Health News

Safety of Heart Rx Digoxin Debated
While digoxin helps the heart beat stronger, its safety has been debated. One study found the medication to be linked to higher mortality, but re-analysis of the data found no such connection.
Hip Stem Cells Repair Failing Hearts
Stem cells have the potential to become any type of cell in the body. For those with heart failure, stem cells may offer a new means for fixing damaged tissue.
Mortality Rates Up in Smaller Hospitals
Though hospitals are the place to receive care fast, smaller hospitals might not be keeping up with the bigger ones. It appears the quality of care delivered does vary between hospitals.
Depression Can Sink a Failing Heart
Positive feelings can make a world of positive difference in a person’s health. For patients with failing hearts, however, negative feelings and depression can have the opposite effect.
Give Your Heart a Good Night’s Sleep
It's frustrating enough when you toss and turn, unable to fall asleep. It's worse when you can't stay asleep. And now it seems these sleeping problems may affect more than your rest.
Very Ill May Prefer to Turn Off Heart Device
Like pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are implanted in the chest to regulate arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). ICDs, however, are programmed to deliver a high-voltage shock to return a heart to a normal beat.
Can Alzheimer’s Therapy Help Heart Patients?
Each year, millions of adults are affected by heart failure—when the heart fails to pump effectively. New therapies have been slow to develop, but Alzheimer’s treatment may offer a solution.
Former New York Mayor Ed Koch Dies
Ed Koch wasn’t just the brash and wildly popular mayor of New York, as one political aide and longtime friend, John LoCicero, put it, “He was New York.” Mr. Koch has died of congestive heart failure.
Women’s Heart Problems Linked to MCI
Heart disease has been linked to risk for dementia. But it is not clear which types of dementia are related to heart problems.
Being Supportive Can Make a Difference
When someone close to you is diagnosed with heart failure, they may become depressed and have trouble dealing with stress. But being supportive could lessen their depression and may even improve their health.