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Query: UMLS:C0018799 (heart disease)
 34,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Heart disease, a major women's health issue, is responsible for 28% of mortality among US females. Combined oral contraceptives (OCs) have been shown to interfere with the 3 phenomena--lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and the hemostatic system--most involved in the coronary heart disease process. Disturbances in these systems are believed to underlie the general risk markers of heart disease, although it is not known to what extent OC-induced changes in these systems increase the likelihood of disease. Also unknown is whether there is a residual risk of heart disease in past users of OCs. Both low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are predictive of coronary heart disease in women. Impaired glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia are associated with other biochemical and physiological disturbances that increase the risk of heart disease, including changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins. High levels of fibrinogen and factor VII are additional important independent predictors of coronary heart disease. Depending on the sex hormone dose and the OC's composition, the pill has been shown to produce changes such as lowered HDL and HDL2 cholesterol levels, raised LDL cholesterol, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased insulin levels--metabolic disturbances common in those at increased risk of myocardial infarction. REcent studies have found that impaired glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia are associated with a set of biochemical and physiological disturbances--known as syndrome X--that occur regularly in OC users. The lowering of the estrogen and progestin dose in newer OCs, as well as the development of progestins intended to reduce metabolic effects, represent major advances. Continued evaluation of the various OCs in terms of risk markers is recommended, however.
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PMID:Oral contraceptives and coronary heart disease. 204 75

The data are conflicting, but the suspicion is that there may be a gender bias against referring women for angiography in coronary disease evaluation. These cardiologists, however, review the studies and conclude that, even with the available noninvasive tests, coronary angiography continues to be the gold standard for assessing and monitoring heart disease -- even in women. The burden of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women is significant. In spite of increasing uses of noninvasive testing, coronary angiography remains the gold standard in the diagnosis and assessment of CAD. Since gender differences exist in the clinical presentation of CAD and in the sensitivity and specificity of noninvasive testing, coronary angiography remains an invaluable tool in providing diagnostic and prognostic information in women. Angiography is also appropriate when vasospastic disease is suspected. Although gender differences in the indication for coronary angiography are recognized, evidence as to whether there is a bias against women in the referral for cardiac catheterization after noninvasive testing or myocardial infarction is conflicting. The possibility that physicians underestimate the risk of disease in women cannot be ruled out. Therefore, proper training of physicians in the clinical assessment and prediction of the pretest risk for coronary disease in women cannot be overemphasized. In addition, physicians should be aware that normal coronary angiograms in women cannot always rule out the existence of myocardial ischemia, especially in conditions such as variant angina and syndrome X. Coronary angiography has also been invaluable in elucidating the benefits of lipid-lowering therapy and estrogen use in women in the prevention of heart disease. Coronary angiography, therefore, remains an invaluable tool in the management of CAD in women.
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PMID:Assessing coronary artery disease in women: how useful is coronary angiography? 973 89

Alterations of autonomic nervous control of cardiac function have been described in syndrome X. The characteristics, however, of the autonomic control of the cardiovascular system in patients with syndrome X have not been adequately studied; thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of baroreceptor sensitivity and sympathovagal balance in syndrome X. The study group included 12 patients with syndrome X, 12 age- and sex-matched control patients with coronary artery disease, and 12 age- and sex-matched controls with no evidence of heart disease. Baroreceptor sensitivity was evaluated by calculating the regression line relating phenylephrine-induced increases in systolic blood pressure to the attendant changes in the RR interval. Sympathovagal balance was assessed by using heart rate variability in the time and frequency domain and measuring plasma norepinephrine at rest and during incremental bicycle exercise. Baroreceptor sensitivity was significantly reduced in syndrome X compared with that in control normal subjects (7.4 +/- 1.2 vs 16.8 +/- 2.3 ms/mm Hg; p < 0.02). This was associated with a significantly lower percentage of adjacent normal RR intervals that differ by >50 ms, lower root-mean-square of the difference of adjacent RR intervals, and lower logarithmic value of the high-frequency component in patients with syndrome X compared with normal subjects. A nonsignificant trend toward lower baroreceptor sensitivity was found in patients with syndrome X compared with control ischemic patients (7.4 +/- 2 vs 12.2 +/- 1.3 ms/mm Hg). A nonsignificant trend toward a higher value of the low- to high-frequency ratio was also observed in patients with syndrome X than in both control groups. No difference was detected in norepinephrine levels either at rest or during exercise or in the exercise-induced norepinephrine increase between the 3 groups. No difference was also observed between ischemic patients and normal subjects in either baroreceptor sensitivity or heart rate variability measurements. A significant correlation (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) was found between baroreceptor sensitivity and the high-frequency component in normal controls but not for other measurements of autonomic function in the 3 groups. In conclusion, patients with syndrome X have an altered autonomic control of the cardiovascular system characterized by impaired baroreceptor sensitivity and reduced heart rate variability. Abnormal autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system may be of pathophysiologic importance in syndrome X.
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PMID:Impaired baroreflex sensitivity and sympathovagal balance in syndrome X. 978 68

