a hit, running for over 30 years in several incarnations until it went syndicated in 1987. But younger viewers are mostly likely to know Clark from his duties ushering in the New Year on ABC, a gig he began back in 1972. Twice Clark had been unable to perform his duties, once in 2000, and again in 2005 while he recovered from his stroke.

But Clark returned for New Year 2006, hosting alongside new host Ryan Seacrest, who took on much of the show’s duties after Clark fell ill. TMZ first reported Clark’s death, citing a massive heart attack as the cause:

“Clark’s rep tells TMZ, the TV icon had been in St. John’s hospital in L.A. after undergoing an outpatient procedure last night. Clark suffered the “massive” heart attack following the procedure. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful… Clark’s health had been on the decline since he suffered a significant stroke in 2004 — forcing him to retire from his hosting gig at “New Years’ Rockin’ Eve,” which he created in 1972. Ryan Seacrest took over in 2006. Dick has appeared on the show sporadically ever since. His final appearance was in 2011.”

As the site notes, Clark is survived by his third wife, Kari Wigton.

Dick Clark Dead at 82 is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Take two shots of Jack and call me in the morning” doesn’t exactly seem like sound medical advice after a heart attack (in modern parlance, in fact, heart attacks are generally associated with a reduction in pleasurable activities like fried chicken, smoking cigarettes and sexing), but new research reveals that boozing it up may be beneficial in the days following a heart attack… a little.

Alcohol consumption is not only a funny paradox in health, it’s also one of the things (particularly when it comes to heart health) that seems to be an eternal source of confusion for those looking to follow best practices to avoid and recover from heart attacks and ailments.

Like eggs, exercise, red meat, high-protein diets and dairy, conflicting evidence seems to appear constantly warning us to abstain from, moderately consume, eat and or engage in a lot of or dabble in the listed suspects practically each week. Proving my point, without Googling, tell me right now- are we supposed to be eating oily fish or not? You don’t know! They keep changing it!

So, a new study might be one you want to latch on to in your quest, because it gives beer fans a bit of a green light when it comes to engaging in a bit of boozing after a heart attack… the catch? Males only. Just like women are more likely to have stealth, pain-free heart attacks, the data seems to stack up differently here for the fairer sex.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston reviewed data from more than 1,800 male heart attack survivors and discovered that by consuming about two units of alcohol per day following their heart attacks, the men were more likely to avoid death than teetotalers. (Because they had something to live for?) As with previous studies, the type of alcohol consumed had no effect on mortality rates, and heavy drinkers and non-drinkers had roughly the same outcomes- which were not as good as their beer-drinking counterparts.

The study’s lead author Dr. Jennifer Pai had this to say about the findings:

“For many men after experiencing a heart attack, major diet and lifestyle changes are recommended by their physicians… Our study indicates that for men already consuming moderate amounts of alcohol, continuing to consume moderate amounts after a heart attack may be beneficial for long-term survival.”

Pai referenced earlier studies with similar findings about moderate drinking and heart disease mortality:

“More recently, some studies have suggested a beneficial effect of moderate alcohol consumption on reduced mortality among individuals with established heart disease, but the results were somewhat conflicting… Our study is the first to examine moderate alcohol consumption both before the men experienced their heart attack, and also after they survived the event.”

Dissenting researchers pointed out that the study’s findings were not a good reason to begin drinking after a heart attack, but they could be good news for every day moderate drinkers.

Heart Attack Recovery Could Be Improved By Drinking… Sort Of is a post from: The Inquisitr

For the last 32 years comedian Gallagher has been delighting crowds with his raunchy form of comedy and his love of smashing watermelons but now the comedian is attempting to get some rest after suffering a second heart attack in just four days.

Gallagher was recently discharged from a hospital in Texas and according to sources close to the comedian he suffered a mild heart attack after being released.

According to a source in the know Gallagher ran out of his heart medication and felt like he was having another heart attack. After rushing to an Arizona hospital his doctors confirmed that he was suffering another attack.

