Archive

Highlights from the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress

There were a lot of interesting news, research and healthcare policy discussions at this year's conference. Has the Time Come for Precision Medicine? A physician argues that tailoring care to the individual will improve outcomes and reduce costs First National Quality Report on Cardiovascular Care

Awards and Recognition at CCC 2016

Ottawa Heart Institute staff and trainees featured prominently among award recipients again this year at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, with awards from several differ professional societies. Distinguished Teacher Award, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Kwan-Leung Chan, MD A cardiologist with

Helping Men Deal with the Emotional Impact of Heart Disease

Men and women tend to deal with life changing circumstances differently. Heart disease is no exception, and the issues men experience often are not specifically addressed. “Cultural expectations are that men shouldn’t show any emotions because that’s somehow perceived as weak,” said Heather Tulloch

Using Imaging to Diagnose and Understand Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CCC 2016)

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition that can affect multiple organs in the body. Cardiac sarcoidosis is a rare type in which clusters of white blood cells, called granulomas, form in the tissue of the heart. Affecting about 5% of people who suffer from sarcoidosis, it can impact the electrical

40th Anniversary Flashback: The RAFT Trial

Roughly half a million Canadians live with heart failure. The condition is an increasingly common one that can seriously impact an individual’s quality of life. Even when appropriately treated, hospital admission and readmission rates are stubbornly high. Traditionally, therapeutic implants called

The Importance of Best Practices for Successful Smoking Cessation

Cigarette smokers face twice the risk of heart disease compared with non-smokers, and most of them—more than 60%—want to quit. About half of Canadian smokers try to kick tobacco every year. Unfortunately, the likelihood of success for those who attempt to quit on their own is dismal: fewer than 5%

40th Anniversary Flashback: The Tale of the Mummy

It was a cold November night in 2008. All was quiet save the wind whistling through the bare trees, dark against the evening sky. Inside the computed tomography (CT) suite of the Ottawa Heart Institute, a small group stood hushed with anticipation. It would be a night that none of them would ever

Occupational Therapy Found to Uniquely Reduce Hospital Readmissions

Occupational therapy is proving to be one of the most important ways to avoid readmission to hospital. This was the finding of a study recently published in the journal Medical Care Research and Review which found readmission rates for heart patients were lower in hospitals that invested more in

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2016

The world’s largest cardiovascular conference, the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, convenes in New Orleans on November 12. The Ottawa Heart Institute has 45 program items on the agenda covering a wide range of science and clinical practice. Find it all with our program guide. 2016

Cardiac Arrest: Caring for the Brain as Well as the Heart

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