The prevalence of obesity has increased over the past three decades, in children as well as in adults. When obesity develops in the childhood years, excess adiposity generally continues into adult years, and adult obesity with childhood onset is frequently more severe. The health consequences of obesity in adults are well established, including greater rates of hypertension, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and heart disease. This paper will discuss the risk factors for these adult disorders that are detectable in obese children. Compared to normal weight children, obese children have higher blood pressure, higher plasma insulin levels, and a more atherogenic lipid pattern. Thus, the characteristic features of Syndrome X, or the insulin resistant syndrome, can be detected in obese children and adolescents. The vascular consequences of exposure to these metabolic risk factors beginning in childhood have yet to be completely determined. However, it is very likely that childhood obesity does contribute significantly to cardiovascular disease. For these reasons, greater efforts should be mounted to reduce the currently rising rates.
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PMID:Obesity and other risk factors in children. 1042 Oct 92

The constellation of dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and central obesity is identified now as metabolic syndrome, also called syndrome X. Soon, metabolic syndrome will overtake cigarette smoking as the number one risk factor for heart disease among the U.S. population. The National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III has identified metabolic syndrome as an indication for vigorous lifestyle intervention. Effective interventions include diet, exercise, and judicious use of pharmacologic agents to address specific risk factors. Weight loss significantly improves all aspects of metabolic syndrome. Increasing physical activity and decreasing caloric intake by reducing portion sizes will improve metabolic syndrome abnormalities, even in the absence of weight loss. Specific dietary changes that are appropriate for addressing different aspects of the syndrome include reducing saturated fat intake to lower insulin resistance, reducing sodium intake to lower blood pressure, and reducing high-glycemic-index carbohydrate intake to lower triglyceride levels. A diet that includes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, monounsaturated fats, and low-fat dairy products will benefit most patients with metabolic syndrome. Family physicians can be more effective in helping patients to change their lifestyle behaviors by assessing each patient for the presence of specific risk factors, clearly communicating these risk factors to patients, identifying appropriate interventions to address specific risks, and assisting patients in identifying barriers to behavior change.
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PMID:Metabolic syndrome: time for action. 1522 52

Platelets are rich sources of growth factors and enzymes that are implicated in a number of diseases including obesity, atherosclerosis, heart disease, syndrome X, liver and kidney diseases and certain types of cancers. In this research we investigated, if platelets in Zucker obese rats differ from their lean counterparts with respect to the levels of TGF-beta and COX isoforms, implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. In addition, we investigated if energy intake of the animals affects the platelet physiology. Platelets were isolated from obese and lean rats bearing preneoplastic lesions in their colon. Prior to platelet isolation these rats were fed either ad libitum (Ob or Ln) or energy restricted (Ob-ER or Ln-ER) diets for 8 weeks (n = 8/group). The levels of TGF-beta1/-beta2 and COX-1/-2 proteins in platelets were analyzed by Western blot. The platelets of the Ob rats had significantly higher levels of TGF-beta1, COX-1/-2 (p < 0.001) than did the platelets of the Ln rats and were not affected by moderate energy restriction. There were no significant differences in the protein expression of platelet TGF-beta2 among any of the groups. These results demonstrate that cytokines and candidates playing a role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, such as TGF-beta1 and COX-1/-2, are over-expressed in platelets of Zucker obese rats by comparison to their lean counterparts. These findings also demonstrate that the genotype of the animals exerts a significant effect on the biochemical composition of the platelets and could contribute to the pathogenesis of colon cancer and other metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity.
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PMID:Obese state leads to elevated levels of TGF-beta and COX isoforms in platelets of Zucker rats. 1647 87

