Saturday, July 11, 2009

Factors That Increase Death In Stroke Patients Ages 15 To 49: Finnish Study

Factors That Increase Death In Stroke Patients Ages 15 To 49: Finnish Study
Heavy drinking, being 45 to 49 years old, type 1 diabetes or having a preceding infection are associated with more than twice the risk of death in stroke patients 15 to 49 years old, according to a Finnish study. Furthermore, heart failure was associated with seven times the risk of death and active cancer malignancy with 16 times the risk of death in stroke patients. The overall death rate is low in this age group, said Jukka Putaala, M.D., who led the study.

Friday, July 10, 2009

One In Three Detected Breast Cancers Is Overdiagnosed

Researchers conclude in a paper just published on bmj.com that one in three breast cancers detected in a population with a public breast screening program is overdiagnosed. Some cancers are harmless and will not cause symptoms or death during a patient's lifetime. The cancer grows so slowly that the patient dies of other causes before it produces symptoms, or the cancer remains dormant or regresses. Overdiagnosis refers to the detection of those cancers. Read more ...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

What Is Heart Failure? What Causes Heart Failure?

What Is Heart Failure? What Causes Heart Failure?
Even though it may sound like it, heart failure does not necessarily mean that the heart has failed. Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart is not pumping blood around the body efficiently. The patient's left side, right side, or even both sides of the body can be affected. Symptoms will depend on which side is affected and how severe the heart failure is - symptoms can be severe. According to Medilexicon's