A rep for the comedian noted:

“Gallagher suffered a mild heart attack today at a hospital in Sedona due to complications from his previous heart attack. He is awake and resting comfortably now.”

During his first hospitalization on March 14 Gallagher was placed into a medically induced coma for several days in order to give his heart time to heal.

The 65-year-old comedian remains hospitalized this second time around so doctors can monitor his heart.

While doctors, family members and friends wish he would take a break to fully recover his rep reveals:

“Gallagher doesn’t like people telling him what to do, but he just needs to rest. We’re just praying he’ll listen.”

In the meantime the inventor of the  Sledge-o-Matic recently said he was ready to give up his stage act and focus on other projects because he was “sick and tired of it.”

Gallagher Suffers Second Heart Attack is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dick Cheney underwent a heart transplant in Virginia today, after suffering for years from cardiovascular issues. The 71 year old is said to be recovering well at the Intensive Care Unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Aide Kara Ahern said in a written statement that, “Although the former vice president and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift.”

The former Vice President has suffered 5 heart attacks since he was 37, the latest one in 2010. He has also had multiple surgeries, including in 1988 when he went through quadruple bypass surgery, two angioplasties, and an operation that implanted a pacemaker to monitor his heartbeat.

In 2005 and 2007 he underwent surgery for leg problems–an aneurysm and a clot in one of his veins. In 2010, following his last heart attack, Cheney underwent surgery to implant a LVAD (left ventricular assist device) which essentially took over work to keep his heart pumping. For many patients, this is the final step before requiring a heart transplant to stay alive, because their heart will no longer work on its own.

In 2011, Cheney related that he was having a hard time deciding on whether to go through with a heart transplant or not. He did say that soon he would, “have to make a decision at some point whether I want to go for a transplant.”

Cheney is one of over 5 million Americans that suffers from heart failure. This disease kills 57,000 Americans per year, but contributes to many more deaths. Also, more than  3,100 people are currently on the waiting list to receive a heart transplant, according to the  United Network for Organ Sharing.

What else do you think can be done for the thousands of people on waiting lists for heart transplants?

Dick Cheney Undergoes Heart Transplant is a post from: The Inquisitr

Last weekend, the sudden collapse of 23-year-old Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba during an FA Cup final due to cardiac arrest was shocking to fans and fellow players, and in the intervening days, it seems the athlete is making a quicker than expected recovery.

Overall, Muamba’s illness itself (being fit and young) as well as his recovery both came as a surprise. That’s because while the player has been recovering well over the past week, he was “in effect” dead for more than an hour. Bolton team doctor Jonathan Tobin explained that in the time elapsed between Muamba’s myocardial infarction and his arrival at the hospital, medics were unable to get his heart beating again.

Medics on the pitch worked on Muamba with a defibrillator for a stunning 48 minutes- a lengthy period of time in and of itself when it comes to vital processes shutting down. But it was another 30 minutes in transit and several defibrillator shocks when the patient finally began responding. Tobin explains:

“They were working on him without his heart having a muscular beat. In effect, he was dead in that time… throughout the whole resuscitation period you are worrying. You know the longer the resuscitation goes on the less chance there is of survival, but this is slightly different. This is a very fit 23-year-old.”

Dr. Andrew Deaner is a cardiologist and Tottenham fan in attendance for Saturday’s match. Deaner responded when Muamba was stricken ill, and USA Today quotes the doc about the player’s fast recovery:

“If you’re going to use the term ‘miraculous,’ I guess it could be used here. He has made a remarkable recovery so far… Two hours after (regaining consciousness) I whispered in his ear, ‘What’s your name?’ and he said, ‘Fabrice Muamba.’ I said, ‘I hear you’re a really good footballer’ and he said, ‘I try.’ I had a tear in my eye.”

Deaner says that it remains to be seen whether Muamba will be able to resume his career, and a cause for his myocardial infarction has yet to be determined.

