University of Michigan 412 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1399
Contact: Sally Pobojewski
Phone: (734) 647-1844
Email: [email protected]
U-M experts available to discuss latest research on prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke.
February is American Heart Month and the American Heart Association (AHA) has launched a nationwide campaign to educate people---especially women---about the dangers of heart disease and stroke. University of Michigan scientists are conducting research on many aspects of heart disease prevention and treatment. They are available for interviews at the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses listed at the end of each item.
WOMEN FACE UNIQUE PROBLEMS AND A GREATER RISK from heart disease and stroke than is generally recognized---according to Lori Mosca, U-M's director of preventive cardiology research and education programs. Most women don't realize how serious the threat of heart disease is to women, according to Mosca, so they don't take steps to prevent heart disease and stroke. Conditions such as diabetes can put a woman at greater risk and hormonal changes may create unique risk factors. Mosca says new research indicates lifestyle changes are especially beneficial to women.
Mosca coordinates several U-M research studies on women and cardiovascular disease. She is a member of the AHA's Women's Heart Disease and Stroke Campaign Task Force and is author and chair of the AHA's New Scientific Statement on "Cardiovascular Disease in Women". Contact Dr. Mosca at (734) 998-7411 or call Pete Barkey at (734) 764-2220.
PROTECTING AGAINST STROKE COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS having your teeth cleaned regularly. Walter Loesche, a professor in the U-M School of Dentistry, and colleagues are among several groups of researchers investigating the link between dental disease and cardiovascular disease. In recent work, Loesche found that a group of VeteranÃs Administration hospital patients age 65 and older who had a history of having their teeth cleaned at least once a year were five times less likely to have strokes than a similar group of patients with poorer cleaning records.
In a related study on another group of veterans, Loesche found that those with coronary artery disease were much more likely than others to show signs of gum disease, such as bleeding gums or the presence of certain bacteria. Loesche stresses that more detailed studies on a wider range of patients are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. But if the results hold true, it may be possible to help prevent stroke and coronary artery disease through such simple measures as good oral hygiene and prompt treatment of gum infections with antibiotics. Contact Loesche at [email protected] or (734) 764-8386.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN PREVENT MORE THAN HALF of all heart-related deaths, according to U-M Health System cardiologists. Eating better, quitting smoking, exercising and losing weight are a few of the things people can do to take control of their health, prevent heart disease and possibly reverse its progress. However, making these changes is often easier said than done. The U-M's Preventive Cardiology Services take a comprehensive approach to help patients make these lifestyle changes.
"We provide traditional medical intervention as well as management for the emotional issues that are often at the root of heart disease," says Melvyn Rubenfire, professor of internal medicine and director of preventive cardiology at the U-M Health System. Patients are taught how to eat well throughout their life, how to make exercise fun and stick with it, and how to reduce stress, combat depression and raise self esteem. To schedule an interview with Dr. Rubenfire, call Pete Barkey at (734) 764-2220.
AFTER HEART SURGERY, BOOMERS PRAY MORE THAN OLDER PATIENTS, according to a U-M study tracking how prayer affects post-surgical depression. U-M researchers Amy Ai and colleagues studied 151 cardiac bypass patients whose average age was 65. A year after surgery, the 68 percent who said they prayed were less depressed than those who didnÃt. Depression predicts recovery from cardiac surgery and future heart attacks, says Ai who notes that the annual cost of cardiac bypass surgery, now exceeding $5 billion, could increase dramatically as boomers age.
"Younger people, including boomers (ages 40 to 55) and the near-elderly (ages 55-65), were more likely to pray than patients over age 65," says Ai, a postdoctoral fellow at the U-M School of Social Work whose work is funded by the National Institute on Aging. This surprised her since most earlier studies have found that older people are likely to be more religious than younger people. "We donÃt know whether there is any causal connection between prayer and post-surgical depression," says U-M psychology Prof. Christopher Peterson, who collaborated on the study. "But it canÃt hurt, and it might help." For more information, contact Diane Swanbrow at (734) 647-4416.
REAL-TIME MOVIES OF BLOOD FLOW IN A PATIENT'S CORONARY ARTERIES are now possible using improved ultrasound technology with dozens of sensors mounted on the end of a cardiac catheter. While ultrasound catheterization has been available for several years, Matthew O'Donnell, professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the U-M College of Engineering, is using multiple sensors to expand the capacity of these instruments. O'Donnell believes the new technology may one day make diagnosing heart diseases cheaper, faster and more effective.
O'Donnell's latest array, which links 64 ultrasound nodes, can measure everything from blood flow to tissue elasticity, and dramatically improves the ability of physicians to assess the effectiveness of angioplasty. O'Donnell's work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, and is conducted in collaboration with the Endosonics Corp. of Rancho Cordova, Calif. (Video and graphics available.) For more information, contact Adam Marcus at (734) 647-7046.
QUALITY CARE AFTER HEART ATTACK IS VITAL to the patient's recovery, according to Kim Eagle, chief of clinical cardiology for the U-M Health System. At U-M, a comprehensive three-pronged approach ensures heart attack patients get high-quality integrated care. First, medical staff are updated every month on the latest treatments. Second, the medical team and the patient follow a "critical pathway" where activity, educational, diagnostic, and treatment milestones are met each day. Finally, the patient must sign a statement before being discharged, acknowledging they understand what has occurred, what the treatment goals are, which lifestyle and medical interventions improve outcome, and how to manage the often difficult transition from inpatient home care. To schedule an interview with Dr. Eagle, call (734) 936-5275 or contact Pete Barkey at (734) 764-2220.
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