Results are in on "ground-breaking" heart attack study
OSHAWA -- New research that involved local patients and an Oshawa cardiologist is challenging the first line of defence against heart attacks.
Dr. Rakesh Bhargava, a staff cardiologist at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, was the principle investigator for a recent Canada-wide study that looked at the best course of treatment for heart attack patients.
For hospitals like Oshawa's that don't have a cardiac catheterization lab, the first step is usually to administer clot-busting drugs that break down the problematic blood clot.
Patients are only sent for a balloon angioplasty if the clot medicine doesn't do its job and they are still experiencing chest pains later on or if doctors see problems on a follow-up cardiogram.
But the new study reveals the risk of death or another heart attack within 30 days can be cut by 46 per cent, if patients are given the clot-busting drug, then sent for an immediate angioplasty.
"This is a ground-breaking study," said Dr. Bhargava, who is also director of the Heart Care Research and Cardiac Rehab program in Oshawa. "It is important for the 'have not' hospitals like Oshawa, that don't have these angioplasty centres. If the patient can have the clot-busting drug and then be sent within four to six hours to a hospital where a lab is available, that is the best treatment." There are no hospitals in Durham Region with cardiac catheterization labs, meaning patients would likely be sent to Toronto.
Dr. Bhargava said the next step is to work with local hospital staff and those in Toronto to establish protocols that would ensure Durham heart attack patients get to Toronto in time for the angioplasty to make a difference. Source: Jillian Follert
More News:
- New equipment approved for heart attack victims,
ago - ESL teacher dies of heart attack while driving car,
ago - Results are in on "ground-breaking" heart attack study,
ago - Vitamin B9 protects heart during and after heart attack,
ago - Blood pressure pill prevents heart attack,
ago - Dagga deadly after heart attack,
ago - Study Shows Drug-Coated Stents Safe Following Heart Attack,
ago - New weapon in heart attack war,
ago - Heart problems can surprise women,
ago - Coronary calcium scanning strongly predicts heart risk -- in all ethnicities, a study finds. But is it cost-effective?,
ago
Read all news...
-
New articles
-
Popular articles
Resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
How to help an unconscious with heart attack?
Prevent Heart Attack moving... in the bed - Free exercises
Calculate your BMI
Calculate your Body Mass Index, see if you are overweight or not
Download a Free ebook
Understand better Heart Attack in 20 articles. Download a copy now!
Heart disease statistics
1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year (that's 1 heart attack every 20 seconds)
Emergency numbers
Do not ignore chest pain or discomfort if you think you might have a Heart Attack. Find the emergency phone numbers worldwide .
Women and Heart Attack
Read more on heart attack in women
Heart Attack in pregnancy
Cholesterol
Where does cholesterol come from?
Heart Attack Risks
10 signs of heart attack
What are the risk factors of heart attack? [video]