With next-generation DNA sequencing and patient-tailored therapeutics entering the market and significantly transforming lives, the era of precision medicine is upon us. What exactly is this bold new approach, and why does it promise to revolutionize how we improve heart health and treat its...
Search
Displaying 61 - 80 of 356
Canadians are living amid an explosion of information and innovation thanks to significant advances in data science and technology. Capable of seeing patterns in big data that would otherwise remain undetectable by humans, finding the proverbial needle in the haystack is now not only possible but...
“SCAD@Heart” is an online peer support program modelled after the Ottawa Heart Institute’s successful Women@Heart Program
Breast cancer awareness campaigns have dominated the media over the last twenty years in an effort to educate women about the risks of breast cancer and raise awareness for the disease. The implication of this pink takeover suggests women are aware of the risks of breast cancer, but are they...
BRUISE CONTROL-2: Continued vs. Interrupted use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Pacemaker or Defibrillator Surgery Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use is common among patients requiring pacemaker or defibrillator surgery. However, the results of a new study led by Dr. David H. Birnie, MD, staff...
For a groundbreaking new technique to gain traction within the global surgical community, it must have a community of practice—“a community of surgeons,” explained Dr. Marc Ruel, “performing it regularly, who can give feedback to each other and develop new approaches and tricks within the technique...
Researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute recently made an observation that has helped inform clinical practice in the treatment of patients with severe cardiogenic shock, a condition in which the heart suddenly can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs . In a recent study...
Cardiac rehabilitation is shown to be effective for improving morbidity and mortality and reducing subsequent events in patients with varying heart complications. However, researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) contend that cardiac rehab programs do not benefit all patients...
Catch highlights from the congress floor and more!
Heart disease is different for women, and that difference is borne out in almost every aspect of the disease: the factors that lead to it, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and even risk of death. In fact, heart disease kills more women worldwide than all cancers, tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria...
Canadians took to their phones last month to share photos and videos of themselves completing physical activity challenges in support of women’s heart health. And in doing so, they raised more than just their heart rate. JUMP IN™ for Women’s Heart Health is a national fundraising and women’s heart...
Our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends may be at an enhanced risk of developing heart disease or suffering a serious heart attack in their lifetime, and what’s worse – they may not even know it. Heart disease is the number one killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death...
While some advocates contend marijuana is harmless, others are cautioning its long-term risks and benefits haven’t yet been carefully studied. One of the few things we do know is cannabis has notable effects on the heart, which, for some, are resulting in cardiovascular emergencies including heart attack, arrhythmias and stroke.
From the operating room and catheterization lab to the intensive care unit, cardiac anesthesiologists are central to patient care. Often, it is their role to shepherd the sickest and most complex patients through recovery. Stéphane Lambert, MD, is the recently appointed Division Head for Cardiac...
Cardiac procedures are a study in teamwork. Whether inserting a stent, implanting a pacemaker or performing corrective surgery, a team of professionals, each with a different set of skills, works in unison to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient. “These are very much multidisciplinary...
Survival rates for cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting are poor. Only about 5% of people survive, though encouraging people to get trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the placement of defibrillators in public places like sports and recreation facilities have improved the...
Tending to a sick loved one can be fulfilling, and it can bring deep satisfaction to a caregiver.
The heart is more than just a muscle. A complex electrical system drives the heart’s chambers to contract in a coordinated rhythm, pushing blood out to every cell in the body. When the system is damaged by heart disease, short circuits can result, causing dangerous disturbances in heart rhythm...
Cardiac rehabilitation, a comprehensive program to get patients healthy again after heart attack, cardiac surgery or other cardiac events, has been shown to save lives. But what if patients waiting for non-emergency heart surgery could start improving their health before their procedure? Could that...
When you enter the rehabilitation area of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, it looks very much like a gym—treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical trainers, all surrounded by a four-lane track. So you might think rehabilitation is all about physical fitness, but there’s much more to it...