(Press-News.org) Difficulty breathing, chest pain, and cough may sound like symptoms of a heart attack; however, new research shows that these are the key symptoms for pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially fatal blockage in the lung. A research team from Saint Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut, retrospectively reviewed the clinical features, risk factors, and ECG findings in 334 patients with confirmed PE. Results showed that dyspnea or difficulty breathing, chest pain, and cough were present in 72%, 38%, and 19% of the patients, respectively, and dyspnea was the only presenting symptom in 29%. Cancer was the most common risk factor present in 27%, followed by prior history of deep vein thrombosis or PE, immobilization, and surgery in 19%, 15%, and 15%, respectively. This study was presented during CHEST 2012, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, held October 20 – 25, in Atlanta, Georgia.
### END
Difficulty breathing, chest pain, and cough key symptoms for embolism
2012-10-22
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Pulmonary hypertension deaths and hospitalizations on the rise
2012-10-22
New research indicates an increase in the number of US deaths and hospitalizations related to pulmonary hypertension. A research team from Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, examined multiple cause of death mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System and hospital discharge data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for 1999-2009. Results showed that since 1999, the number of deaths and hospitalizations, as well as death rates and hospitalization rates, have increased for pulmonary hypertension, particularly among women and older adults. During ...
Pulmonary hypertension combination therapy may lead to greater disease burden
2012-10-22
Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) receiving combination therapy with intravenous (IV) PGI2 may suffer from greater disease burden compared with those receiving monotherapy or combination therapy, excluding IV PGI2. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Novartis Pharma AG in Switzerland performed statistical tests on 446 patients with PAH, of which (a) 337 were receiving monotherapy; (b) 88 were receiving non-IV PGI2 combination therapy; and (c) 21 were receiving IV PGI2 combination therapy. Results showed that pulmonary vascular resistance, ...
Guideline implementation may impact VTE quality of care
2012-10-22
The quality of care of patients hospitalized with venous thromboembolism (VTE) significantly improved between 2005 and 2009, and researchers suggest these improvements may be due to the implementation of VTE treatment guidelines. Using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, researchers from Inova Fairfax Hospital and Betty and Guy Beatty Center for Integrated Research, Falls Church, Virginia, reviewed quality care measures in 800,000 VTE discharges that took place from 2005 to 2009. Results showed that in-hospital mortality and length of stay decreased during this time, ...
Trainee presence during endobronchial ultrasound increases complications
2012-10-22
The presence of a trainee during endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) may have negative implications, including increased procedure time and complications. Researchers from the University of Calgary retrospectively reviewed 607 EBUS procedures, of which a trainee was present for 512. Significant differences were seen when a trainee was present vs when no trainee was present for procedure length (58.32 vs 37.69 min) and for the dose of propofol used (178.28 vs 137.11 mg). In addition, more complications were seen in the trainee group (24 vs 1). This study was presented during ...
10-minute 'tension tamer' can help reduce stress and improve sleep
2012-10-22
A simple, 10-minute stress reduction technique could help to relieve stress, improve sleep quality, and decrease fatigue. Researchers from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, attempted to determine the effect of a brief, stress reduction technique, the 10-minute Tension Tamer, on improvement of stress levels and sleep parameters in 334 patients in a heart health program. After a 30-minute introductory workshop, subjects were given instruction and guided opportunities to practice 10-minute Tension Tamers over the course of four 30-minute visits ...
'Elbow test' may predict sleep apnea
2012-10-22
Have you ever been "elbowed" by your bed partner because you were snoring? If yes, new research says you could have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Prior to polysomnography testing, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan asked 124 patients two questions: (1) Does your bed-partner ever poke or elbow you because you are snoring; and (2) Does your bed-partner ever poke or elbow you because you have stopped breathing? Answering 'yes' to being awakened for snoring or apneic spells increased the likelihood of an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >5/h (indicating at least mild ...
2.5 hours of patient/therapist contact time increases CPAP use
2012-10-22
Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is often used as therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), patient compliance with CPAP remains an issue. However, new research presented at CHEST 2012, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, shows that patients who meet with a respiratory therapist for a total of 2.5 hours within 30 days of initiating CPAP had significant compliance after 1 month of therapy. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente retrospectively reviewed the charts of 39 patients with OSA who were treated with CPAP and on a portable ...
Study demonstrates how fear can skew spatial perception
2012-10-22
That snake heading towards you may be further away than it appears. Fear can skew our perception of approaching objects, causing us to underestimate the distance of a threatening one, finds a study published in Current Biology.
"Our results show that emotion and perception are not fully dissociable in the mind," says Emory University psychologist Stella Lourenco, co-author of the study. "Fear can alter even basic aspects of how we perceive the world around us. This has clear implications for understanding clinical phobias."
Lourenco conducted the research with Matthew ...
Artspace Warehouse Stages Art Show at Warner Bros.
2012-10-22
Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, an iconic film and television production company, partnered with Los Angeles gallery Artspace Warehouse exhibiting an installation of contemporary artworks from emerging Los Angeles and Swiss artists. Warner Bros. employees got a unique chance to revel in the works of these artists exhibited at Central Perk, the cafe featured in the Warner Bros. hit show Friends which was filmed on the lot.
Hot emerging artists in this show included Courtney Raney, Hilary Bond, Mark Acetelli, Paul Kirley and Colleen Sandland among others.
The artworks ...
Dr. Gregory Wilmoth of Southern Dermatology in Raleigh, NC Named a Top Doctor By U.S. News
2012-10-22
With over 21 years experience, Dr. Gregory Wilmoth, MD of Southern Dermatology has been identified as one of the country's top doctors according to U.S. News in partnership with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. As a fellow in the American Society of Mohs Surgery, Dr. Wilmoth specializes in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, the most advanced treatment for skin cancer today.
Dr. Wilmoth established Raleigh's first private Mohs surgery practice in 2000. Dr. Wilmoth practices general adult dermatology with a special interest in Mohs surgery, cosmetic dermatology, laser skin rejuvenation ...