Each month there is a new topic that doctors will discussion with the public. For December they focused on the importance of exercising during the winter.
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Today is the “Great American Smokeout.” The initiative is held every year to encourage people to quit smoking. But it’s not just smoking that’s a concern; so is vaping. A recent study shows those who vape are 19% more likely to develop heart failure than those who have never done it before. “The study was looking at, with this new trend of vaping, does it actually affect the heart in such a way that it causes the heart to fail? Heart failure is an extremely dangerous condition and very prominent. So anytime that we can look for causes that are reversible, we want to look for them,” stated Dr. Nina Thakkar Rivera, Cleveland Clinic.
PICTURED: An automated external defibrillator (AED) in a white box is an emergency defibrillator for people in cardiac arrest.
October 24, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Under the direction of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) today released its Model Emergency Action Plan for the Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The plan will be used by Ohio schools and municipal sports and recreation locations to ensure staff are trained and ready to respond in the event that a student, young athlete, or any other individual experiences a cardiac emergency. “Every second counts when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. It’s the number one killer of student-athletes in America,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “But we also know that the vast majority who get immediate help from an AED survive. Earlier this year, I was proud to sign a bill to expand access to these life-saving devices in schools and sports venues across Ohio. The creation of this model emergency action plan is the next step in safeguarding our children.
A new Cleveland Clinic study found that having a history of COVID-19 can double a person’s long-term risk for heart attack, stroke, and even death. “There were several surprising findings about this study,” said Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD, cardiologist for Cleveland Clinic. “First, just having a COVID-19 positive test, a PCR positive test, results in at least a two-fold increase in risk. And this risk doesn't show any sign of attenuation. That was a surprising part. As far out as follow-up data was available, which is three years of follow-up, the heightened risk remains.” Dr. Hazen said they also discovered that the long-term risk for cardiac issues increased if the person was hospitalized for COVID-19. In fact, their risk was comparable to someone who had a heart attack before. So, what does all of this mean?
If you have heart disease, this is a reminder to cut down on your sodium.
July 29, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Ohio Department of Public Safety and Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services have launched a statewide campaign called Every Minute Counts that encourages all Ohioans to learn basic bystander care. It can often take two minutes before bystanders realize someone is suffering a medical emergency. Each minute that passes without bystander intervention decreases the chances of survival significantly.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law this week.
While extreme heat can impact everyone’s heart, older people and those with preexisting heart issues are especially at risk. It’s also important to remember that certain blood pressure medicines as well as other medications can increase your risk of dehydration. To avoid issues during a heatwave, Dr. Gonzalez said it’s best to check the weather and try to stay inside at the hottest points of the day.
Taking a low-dose aspirin for heart health has been a staple of many Americans' daily routines. But medical experts say for some people, that routine may be doing more harm than good. Here is Ellie Janszen to tell us why. Millions of Americans take daily aspirin, but many of them may be doing so based on outdated advice. A new national poll from the University of Michigan finds that one in four adults over 50 are taking over-the-counter medication; that number was even higher for adults 75 years of age or older.