Fabrice Muamba’s ‘Astonishing’ Progress: Soccer Star ‘In Effect’ Dead for 78 Minutes is a post from: The Inquisitr

Heart disease is a huge killer in America and other Western countries, and while there are certain clear risk factors for myocardial infarction, one of the frustrating aspects of heart attacks is how they seemingly strikes at random- such as the incident last week when young football player Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch during a game.

Myocardial infarction (or heart attack) isn’t something most people see coming, and many (particularly women, who studies show die in greater numbers because of it) don’t even experience the telltale chest and left arm pain we’ve come to associate with cardiovascular incidents of that magnitude. Doctors could, up until now, tell you you may be at risk, and they could determine whether you were having or had experienced a recent myocardial infarction- but what they couldn’t predict was when heart attack was imminent.

Patients have been known to pass “stress tests” and clear physicals only to wind up back in the hospital in a scant few days presenting with symptoms of a heart attack, but new research may change that. A new study, “Characterization of Circulating Endothelial Cells in Acute Myocardial Infarction,” was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine and used a blood test to detect damaged circulating endothelial cells (CECs).

CECs measured in post-heart attack patients in the study via fluorescent images appear “abnormally large and misshapen and often appeared with multiple nuclei, indicating that these cells may predict an acute arterial plaque rupture within the next two weeks.”

The study involved 50 participants who had experienced recent heart attacks and 44 patients in the control group who had not. Those in the former group had four times fewer of the malformed CECs that researchers say could predict myocardial infarction weeks before a heart attack occurred.

Myocardial Infarction Test Predicts Heart Attack in Trial is a post from: The Inquisitr

In the popular comedy movie “Office Space” one of the characters proclaims “Somebody’s got a case of the mondays” and now it turns out that a “case of the Mondays” could very well lead to your death.

A new study has found that the start of daylight savings time (which begins this Sunday March 11) has been associated with an increase in heart attacks on the following Monday and Tuesday when clocks are moved ahead in March. According to researchers there is a 10% increase in the risk of heart attacks on those days.

A professor studying the phenomenon also tells Science Daily:

“The opposite is true when falling back in October. This risk decreases by about 10%.”

The research appears to be backed up with some good reasoning. First people who are overweight tend not to get enough sleep as it is which in turn puts them at a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Because they are forced to wake up even earlier the stresses placed on their body can lead to heart attacks.

Researchers also claim that the “springing forward” can play tricks on a persons circadian clock which in turn can lead to added stress and ultimately a heart attack.

To combat these issues experts say we should go outside in the morning and take in some sunlight to help our circadium rhythm stay on track. Researchers also suggest eating a good balanced breakfast to help the body with stress and they recommend plenty of exercise in order to strengthen the heart.

As a final tip you can try waking up 30 minutes earlier on Saturday and Sunday to prepare your body for the shock of an early Monday morning wake up call.

Are you surprised to learn that a case of the Monday’s once a year really can be bad for your heart?

[image via ShutterStock.com]

Case Of The Mondays? Study Finds Higher Risk Of Heart Attacks During Daylight Savings is a post from: The Inquisitr

In movies, heart attacks are often marked by theatrical chest clutching, often in response to a shocking or otherwise plot-relevant event and sometimes used to comedic effect.

But while heart attacks are often expected to come with sudden chest pain, a surprising new study indicates just how often this may not be the case- and that certain demographic groups are at a much higher risk of missing out on aggressive treatment due to the lack of this expected symptom. The massive study included 1.1 million people, and younger and middle-aged women were far more likely to experience a heart attack without chest pain. In the study, 42% of women admitted to the hospital for a heart attack did not report the symptom, compared with just under 31% of men.

Scarily, the lack of chest pain and subsequent possible less-aggressive treatment often translated into less desirable outcomes. The mortality rate for men in the study was 10%, compared to 15% for women. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and director of the chest pain center at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Florida Dr. John G. Canto was one of its authors. Canto commented of the differing outcomes:

“We think part of the reason is that women who are presenting with a heart attack might not have that classical presentation. So they may not be recognized as having a heart attack, and possibly some of these patients may present too late to receive lifesaving procedures.”

