By Tommy Kirkham, Cardiovascular disease is among the most lethal conditions in the world, and coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type and is the leading cause of death for both men and women in Canada and the United States (Lee et al. 2016)(HealthlinkBC 2015). Following diagnosis and especially after surgery or percutaneous [...]
By Gena Krikler, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is caused by deposition and build-up of fatty materials inside the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Eventually these deposits can block those arteries and cut off the blood supply completely, which causes myocardial infarction (a heart attack) (1). CHD has long been [...]
By Tommy Kirkham Coronary bypass surgery is a procedure performed on patients who have a blockage or blockages in their coronary arteries caused by atherosclerotic plaques induced by coronary artery disease or from a myocardial infarction (heart attack) (Mayo, 2014). Coronary bypass surgery is performed if the blockage induces symptoms of chest pain, shortness of [...]
By Gena Krikler, Due to its high prevalence, and potentially life-threatening consequences, the prevention and treatment of heart disease is a prominent area of research. It has been suggested that there may be a link between inflammatory diseases and heart health. Periodontal disease is a form of dental disease caused by poor dental health. It [...]
Sport Cardiology BC hopes to find out why athletes can suffer from heart problems It seems counterintuitive that an athlete would suffer from cardiovascular problems, but often seemingly healthy individuals can fall prey to unexpected health problems while competing. Sports Cardiology BC, with ethics approval from UBC, is working to create a database of testing done on masters athletes — those [...]
The average person spends between 55-57 percent of their life engaging in sedentary behaviours (4). Sedentary behaviours are defined as any sitting or lying behaviours involving low levels of movement or energy expenditure (5). Therefore, everyday activities such as working at a desk, driving a car, watching television or using a computer are all contributors [...]
The heart condition that has left former Vancouver Canucks hockey enforcer Gino Odjick with just months, or even weeks, to live is extremely rare, has no known cause and is almost always fatal, experts say. Odjick, 43, who played in the NHL from 1990 to 2002, including eight years in Vancouver and two in Montreal, [...]
In a heart attack, blood supply is blocked. When the heart suddenly stops functioning because of abnormal rhythms, it is called cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly a third of all deaths in Canada, but in the past decade, the cardiovascular death rate has fallen more than 40 per cent, due to advances in [...]