Happy hearts: Positivity plus exercise linked to lower CVD mortality

The association between a positive emotional state of mind and lower mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease is mediated by exercise, according to the results of a new study .

Patients with higher levels of positive affect, which reflects a pleasurable response to the environment and typically includes feelings of happiness, joy, excitement, contentment and enthusiasm, had a 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality at five years and were 50% more likely to participate in an exercise program than those with lower levels of positive affect.

In an adjusted regression model, there was no significant association between positive affect, as measured using the global mood scale (GMS), and cardiac-related hospitalizations. Ischemic heart disease patients with higher levels of positive affect on the GMS had a significant 42% lower risk of all-cause mortality at five years. In addition, these happier patients were also 48% more likely to exercise.

For More Reading please click here !

Multi-systemic effects of ACE inhibitors

RAAS and ACEIs

Discovery of RAAS occurred more than a century ago when in 1898, Tigerstedt1 and Bergmann demonstrated the existence of a substance (subsequently named renin) in crude extracts of rabbit renal cortex that caused a sustained increase in arterial pressure. Further understanding of RAAS pathway was brought forth by discovery of ANG-I  and II by Skeggs  and colleagues in 1950s. Finally, corticalhormone Aldosterone was discovered whose release was mediated via Ang-II and there by establishing the role of RAAS system in the regulation of blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.fig 1 

For more reading please click on Read More ! 

Localization of MI

Anatomoelectrocardiographic Localization of MI

Infarction Location/Coronary Vessel Involvement

An introduction to Parasternal Long axis view (PLAX) in Echocardiogram