Cumulatively, 35% of patients presenting with a heart attack never experience symptoms at all. But women under the age of 55 had two to three times the risk of death after a heart attack if they experienced no pain versus men of the same age group who experienced typical symptoms of a heart attack.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Heart Attacks Often Different and Deadlier in Women, New Study Finds is a post from: The Inquisitr

Heart attacks have been known as the silent killer of women for years because they are often not detected with the same painful effects felt by men and now a recent study has confirmed that fact, reporting that women are more likely to die during a hospital visit when compared to males.

According to WebMD one of the main reasons for female heart attack deaths is the fact that doctors and patients often fail to initially realize that a heart attack is occurring which results in delayed treatment.

Because of that failure to detect women younger than 55-years-old are likely to die in the hospital compared to 10% of men under the same age group.

Examining the study’s numbers one cardiologist told the USA Today:

“It’s been sinking in to cardiologists for a while that women having heart attacks are more likely to have symptoms other than the classic chest pain syndrome that we see in the movies … I was shocked, though, at how closely this was associated with worse outcomes and more cardiac death in women with heart attacks. This study makes me worried that we still don’t get it.”

If you’re a female with a history of heart problems in your family you should mention a possible heart attack to your doctor if you feel the following symptoms:

“Nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, light-headedness, pain in the back or jaw, and sudden, crippling fatigue.”

Do you feel as if women need to be better educated about the dangers of heart failure?

Heart Attacks Kill Women More Often Then Men Because Of Failed Medical Examinations [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apparently there is a new technique called CADUCEUS; or for those of you whole don’t like hard to pronounce acronyms how about CArdiosphere-Derived a Utologous stem CElls to reverse ventricUlar dySfunction (boy talk about having to work hard to come up with an acronym eh), that at the end of its phase 1 trials is showing amazing improvements in patients suffering from heart attacks, and the resulting scarring.

The technique involves taking a small chuck from the afflicted heart, refining it into stems cells, and then reintroducing those cell into the heart to reduce scar tissue.

The study involved a group of 25 heart-attack patients, eight of which where the control group. The other 17 had a piece of heart muscle the size of half of a raisin removed during a small procedure. That piece of heart muscle was then used to create 12 – 25 million cardiosphere-derived stems cells (CDCs) and then in a second procedure those cells were infused back into the heart.

The result? An average scar size decrease from 24% to 12% of the heart.

Out of those 17, the researchers only saw one serious adverse reaction that they link to the treatment, though three more people in the trial and one control also had serious adverse events.

Conventional wisdom has had it that once heart muscle has turned to scar, it’s lost and can’t be regained — but this new method shows potential for fighting back to regain that musculature. Now, it just has to make it past phase 2.

via io9

Yet another area where stem cells are proving more than their worth in saving, and changing lives.

Using your heart to create the stem cells needed to heal your heart – huh? is a post from: The Inquisitr

They don’t call it the Heart Attack Grill for nothing. A man dining at the controversial restaurant in Las Vegas had a heart attack while eating the famous “Triple Bypass Burger.”

One of the waitresses, Nurse Bridgett (the waitresses dress like nurses at Heart Attack Grill) said:

“He was having the sweats and shaking.”

The medical staff / waitresses alerted restaurant owner “Doctor” Jon Basso, who thought that the heart attack was a big joke at the time. Basso said:

“One of the nurses came back to me and said, ‘Dr. Jon, we’ve got a patient who’s in trouble…. Tourists were taking photos of him as if it were some type of stunt,” Basso said. “Even with our own morbid sense of humor, we would never pull a stunt like that.”

An ambulance came and brought the unnamed man to the hospital. According to Fox News, he is currently recuperating.

This isn’t the first time that the Heart Attack Grill has seen one of its loyal customers run into a health hazard. The restaurant, which lets people over 350 pounds eat for free, said farewell to its 29-year-old spokesman Blair River. At the time of River’s death, restaurant owner Basso said:

“Cynical people might think this [River's death] is funny, but people who knew him are crying their eyes out. There is a lot of mourning going on around here. You couldn’t have found a better person.”

