Archive

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

Nursing our nurses back to health: Tailored interventions needed now

Nurses make up the largest professional group within the healthcare workforce and their work is perceived as being physically and mentally demanding. According to a National Survey of the Work and Health of Nurses in Canada conducted in 2005, an alarming proportion of Canadian nurses then reported

Modern day healthcare first envisioned in 1962 classic "The Jetsons"

It’s 2062. The world is a futuristic utopia of push-button conveniences made possible by technology. Even visiting the doctor happens virtually via videophone. Such was the premise of the popular American animated sitcom, The Jetsons, which first hit airwaves in 1962. But, as Cardiac Telehealth