Low-dose aspirin as effective as high-dose aspirin at preventing future heart attacksIf a loved one is treated for a heart attack and is placed on daily aspirin therapy, consider checking with the physician about the appropriate dosage. While the current American College of Cardiology guidelines call for low-dose aspirin (81 mg), a recent study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers of 221,199 heart-attack patients found that many patients are placed on high-dose (325 mg) aspirin.
The researchers found that aspirin dosage levels varied widely from hospital to hospital, but overall, more than half of all heart-attack patients were placed on high-dose aspirin.
“Studies have shown that low-dose aspirin is just as effective as high-dose aspirin at preventing future heart attacks and it’s safer,” said Dr. Sandeep Das, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine. Dr. Das is senior author of the study, which was recently published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
High-dose aspirin is more likely to cause bleeding problems. Previous guidelines for treatment of heart-attack patients who had stents placed called for high-dose aspirin, and the researchers surmised that many physicians are simply prescribing the higher dose due to that guidance.
Media Contact: Cathy Frisinger
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Dealing with depression and Parkinson’s diseaseRobin Williams wasn’t the only person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who also was fighting depression. Some 35 percent of Parkinson’s disease patients experience depression, particularly upon diagnosis. Some people, like Williams, struggle with depression for years and eventually are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“Parkinson’s can be diagnosed first and then the patient may get depressed, or they can struggle with depression for a time, and then develop Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Richard Dewey, Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
“We think the degenerative nature of Parkinson’s affects levels of serotonin and dopamine, both critical agents in the nerve/muscle reaction, as well as impacting a person’s moods.”
The good news is Parkinson’s patients who experience depression typically respond well to antidepressant medications and are very rarely suicidal, according to Dr. Preston Wiles, Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern.
However, he cautions that relatives and caregivers should be aware of the Parkinson’s/depression link, be on the lookout for signs of depression, and encourage the patient to talk with their neurologist about their emotions, as well as their physical symptoms.
Signs of depression include:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, or feelings of emptiness
- Feeling hopeless, helpless, and worthless
- Loss of interest in typical activities
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling restless, irritable
- Changes in sleep, energy, and appetite
- Increased use of drugs or alcohol
- Talking about death or suicide
“Men are particularly problematic, as they are less likely to show the typical signs of depression, such as sadness, crying, or loss of interest, and instead show their depression as emotional suppression, social withdrawal, aggression or irritability, and perhaps increased usage of alcohol or drugs,” said Dr. Wiles.
Media Contact: Gregg Shields
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Pediatric sports medicine expert offers tips to prevent fall sports injuriesAs the new school year begins, fall sports are back in gear. Everything from cheerleading to football requires young athletes and parents alike to take precautions during sporting activities in order to prevent serious or long-term injuries. Dr. Shane Miller, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, specializes in treating sports-related injuries in young athletes.
For young athletes, the key to avoiding injury can be as simple as following the rules of the sport. “Many rules are designed with the safety of athletes in mind, so following the rules of the game is important,” said Dr. Miller, who also serves as a staff physician at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Sports Medicine Center. “Aggressive and unsportsmanlike play are risk factors for injury, and should be strongly discouraged by coaches, parents, and officials.”
For parents, injury prevention measures include monitoring how much a child plays throughout the year.
“Overuse injuries are on the rise,” Dr. Miller said. “Early sport specialization and playing one sport year-round are risk factors for overuse injuries. Unlike most acute injuries, overuse injuries are preventable with adequate rest periods and proper conditioning.”
While injuries can occur in organized sports, it is important to be aware that they can also occur at home. To reduce this risk, he suggests wearing helmets for most outdoor activities.
“Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, skateboard, or ripstik,” Dr. Miller said. “Although they may not prevent a concussion, helmets can prevent a more serious brain injury.”
To help identify a concussion, parents should observe their child for signs of being confused, dazed, or dizzy; being sleepier than usual; answering questions slowly; or complaining of a headache or sensitivity to light. If you suspect a head injury of any kind, seek immediate medical attention.
Media Contact: Remekca Owens
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The walking cardiovascular cureDoes your job have you out and about, up and down, and moving around, or does it keep you planted in a chair for most of the day? If yours is an out-and-about type job, consider yourself lucky, according to a study published recently in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
The study, led by Dr. Jarett Berry, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, found that long periods of sedentary behavior hurt overall cardiorespiratory fitness – or exercise capacity – even for people who exercise regularly. What cubicle dwellers need to do is find ways to work movement into their workday, such as replacing the traditional coffee break with a walking break.
Here are some other ideas for working movement into your daily office routine:
- Pace while talking on the phone.
- Instead of emailing a question to a co-worker at the other end of the building, walk to his/her desk.
- Suggest to colleagues that you hold a walking meeting instead of the usual conference-table gathering.
- Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.
If possible, replace your desk with an adjustable standing desk or, even better, a treadmill desk, and stand or walk on the treadmill part of each hour.
Media Contact: Cathy Frisinger
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