Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

MISSION, Kan., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (Family Features) Most people think of heart attacks as debilitating pain in the chest. However, that's not always the case, especially for women, and missing the signs can be a matter of life and death. Although heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, according to the American Heart Association, symptoms are often overlooked or explained away as less worrisome conditions. Continue Reading Photo courtesy of Shutterstock "Men and women experience many aspects of life differently, and heart disease is no exception," said LeAnne Bloedon, MS, RD, vice president of clinical development, Esperion Therapeutics. "Symptoms of a heart attack aren't as obvious as many women think, and failing to recognize the danger and get help can have catastrophic results." One heart disease risk factor, for example, is high LDL cholesterol. Often referred to as a "silent killer," it doesn't always present noticeable symptoms. In fact, data suggests women with high LDL cholesterol are not diagnosed or treated as early or aggressively as men, which can put women at an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Understanding how men's and women's risk and symptoms differ may help identify and treat a serious heart health problem before it causes lasting damage. Anatomy Differences Some differences between men and women are present in the body's internal systems, including the cardiovascular system. Women generally have smaller hearts and narrower blood vessels. This can affect heart health in numerous ways, including less efficient stress responses and greater risk of widespread plaque buildup, especially in smaller vessels, called microvasculature, which can pose treatment challenges. Cholesterol Buildup Hormones influence aspects of the body's function, including cholesterol levels. Estrogen, a female sex hormone, raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This may be why women tend to have more HDL cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol than men, especially before they reach menopause, though inherited high cholesterol can affect women of all ages. "It's critical to raise awareness about the importance of measuring LDL cholesterol, diagnosing high cholesterol and treating elevated LDL cholesterol per guidelines and individual patient needs," Bloedon said. Risk Factors While there are shared risk factors for heart disease among men and women (such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes), some risk factors disproportionately affect women. For example, uncontrolled cholesterol in women, particularly after menopause, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Care and Treatment "While you may not be able to fully prevent heart disease, you can understand the risks and take proactive steps," Bloedon said. "Commit to a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle. Exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet with limits on processed foods, sugar, sodium and alcohol. Take any medications as directed by your health care provider." Statins, which reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver and lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, are the medications most often prescribed to help manage high LDL cholesterol. While generally well-tolerated, statin intolerance (the inability to take a statin at any dose or the recommended dose) does occur in some patients and is more common in women. Talk with your doctor about other steps you can take to manage elevated LDL cholesterol levels and learn more about women's heart health at goredforwomen.org. Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women Women's experiences with heart disease may be quite different from men. For example, according to the Heart Disease Foundation, women are likely to be older when they experience a heart attack. They may also attribute symptoms to other conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis. Further complicating matters, several diseases mimic heart attacks so getting to the root of the problem can be tricky. Women are more apt than men to experience a coronary spasm, coronary dissection or broken heart syndrome. What to Watch For: Like men, women experiencing a heart attack may notice prolonged or reoccurring chest pain or pressure. In women, that pain may extend to the arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. Some women experience shortness of breath with no chest pain at all. Other symptoms women are more likely to report can be easily mistaken for other conditions. Some of these signs include unexplained fatigue, disruptions to normal sleep patterns, lightheadedness, nausea and cold sweats. Michael French [email protected] 1-888-824-3337 editors.familyfeatures.com About Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com. SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

