Health News

Spreading the Word About Thrombosis
After fracturing her ankle and getting a cast, South African athlete Marie-Victoire Cumming began feeling extreme discomfort in her leg. What she didn't know was that she had a potentially life-threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis.
Menopause Rx: The Heart of the Matter
The use of hormones during menopause was once thought to protect against heart disease, but that may not be the case.
An Aspirin a Day After Blood Clots
A common treatment after having a blood clot is taking blood thinner medication. But many doctors will eventually take patients off medication when it's no longer necessary. Then what?
When the Body Turns on Itself
Some people's immune systems produce antibodies that fight parts of their own bodies. These aren’t always a big deal. But sometimes they can contribute to stroke or miscarriage risk.
Coronary Clot Aspiration Safe Long Term
After certain types of heart attacks, doctors often use stents to prop open the arteries. Another method that may be used involves removing blood clots through thrombus aspiration (TA), but studies have shown mixed long-term results.
Genetic Test Not Necessary Before Taking Plavix
After an artery-opening procedure following a heart attack, some patients take Plavix ( clopidogrel ) to treat or prevent a blood clot. Though the drug isn't as effective in some individuals, genetic testing is not needed, a recent study suggests.
Stents Help the Medicine Go Down
Patients who have previously suffered from a blood vessel blockage and received a medication-coated stent to prop the artery open may have a lower risk of developing another blockage or having a heart attack.
Limited Stent Use Successful
Some patients with coronary blockage benefit from medicine-coated stents to prop the artery open. A new study confirms stents are safe with limited use.
Human Platelet Creation to be Attempted
Inherited bleeding and clotting disorders are not well understood. Scientists hope that a study to create human platelet cells, which could aid chemotherapy patients in need of platelet transfusions, will provide insight into platelet function.
Minimizing Adverse Reactions by Stopping the Bleeding
Patients with acute coronary syndromes often must resort to stents or balloon angioplasty to relieve artery constriction. Now the European Society of Cardiology is suggesting new strategies to minimize bleeding during such procedures.