Here’s a video featuring Blair River and the Heart Attack Grill diet program.

Have you ever eaten at the heart attack grill? Are you surprised that someone actually had a heart attack while eating a Triple Bypass Burger?

Man Has Heart Attack at Heart Attack Grill After Eating Triple Bypass Burger is a post from: The Inquisitr

Many people drink diet soda because they believe its better for their health, but a new study shows that diet soda may actually increase the risk of heat attacks.

A new study shows that people who drank diet soda once a day had an increased risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or other heart issues.

Hannah Gardener, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine who participated in the study said:

“Our results suggest a potential association between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular outcomes.”

The Huffington Post reports that researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Columbia University Medical Center studied the health of 2,654 participants over a 10-year period.

Researchers found that people who drink soda on a daily basis had a 43% higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The study showed that occasional diet soda drinkers (between six a week and once a month) and regular soda drinkings did not have an increased risk of a vascular event.

Study researcher Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio’s School of Medicine, said:

“Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised… They may be free of calories but not of consequences.”

Health.com reports that many people who drink diet soda will drink multiple cans a day. The fact that diet soda’s have zero calories lead people to believe that they can drink as many as they want without consequence. The new study shows that this is not true.

Do you drink diet soda?

Diet Soda Increases Heart Attack Risk, Says New Study is a post from: The Inquisitr

When 17-year-old Graceanne Rumer realized that her school bus driver had collapsed from an apparent heart attack while driving her and her fellow students home she quickly jumped into action to save her fellow students from injury.

Rumer ran to the front of the bus, grabbed the steering wheel and veered the school bus out of the wrong lane where it was about to be met with oncoming traffic.

Speaking to NBC Philadelphia the teenager says of the entire ordeal:

“I just realized that there’s no one driving this bus … I need to do something.”

What might be most incredible about the situation is that Graceanne Rumer only received her drivers license two weeks earlier. Even as a novice driver she was able to think on her feet, when she realized 51-year-old driver Charles Duncan’s foot was in the way of the break she threw the bus into park and eventually brought it to a stop.

Three dozen students were riding on the bus during the time of her heroics and no injuries were reported by any of the buses passengers.

We haven’t been made aware of the driver’s condition at this time but it’s safe to say the 17-year-old hero saved other students from potential injuries or worse.

Are you impressed with this young lady’s ability to think on her feet and driver her fellow students to safety?

17-Year-Old Girl Saved School Bus Full Of Students is a post from: The Inquisitr

It has long been a widely-held belief that a daily dose of simple aspirin might be just what the doctor ordered to prevent serious heart complications down the road. Problem is, a new study is saying that it actually doesn’t.

Now taking a low dose of aspirin has been proven to benefit those with narrow arteries, or even those who have recently suffered a heart attack. This assumed benefit has long reached over into the camp of regular folks without any cardiovascular disease to speak of – mild hypochondriacs we all know (or may ourselves be) who think a modest daily dosage might steer off future heart problems. Are they right in this assumption?

The study: data was compiled and analyzed from nine different studies involving over 100,000 adults clocking-in at an average age of 57. These adults were randomly assigned a low dose of aspirin (about 100 milligrams) while the rest were prescribed a garden variety placebo. None of those studied had existing heart conditions. Over six years, medical problems that arose included roughly 2,000 cases of coronary heart disease and 40,000 instances of bleeding. Over that same amount of time, deaths within the study related to cardiovascular complications were about the same for those on – or off – aspirin.

In the end, aspirin-takers had only about a 10% lower chance of a heart attack or stroke, though this figure is mostly attributed to a 20% lower chance for a fatal heart attack. No difference between men and women. Older folks seemed to benefit more than younger folks, BUT those taking aspirin had a 70% higher risk of bleeding problems, and serious bleeding issues were 30% higher among younger people.

The moral of the story – if you don’t have cardiovascular problems, don’t take aspirin, or you might bleed to death.

The end.

Do you take aspirin to head-off heart problems? You going to stop now?