Obesity has been identified as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure. Although congestive heart failure can be secondary to coronary heart disease, in morbid obesity these conditions can be independent. Cardiac structure and function can be altered even in the absence of systemic hypertension and underlying organic heart disease. In obese patients total blood volume increases and creates a high cardiac output state that may cause ventricular dilatation and ultimately eccentric hypertrophy of the left (and possibly the right) ventricle. Eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy produces diastolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction may ensue due to excessive wall stress if wall thickening fails to keep pace with dilatation. This disorder is referred to as obesity cardiomyopathy. The frequent coexistence of systemic hypertension in obese individuals facilitates development of left ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy. Congestive heart failure may occur and may be attributable to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction or to combined diastolic and systolic dysfunction. The risk of coronary heart disease seems to be more strictly correlated to central obesity than to increased body mass index. Insulin resistance seems to be the key factor that links obesity and ischaemic heart disease. In such a condition the so called Syndrome X appears. It is characterized by: obesity, systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridaemia and reduced HDL cholesterol levels. Considering that left ventricular hypertrophy is often present, many risk factors coexist in obese patients. Weight loss is very useful in obese patients. It may reduce mortality and morbidity for coronary heart disease and delay or avoid the appearance of congestive heart failure. It is proved that after weight loss, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and left ventricular mass decrease.
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PMID:[Obesity and the heart]. 1649 82

Angina pectoris is usually the first manifestation ofischaemic heart disease. Men are more often affected than women, but women are often denied the full diagnostic work-up of ischaemic heart disease. A 58-year-old woman had typical angina, positive exercise electrocardiography and a negative coronary arteriogram: syndrome X. She was treated with a beta blocker, aspirin, a statin and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, and eventually obtained relief of her symptoms.
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PMID:[A woman with anginal symptoms and normal coronary arteries]. 1919 90

Recognition of cardiovascular disease as the leading healthcare threat to women continues to shape the prioritization of efforts to more effectively diagnose and treat heart disease in women. At its inception almost 8 years ago, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in the USA sponsored the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study, aiming to optimize symptom evaluation and diagnostic testing for ischemic heart disease in women and to explore pathophysiologic mechanisms for symptoms and myocardial ischemia in the absence of epicardial coronary artery stenosis. The WISE study has investigated the spectrum of anginal symptoms, diagnostic strategies for micro- and macrovascular coronary disease, and the role of psychosocial variables and reproductive hormones in ischemic heart-disease presentation. One of the pivotal WISE findings sheds light on chest pain in the absence of significant obstructive epicardial luminal coronary stenosis, otherwise known as Cardiac Syndrome X. In the WISE study, using coronary vasomotor testing during angiography, investigators observed prevalent abnormalities in coronary flow reserve, suggestive of microvascular coronary dysfunction in relation to adverse morbidity and mortality among these women. Findings such as these from the WISE study have significantly added to the current management approach to heart disease in women.
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PMID:Are we 'WISE'r? Findings from the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation study. 1980 27

Symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF), either of ischaemic or nonischaemic aetiology, are common medical problems. Despite optimal medical treatment and improved revascularisation techniques, a significant number of patients are not successfully managed.Among the non-pharmacological, alternative, non-invasive treatments suggested for these patients, enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is considered the most effective one. EECP, administered in an outpatient setting, consists of three pneumatic cuffs applied to each of the patient's legs that are sequentially inflated and deflated synchronised with the cardiac cycle. Numerous clinical trials have shown that EECP is safe and effective in patients with ischaemic heart disease, with or without left ventricular dysfunction, improving their quality of life. EECP appears to be beneficial as an adjunctive therapy in patients with HF of any aetiology. Cardiac syndrome X has been shown to be effectively treated with EECP. Research in EECP expanded in its potential use for entities other than heart disease. More trials are necessary, including sham-controlled trials, to further establish EECP among medical society.
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PMID:Enhanced external counterpulsation: mechanisms of action and clinical applications. 2045 34


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