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Welcome to Dr. Caren and Dr. Urman's Heart Health e-Newsletter
We hope you find this complimentary monthly educational service for our patients and their families helpful. Please click on the header above or here to enter our website and learn more about our practice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or wish to make an appointment.
The column on the right has heart-related stories from the last several weeks which we feel are most important and most likely to be of interest to our patients. Additional general information and recent news about our office can also be found to the right. The latest news items from the last week about heart health are found below under "Health News."
Check out our updated Patient Education section.
Click here to learn more about cardiac conditions
In our web site's "Conditions Treated" section, many conditions have new or updated education links. To learn about a specific condition or disease, click on the rollover link where provided. You can read an overview as well as things such as causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of the condition.
PLEASE NOTE: We have provided this section not to provide specific medical advice, but rather to provide our patients and prospective patients with cardiac condition and disease information to better understand their health and diagnosed disorders. Specific medical advice cannot be provided and we urge you to consult with your physician for diagnosis and answers to your personal questions.
Honor Your Cardiologist by Helping Others
Appreciative of Dr. Caren or Dr. Urman’s care of you or a loved one? Show your appreciation by honoring them with a donation to Cedars-Sinai through the Circle of Friends program. You may choose what area you would like your contribution to go toward although if you are not sure, Drs. Caren and Urman suggest you have it go toward a Heart Institute or cardiac-related area.
By making a gift through Circle of Friends, your contribution will also help Cedars-Sinai make advances in biomedical research, educate tomorrow's physicians, and continue serving the community for years to come.
Click here to learn about Cedars-Sinai’s Grateful Patient Program.
Click here to make an online contribution to the Circle of Friends |
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| Study in Bangladesh finds it may raise the risk of heart disease |
THURSDAY, May 5 Even moderate levels of arsenic in drinking water increases the risk for heart disease, a new study suggests.
Arsenic is a naturally occuring element found in the earth's crust. High concentrations of arsenic in groundwater pose a public health threa... Read the full article |
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| 50% of victims survived, compared with 36% in other indoor public places
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THURSDAY, May 5 You stand a better chance of survival if your heart stops beating while you're in an exercise facility than if you're in another type of indoor public place, a new study found.
Overall, 50 percent of cardiac arrest victims survived if the attack occu... Read the full article |
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| Researcher calls ECG test a 'no-brainer' for athletes but sees benefits for all
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THURSDAY, April 5 Checking the hearts of teenagers, athletes and non-athletes alike, could save thousands of lives, a new study suggests.
The heart check recommended is an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the electrical activity in the heart and identifies thos... Read the full article |
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| Study finds that high levels indicate drug treatment is working
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THURSDAY, May 5 In people with advanced kidney cancer, blood pressure appears to indicate how well their medication is working, with high blood pressure linked to longer survival, new research shows.
The finding comes from a study of 544 people being treated with th... Read the full article |
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| Study authors say estrogen protects blood vessel walls, but expert questions quality of research |
THURSDAY, May 5 Taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy could protect women against brain aneurysms later in life, a new study suggests, although one neurologist questioned the quality of the research.
Cerebral aneurysms occur when a blood vessel in... Read the full article |
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| Activities that raise blood pressure appear to be the cause, researcher suggests |
THURSDAY, May 5 If you have a brain aneurysm, drinking coffee, having sex or even getting angry may boost the risk of it rupturing, a new study suggests.
Although the risk is extremely small, people who have aneurysms should be careful, said Dr. Sahil Parikh, assis... Read the full article |
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| Whether raising levels would mitigate risks of being overweight remains unclear
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WEDNESDAY, May 4 Low levels of vitamin D are common in obese adolescents, a new study finds.
Researchers screened 68 obese adolescents and found low vitamin D levels in all of the girls (72 percent were deemed deficient and 28 percent insufficient) and in 91 percent ... Read the full article |
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| Researchers pinpoint second gene crucial to heart development |
WEDNESDAY, May 4 A gene essential to cardiac development has been associated with a group of congenital heart defects that cause a major proportion of childhood death from heart abnormalities.