Does Daily Aspirin Intake Prevent Heart Problems? Short Answer: No is a post from: The Inquisitr

Patients suffering from myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, in the United States are more likely to visit the hospital a second time in the 30 days following the cardiac incident than those in other countries, a new analysis in the Journal of American Medicine, or JAMA, has revealed.

The data was published last week in the medical journal, and stems from a clinical trial in which researchers were attempting to determine the efficacy of treatment with the drug pexelizumab in the thirty-day period following myocardial infarction and its impact on patient survival rates. But what Duke cardiologist Dr. Robb D. Kociol and his team discovered when they reviewed the data collected at more than 300 study sites across 13 European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US was that American patients would return to the hospital far more frequently during the 30-day study period.

According to the Los Angeles Times, we’re actually messing up the curve when it comes to myocardial infarction outcomes, bringing down everyone else’s average. The paper explains:

In all, 11.3% of patients who were discharged after suffering their heart attacks were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. The readmission rate for U.S. patients was 14.5%. For patients in other countries, it was 9.9%. Subjects in the United States had 68% increased odds of readmission versus people in other countries, the authors wrote.

So why do you think patients in the US are doing so poorly compared to those in other wealthy nations? It seems again to come down to our profit-centered health care system and resultant shorter hospital stays. While US patients that had suffered myocardial infarction spent a scant three days recovering in a hospital, those in Germany spent eight- and are likelier not to be re-admitted during that 30-day period. Researchers said the information was an “intriguing finding” when reviewing the study.

And what do doctors think needs to happen to correct this? They concede that “the U.S. health care system has features that can be modified to decrease readmission rates.” Do you think it’s time we implemented a single payer system in the US?

[Image: Shutterstock]

Myocardial Infarction Outcomes Worse in US, Shorter Hospital Stays Could Be a Factor is a post from: The Inquisitr

With the death of North Korea’s strong man Kim Jong-il at the age of 69, the country’s state media showed this footage of people hysterically weeping for their leader. The death was announced late Sunday with reports that the leader died of a heart attack on a train.

North Koreans Hysterically Weep for Kim Jong-il (Video) is a post from: The Inquisitr

Salt consumption is one of the areas in which those at risk of cardiovascular conditions are required to have less fun eating, and traditional wisdom long held that a reduction in salt was key in managing heart conditions and other co-morbid illnessses.

But a new study suggests that beliefs regarding salt consumption may be flawed, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not support its findings:

Dr. Peter Briss, a medical director at the centers, said that the study was small; that its subjects were relatively young, with an average age of 40 at the start; and that with few cardiovascular events, it was hard to draw conclusions. And the study, Dr. Briss and others say, flies in the face of a body of evidence indicating that higher sodium consumption can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“At the moment, this study might need to be taken with a grain of salt,” he said.

The European study was published in JAMA, and included nearly 4,000 middle-aged Europeans without high blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases and tracked them for the better part of eight years. But what the study found was that the less salt participants consumed, the more likely they were to succumb to heart disease- “50 people in the lowest third of salt consumption (2.5 grams of sodium per day) died during the study as compared with 24 in the medium group (3.9 grams of sodium per day) and 10 in the highest salt consumption group (6.0 grams of sodium per day).” And while the biggest salt consumers had a slight increase in systolic blood pressure, there was no overall increase in hypertension.

In the New York Times piece on the study, several experts debate the feasibility of ever discovering the true impact of salt consumption, as the level of salt found in processed foods makes it nearly impossible to do long-term, controlled studies of individuals on low-sodium diets without pre-existing conditions necessitating said diets.

Wisdom of low-salt diet called into question is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pulling long days at the plant due to downsizing?

It’s not just your social life that will suffer. A study by British researchers published in Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that chance you’ll suffer a heart attack jumps markedly when you start working more than the standard nine to five job. It seems a bit like your body says screw it and gives in if your life is all work and no play, as “magnitude of risk goes up by 67%” in workers who put in 11-hour days.

