Because Good Medicine Deserves Better Explanations
Three months ago I had a visit from a 53 year old gentleman who was worried about his health. His name is Peter. He had been gaining weight for some time, his knees were aching and he was having trouble playing his weekly tennis with his old classmates. He told me he had probably put on approximately … Read more
Actor James Gandolfini’s sudden and tragic passing has cruelly reminded us about the seriousness and unpredictability of cardiovascular disease. Sudden death in middle age is most often caused by underlying coronary heart disease (CHD). One has to wonder, in light of current knowledge and modern technology, why we can not prevent such devastating events. One … Read more
Recent studies have shown that the symptoms of heart disease may differ between men and women. For example, women are less likely than men to have chest pain while suffering an acute heart attack (acute myocardial infarction). This may delay diagnosis and may partly explain why women seem to fare worse than men under these … Read more
Two decades ago, many experts predicted that the modification of risk factors, in particular, the treatment of high blood pressure and lipid disorders, would eliminate coronary artery disease in 10 – 20 years. Unfortunately, this prediction was wrong. Although mortality from cardiovascular disease has decreased in many countries, coronary heart disease remains a significant cause … Read more
Today, most specialists acknowledge that emotional or psychologic stress may increase the risk of heart disease. In fact, the negative effects of acute and chronic stress on the cardiovascular system may be much more serious than often thought. Recent research and experience show that emotional stress may increase blood pressure and cholesterol. It may constrict … Read more
