News

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2016

The world’s largest cardiovascular conference, the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, convenes in New Orleans on November 12. The Ottawa Heart Institute has 45 program items on the agenda covering a wide range of science and clinical practice. Find it all with our program guide. 2016

Cardiac Arrest: Caring for the Brain as Well as the Heart

Survival rates for cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting are poor. Only about 5% of people survive, though encouraging people to get trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the placement of defibrillators in public places like sports and recreation facilities have improved the

Heart Institute CCC 2016 Program Guide

Nearly 70 Ottawa Heart Institute program items will be on tap this year at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Montreal. Topics range widely across basic research, clinical research and clinical practice. Our program guide will help you find them all. A particular highlight will be the Heart

40th Anniversary Flashback: World's First Point-of-Care Genetic Test

In 2012, the promise of using genetic information to personalize patient care made a leap forward at the Ottawa Heart Institute, with the introduction of the RAPID GENE test. Patients who get a cardiac stent to open a blocked artery must take medication to prevent blood clots. Clopidogrel is most

40th Anniversary Flashback: Discovery of the Most Significant Genetic Risk Factor for Heart Disease

At the turn of the 21 st century, what we knew about the genetic underpinnings of heart disease was limited. There had been success in identifying inherited mutations that cause relatively rare heart rhythm and muscle disorders (arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies). But the genetics of common cardiac

Warning Sounded on Drugs that Pose Risk for Heart Failure Patients

A person living with heart failure may not think twice about popping an over-the-counter pill for pain, swallowing a vitamin with breakfast or drinking a cup of green tea. But they should. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) released in July lists numerous prescription

A Way to Find and Stop Heart Attacks Before They Happen

In the film Minority Report, the police were able to see who was going to commit a murder before it happened, and then prevent it. Being able to do the same thing for heart attacks would be a major advance for cardiology—knowing who is going to have a heart attack and then preventing it from

Hybrid Operating Room: A Space Dedicated to Cross-Disciplinary Cardiac Care

When the dust settles on the Ottawa Heart Institute’s new addition in early 2018, one of the innovative new facilities to come online will be a hybrid operating room (OR). It will be a space for surgeons, interventional cardiologists, imaging specialists and other medical professionals to work side

Strong Showing in Race for Research Dollars

So far in 2016, Heart Institute researchers have won more than $7 million in research funding, including major awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Perhaps most remarkable is the Institute’s

Prevention Key to the Future of Cardiovascular Medicine

Despite major advances in technology and treatment over the past several decades, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in the world. In fact, cardiovascular illness has continued to increase at an epidemic rate globally despite a general reduction in age-related mortality over