Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are used for a variety of indications, but in all cases, their function is the same—to deliver an electrical shock to the heart when they detect an erratic heart rhythm, known as a ventricular arrhythmia. An ICD is surgically implanted, as the name

After five years as a post-doctoral fellow at New York University, former Ottawa Heart Institute trainee Mireille Ouimet, PhD, has returned to the Institute to lead the new Cardiovascular Metabolism and Cell Biology Laboratory. Her team will focus on understanding how defects in a cellular process

Eighteen – it’s a tough age. Leaving the safe confines of high school for the wider world, starting post-secondary education or work, maybe moving away from your family to do so. Continuing with the adolescent task of figuring out who you are in the world, what you believe, what you want to do, how

Responsible for countless health problems, including cardiovascular and respiratory illness, and many forms of cancer, smoking commonly leads to hospitalization. Surprisingly, a minority of Canadian hospitals have systems, policies or procedures in place that support the consistent, effective

A good night’s sleep is important for a healthy heart. In fact, studies show that poor quality sleep increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and can be a point of concern for those living with cardiovascular disease. Trouble sleeping, or insomnia, is a common complaint, according to

Cardiac rehabilitation, a comprehensive program to get patients healthy again after heart attack, cardiac surgery or other cardiac events, has been shown to save lives. But what if patients waiting for non-emergency heart surgery could start improving their health before their procedure? Could that