New research in Annals of Family Medicine explores the use of artificial intelligence, apps, and tablets to detect dementia, heart dysfunction, and hearing loss in primary care settings PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Four new original research articles published in Annals of Family Medicine examine how digital tools are being tested to support earlier detection of cognitive decline, heart dysfunction, and hearing loss in primary care. From tablet-based assessments to AI-enabled screenings, these studies point to both the promise and the practical challenges of using digital innovations in clinical environments. Highlights from the four early access studies include: Continue Reading This visual abstract highlights results from the study titled "Artificial Intelligence Tools for Preconception Cardiomyopathy Screening Among Women of Reproductive Age" Dementia screening in older adults Two related studies from Indiana University tested a digital cognitive assessment tool for patients aged 65 and older across seven diverse primary care clinics. The first study found that nearly half of patients screened showed possible signs of cognitive impairment. A second companion study focused on implementation, showed that maintaining clinician engagement depended on allowing flexibility in workflow design across clinics. Screening rates increased throughout the 12-month study, and a brain-health navigator, who was a registered nurse, was introduced to support patients with positive screenings and assist clinicians with follow-up assessments. AI-enabled cardiovascular screening in women A Mayo Clinic pilot study evaluated whether AI-driven tools using electrocardiograms and a digital stethoscope could detect heart dysfunction in women of reproductive age. In the diagnostic cohort, which included women already scheduled for echocardiograms, the tools showed strong performance in identifying left ventricular systolic dysfunction (cardiomyopathy). In the screening cohort, made up of young women seen in routine primary care, the rate of positive screens was low, suggesting that the need for confirmatory echocardiograms is likely to be acceptable if routine screening is implemented. Tablet-based hearing screening in French family practice A study conducted in private family practices in France tested the feasibility of tablet-based hearing screenings using Bluetooth headphones. Out of 516 eligible patients, 219 completed the screening at their primary care visits. On average, it took about six minutes per patient to complete the process, including consent and instructions. Although 27 percent screened positive for hearing impairment, only a small number followed through with specialty care. An accompanying editorial emphasizes that the value of digital screening tools lies not only in what they do, but in how they are implemented. It calls for adaptable workflows, team-based care, and systems that support clinicians and patients beyond the moment of screening. "In a time when news headlines tout the inevitability of algorithms replacing clinicians, these examples show that digital tools work best when they augment rather than replace them," the authors write. All four original research studies and the accompanying editorial are available now as early access publications in the Annals of Family Medicine. Article Cited: Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing a Digital Cognitive Assessment for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias in Primary Care Nicole R. Fowler, PhD, MHSA; Dustin B. Hammers, PhD; Anthony J. Perkins, MS; Diana Summanwar, MD; Anna Higbie; Kristen Swartzell, PhD, RN; Jared R. Brosch, MD; Deanna R. Willis, MD, MBA Agile Implementation of a Digital Cognitive Assessment for Dementia in Primary Care Diana Summanwar, MD; Nicole R. Fowler, PhD, MHSA; Dustin B. Hammers, PhD, ABPP-CN; Anthony J. Perkins, MS; Jared R. Brosch, MD; Deanna R. Willis, MD, MBA Artificial Intelligence Tools for Preconception Cardiomyopathy Screening Among Women of Reproductive Age Anja Kinaszczuk, DO; Andrea Carolina Morales-Lara, MD; Wendy Tatiana Garzon-Siatoya, MD; Sara El-Attar, MD; Adrianna D. Clapp, MD; Ifeloluwa A. Olutola, MD; Ryan Moerer; Patrick Johnson, MS; Mikolaj A. Wieczorek, MS; Zachi I. Attia, PhD; Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MS, MD; Paul A. Friedman, MD; Rickey E. Carter, PhD; Peter A. Noseworthy, MD, MBA; Demilade Adedinsewo, MD, MPH Hearing Screening in Private Family Practice Medicine Using Tablet Applications Maria El Mouahidine; Arnaud Génin; Frédéric Venail; Jean-Luc Puel; Jean-Charles Ceccato Information Technology in Primary Care Screenings: Ready for Prime Time? Bhrandon Harris, MD, FAAFP, FAMIA; Karl Kochendorfer, MD, FAAFP, FAMIA; Memoona Hasnain, MD, MHPE, PhD; Masahito Jimbo, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAFP Annals of Family Medicine is an open access, peer-reviewed, indexed research journal that provides a cross-disciplinary forum for new, evidence-based information affecting the primary care disciplines. Launched in May 2003, Annals of Family Medicine is sponsored by seven family medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Medicine, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, the North American Primary Care Research Group, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Annals of Family Medicine is published online six times each year, charges no fee for publication, and contains original research from the clinical, biomedical, social, and health services areas, as well as contributions on methodology and theory, selected reviews, essays, and editorials. Complete editorial content and interactive discussion groups for each published article can be accessed for free on the journal's website, . SOURCE Annals of Family Medicine WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

TUESDAY, April 1, 2025 -- Subclinical cardiac dysfunction is associated with brain imaging markers of neurodegeneration, according to a study published online March 26 in Neurology . Amber Yaqub, from Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues leveraged data from seven prospective, community-based cohorts across Europe and the United States to examine associations between cardiac function, clinical heart failure, and structural markers on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Data were included for 10,889 participants (mean age, 66.8 years). The researchers found a consistent association for markers of systolic dysfunction with smaller total brain volume (TBV; e.g., adjusted standardized mean difference for moderate-to-severe dysfunction, −0.19). Associations were also seen for impaired relaxation and restrictive diastolic dysfunction with smaller TBV (e.g., for impaired relaxation, −0.08) and hippocampal volume (−0.18); results were similar for E/A-ratio. No consistent association was seen for systolic and diastolic dysfunction with volume of white matter hyperintensities. Overall, 3.4 percent of participants from five cohorts with available data had clinical heart failure, which was associated with smaller brain volume, especially in the hippocampus (−0.13). "These results highlight the importance of preserving cardiac function for promoting brain health during aging and encourage further investigations into the complex interplay between cardiac and brain health," the authors write. Abstract/Full Text Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.