It is unclear how these cardiac defects -- all malformations of the left ... Read the full article |
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| Expired Pill Samples as Art |
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See Dr. Caren's latest artistic expression and social commentary (now on display in our waiting room) |
| An Apple a Day May Help Keep Heart Disease Away |
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Dried apples lower bad cholesterol, study found |
| Artery Plaque Forms in Short Time Span, Scientists Say |
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Analysis finds newest plaques most likely to cause medical problems |
| Atherosclerosis |
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Learn more about atherosclerosis (plaque in the arteries) which can lead to heart disease and stroke. |
| Lifestyle Changes Can Slash Blood Fat Levels, Experts Say |
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Improving exercise, eating habits reduces triglycerides, heart association notes |
| For Nonsmokers, Healthy Living Cuts Death Rate in Half: Study |
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Better diet, exercise and keeping slim fend off heart disease, cancer, research shows |
| Brisk Walk Can Boost Blood Flow to the Brain: Report |
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Older women benefited from aerobic activity, 30-50 minutes, 3-4 times per week, small study found |
| Health Tip: Choose Healthy Carbohydrates |
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Look for whole grains and those high in fiber |
| Less Invasive Procedure for Aortic Stenosis Shows Promise |
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FDA approval still pending for "game-changing" non-surgical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Cedars-Sinai has nation's largest experience with this alternative for those deemed not suitable or at high risk for open-heart surgery. |
| Aortic stenosis: narrowing of the aortic valve. |
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Learn more about a condition that reduces the amount of blood that flows out of the heart and puts excess stress on the heart. Aortic stenosis is becoming more common as our population ages. |
| Clip Device for Leaky Heart Valve Seems Effective |
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Study suggests MitraClip may help some with mitral regurgitation avoid open-heart surgery. Cedars-Sinai enrolled most patients world-wide. |
| Mitral regurgitation: excess leaking of the mitral valve. |
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Learn more about mitral regurgitation and a common cause: mitral valve prolapse |
| Women Taking Calcium Supplements May Risk Heart Health, Researchers Say |
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Authors urge further studies, getting calcium from food instead of pills |
| Risks of Estrogen Hormone Therapy Seen to Fade After Treatment Ends |
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Increased odds of stroke, blood clots dissipate, as do most benefits, researchers find |
| Certain Diabetes Drugs Better for Heart Health, Study Finds |
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Metformin, the usual first choice medication, said to lead the pack |
| Too Many Hours at Work Might Harm the Heart |
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Study of British workers found 11-hour days raised heart disease risk 67% |
| Yoga May Also Calm a Dangerous Irregular Heartbeat |
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Small study found reduction in episodes of atrial fibrillation, which can raise stroke risk |
| More about atrial fibrillation |
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Learn more about the most common arrhythmia in the US |
| Can Coffee Cut a Woman's Stroke Risk? |
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Swedish study shows even a cup a day reduces the risk; experts say more proof needed |
| Dr. Urman in LA Times about Coffee |
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Coffee likely isn't harmful, might be beneficial but isn't as important as overall heart-healthy diet and regular physical activity |
| Insurance and Billing FAQ's |
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Also, learn why we believe our policies allow us to maintain our high level of personalized patient care.
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| Meet Dr. Caren |
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Get to know the man behind the camera. |
| Meet Dr. Urman |
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Learn more about the founder and medical editor of our patient newsletter |
| Two Different Heart Drugs May Work Equally Well for High-Risk Patients |
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Study found ARB, calcium channel blocker both helped those with hypertension, glucose intolerance |
| Death Rates Among People With High Blood Pressure Falling |
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But they're still at raised risk over those without hypertension |
| Learn more about Hypertension |
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The higher your blood pressure is, the higher the risk of heart disease. How to treat hypertension with medications and lifestyle changes. |
| Many Americans Ill-Informed About Red Wine, Sea Salt: Survey |
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Confusion puts heart health at risk, experts say. For example: most Americans have heard that red wine has health benefits, but many don't understand the need to limit consumption |
| Health Tip: Cut Down on Sodium |
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And lower your risk of heart problems |
| Tai Chi May Help Heart Failure Patients |
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Ancient Chinese exercise seems to improve quality of life, researchers report |
| Office News |
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Recent news about our doctors and office. |
| Newsletter Archive |
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In case you have missed our previous newsletters |
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