A heart-healthy take on a Fall flavour classic
There is a long list of pumpkin spice inspired products available to consumers this time of year. There are pumpkin spiced beers, cereals and yes, even dog treats. The pumpkin spice mix is essentially a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice, but it has been known to include other
Raising the bar: The future of medical education in Canada
It takes years and years of training to become a doctor, nurse or any other healthcare practitioner. It takes years and years more to master the skills demanded of those occupations. The truth about a career in medicine is no matter the specialty, learning continues long after the graduation caps
Frailty may be more deadly in younger heart patients, study finds
Traditionally, frailty is thought to be a syndrome of the elderly – one which comes as a natural and inevitable side-effect of aging, gradually transforming strong, healthy bodies into weaker, more delicate frames over time. For clinicians, frailty is a concept which has long posed formidable
Mars and Venus in heart failure outcomes: Why women are more at risk than men
There are several inherent differences to the physical make up of a woman’s heart versus that of a man. For starters, a man’s heart is physically larger, weighing up to 60 grams more than a woman’s heart on average. Functionally there are differences, too. Arteries which feed a women’s heart with
New rehabilitation program for peripheral arterial disease promises to help Canadians walk their way to better health
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) is leading Canada's first dedicated walking rehabilitation program for people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a painful and debilitating “hardening” of the arteries outside of the heart, most commonly in the legs. The first-of-its-kind
Gene editing: Is CRISPR a possible game-changer for cardiovascular disease?
In its simplest incarnation, CRISPR-Cas9 is a wildly popular and powerful gene-editing technology which can be thought of as a two-part machine – one that essentially works as a find-and-replace or find-and-remove for your DNA. The first part of the CRISPR-Cas9 machine is the guide RNA, a short
Beyond the buzzword: The promise of precision medicine
With next-generation DNA sequencing and patient-tailored therapeutics entering the market and significantly transforming lives, the era of precision medicine is upon us. What exactly is this bold new approach, and why does it promise to revolutionize how we improve heart health and treat its
Emerging medical breakthroughs: Are we ready for tomorrow?
Exciting medical discoveries are being fed through our social media feeds and television screens with a seemingly limitless speed and diversity. From breakthroughs like genetic engineering and regenerative medicine to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and robotic surgery, we live in
Smartphone-based diagnostics more accurate than traditional examination techniques
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests smartphone technology is diagnostically more accurate than traditional physical examination techniques to assess blood flow in arteries found in the wrist. The study was conducted at the University of Ottawa Heart
The leadless pacemaker: Is wireless pacing the new era of cardiac care?
Many important innovations have been made over the last 50 years to improve the efficacy of transvenous pacemakers implanted in cardiac patients worldwide. Despite modern advancements, there remain certain risks associated with the implantation of such devices, and long-term complications are not