A team at University College London has studied more than 7,000 workers since 1985, and findings even recommend general practitioners should quiz patients about whether they are overworked:

“Considering that including a measurement of working hours in a GP interview is so simple and useful, our research presents a strong case that it should become standard practice… This new information should help improve decisions regarding medication for heart disease.”

During the study, 192 of the participants suffered heart attacks. Researchers estimate 6,000 of the 125,000 people who suffer heart attacks annually in the UK could be “spotted” prior to the cardiovascular incidents.

[BBC, Image]

Overtime and long work days can cause heart attacks is a post from: The Inquisitr

It turns out there may be some truth behind the movie cliche of an out of shape person keeling over during sex or at the gym. (Though it’s sex nine times out of ten in the films, isn’t it?)

If you’re not regularly active and engage in these activities, researchers found, you could incur a slightly higher risk of cardiac arrest. The link was examined in a wider analysis of several studies, and published in JAMA. Hitting the gym is the riskier of the two, more than tripling the risk of a sudden heart attack. Sex was still a possible trigger though, clocking in with a 2.7% increase in relative, not absolute risk.

Researcher Issa Dabareh was quick to caution people not to eschew physical fitness because of the findings:

But doing a lot more exercise — or having a lot more sex — would actually reduce the risk of one of these activity-triggered heart attacks, the researchers say.

Indeed, the researchers don’t want people to shun exercise — or sex — because of their study. “Hopefully no one misunderstands our point,” says Dahabreh. “We are a little bit worried that people will think that this is a risk for exercise.”

It was advised individuals unaccustomed to the bursts of activity to add exercise and/or exertion ”gradually.”

Infrequent sex, workouts can trigger heart attacks is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ever hear an anecdotal story of someone who “died of a broken heart?”

It seems that people who suffer the loss of a loved one are actually at an increased risk for potentially fatal cardiovascular events, according to a new study out of the University of Sydney Nursing School in Australia. Per the study, the risk of irregular heartbeat and, more worryingly, sudden cardiac death, increases for six months following the death of a spouse or child. A study author commented on the findings:

“While the focus at the time of bereavement is naturally directed toward the deceased person, the health and welfare of bereaved survivors should also be of concern to medical professionals, as well as family and friends,” study lead author Thomas Buckley, acting director of postgraduate studies at the University of Sydney Nursing School in Sydney, Australia, said in an American Heart Association news release.

Buckley added:

“Some bereaved, especially those already at increased cardiovascular risk, might benefit from medical review, and they should seek medical assistance for any possible cardiac symptoms.”

The physiological reasons behind the data were not known, but a higher level of stress and depression in the 78 people monitored for the study was thought to be a factor. Participants ranged in age from 33 to 91, including 55 women and 23 men from the initial two-week period after their spouse or child died.

Buckley suggested the link between psychological trauma and cardiovascular risk be examined further to protect those at risk:

“While our findings do not establish causality, they are consistent with evidence for psychosocial triggering of cardiovascular events,” said Buckley. “They suggest the need for further investigation of the link between bereavement and cardiovascular risk, including the potential for preventive measures.”

Study finds increased cardiovascular risk after death of loved one is a post from: The Inquisitr

I realize that these topics can get pretty heated with everyone getting excited but the fact that one of the participants in a televised debate on Danish television has a heart attack goes to show just how vested people get in the subject.

The 41 year old Henrik Svensmark made an awkward spasm/shudder and burst out a strange noise, sounding like a cough. The other participants in the debate looked baffled and he mumbled: “It’s my heart,” and fell to the ground and the pacemaker kicked in once more and you could hear him scream.

Bjrøn Lomborg yelled “call an ambulance, call an ambulance” and the host and the other participants came over to help the man.

The show was put on hold for 10 minutes and the viewers were informed that Svensmark has a pacemaker, and it went on because his heart rate had slowed down.

He was immediately rushed to the hospital and is according to the latest reports his condition is steady now.

Source: Huffington Post

And as per the Internet here is the video of the event

Climate change skeptic has heart attack during debate [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr