2008 Woodie Awards
Study finds early signs of heart disease
Issue date: 3/13/08
One of the key factors of the leading cause of death in the United States, coronary artery diseases, is the hardening of arterial walls through buildup of fat, cholesterol and excessive waste produced by cells, a process known as atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerotic buildup, or plaque, can significantly block or alter blood flow in the arteries that supply the oxygen-dependent heart muscle.
Plaques can also rupture, causing blood loss and muscle damage. These blockages and ruptures can trigger long-term weakening of the heart and, often, heart attacks.
Understanding the causes and risk factors that contribute to the development and onset of atherosclerosis and plaque rupture will provide insight for developing better treatments and preventative measures for coronary syndromes.
Ruptures are responsible for up to 75 percent of all acute heart problems.
Bruce Wasserman's team of researchers at the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at the Hopkins School of Medicine, in association with doctors in the Department of Pathology, studied cardiovascular risk factors that are associated with atherosclerosis.
Wasserman's group analyzed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a long-term study following healthy individuals, some of whom could go on to develop heart disease.
As the name suggests, the study included members of several ethnic minorities from across the country. The goal of this study organization was to appreciate any differences in risk factors that might be associated with ethnic or racial background.
Initially, a total of 6,814 participants free of cardiovascular disease history were selected to participate in the study at six locations across the country.
Wasserman and his group used ultrasound and MRI to identify individuals with thickening of the arterial walls, which is characteristic of atherosclerosis. MRI studies were also used to find plaques and lipid cores.
Atherosclerotic buildup, or plaque, can significantly block or alter blood flow in the arteries that supply the oxygen-dependent heart muscle.
Plaques can also rupture, causing blood loss and muscle damage. These blockages and ruptures can trigger long-term weakening of the heart and, often, heart attacks.
Understanding the causes and risk factors that contribute to the development and onset of atherosclerosis and plaque rupture will provide insight for developing better treatments and preventative measures for coronary syndromes.
Ruptures are responsible for up to 75 percent of all acute heart problems.
Bruce Wasserman's team of researchers at the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at the Hopkins School of Medicine, in association with doctors in the Department of Pathology, studied cardiovascular risk factors that are associated with atherosclerosis.
Wasserman's group analyzed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a long-term study following healthy individuals, some of whom could go on to develop heart disease.
As the name suggests, the study included members of several ethnic minorities from across the country. The goal of this study organization was to appreciate any differences in risk factors that might be associated with ethnic or racial background.
Initially, a total of 6,814 participants free of cardiovascular disease history were selected to participate in the study at six locations across the country.
Wasserman and his group used ultrasound and MRI to identify individuals with thickening of the arterial walls, which is characteristic of atherosclerosis. MRI studies were also used to find plaques and lipid cores.
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burner
posted 3/27/08 @ 5:02 PM EST
Hope to see some tips appearing on the blog to complement your existing tips. Be nice to hear what issues you come across and of course it will be get to see the final,Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in most developed countries around the world, and the number of cases is rising constantly as a result of both modern lifestyles and increased overall longevity. (Continued…)
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