Primary angioplasty and health information provision

Source: NHS Improvement – Heart

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Date of publication: January 2011

Publication type: Best practice

In a nutshell: Patients are now spending less time in hospital following a heart attack and primary angioplasty. This document emphasises the importance of ensuring that patients are properly informed and educated afterwards about their condition and the steps necessary in order that they make a good recovery and maintain their health in the future.

Length of publication: 16 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Public health importance of triggers of myocardial infarction: a comparative risk assessment

Source: The Lancet, 26 February 2011, vol 377 (9767), pp 732-740

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Researchers at the Centre for Environmental Science at Hasselt University in Belgium have reviewed a large number of epidemiological studies looking at triggers such as alcohol, anger, marijuana, physical exertion, in regard to the onset of MI. Air pollution turns out to be an important trigger, which may be very significant in public health terms.

Length of publication: 9 pages 

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Declines in acute myocardial infarction after smoke-free laws and individual risk attributable to secondhand smoke

Source: Circulation, 6 October 2009, vol 120(14), pp 1373-1379

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The authors, James Lightwood and Stanton Glantz, from University of California, discuss the larger-than-anticipated falls in acute MI following the introduction of strong anti-smoking legislation in American and European countries. There may have been under-estimation of the risks from passive smoking previously. The benefits of smoke-free policy appear to increase over time.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Long-term benefits of cardiac rehabilitation: A five-year follow-up of community-based phase 4 programmes

Source: British Journal of Cardiology, 16 (2) p. 73-77

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Date of Publication: March-April, 2009

Publication Type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Little is known of the benefits of phase 4 cardiac rehabilitation post acute myocardial infarction. This article examines a small, single-centre study which was designed to assess the effectiveness of long-term phase 4 cardiac rehabilitation based in the community. The study showed that there were observable benefits for patients who participated in community-based phase 4 programmes.

Length of Publication: 5 pages

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Acknowledgements: Medinews (Cardiology)