Medical Bulletin 27/February/2023

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Too little sodium can be bad for heart failure patients, finds study

Heart failure, in which the heart muscle becomes too weak or stiff to pump blood effectively, is a chronic condition affecting over 6 million adults in the U.S. Physicians recommend a low-sodium diet to reduce blood pressure and avoid common symptoms such as fluid buildup and swelling. However, previous studies have reported mixed results regarding the optimal maximum daily sodium intake for people with heart failure.

For people with heart failure, restricting dietary sodium intake to levels below the standard recommended maximum of about 2.3 grams per day does not bring additional benefits and may increase the risk of death, according to findings from nine randomized controlled trials in a new meta-analysis presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology.

Reference:

“Sodium Restriction in Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials,” ,AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY.

People with long COVID more likely to suffer from heart problems: Study

There is no single definition for long COVID, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology. The researchers defined long COVID as symptoms persisting for at least four weeks and occurring at least two months after the initial COVID-19 infection. Experiencing lasting symptoms months after catching COVID-19, also known as long COVID, was found to more than double a person’s likelihood of developing cardiovascular issues.

The study-a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 11 major studies involving a total of 5.8 million people-represents the most comprehensive effort to date to examine cardiovascular complications from long COVID. Estimates of the number of people affected by long COVID vary substantially, but recent surveys suggest about 1 in 7 people in the U.S. have experienced long COVID.

Reference:

Joanna Lee et al,“Cardiac Complications among Long Covid Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,”AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY.

Good sleep may safeguard longevity: Study

Previous studies have shown that getting too little or too much sleep can negatively affect the heart. It's also been widely reported that sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes someone to pause or stop breathing while asleep, can lead to a number of heart conditions, including high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and heart attacks.

Getting good sleep can play a role in supporting your heart and overall health-and maybe even how long you live-according to new research being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology. The study found that young people who have more beneficial sleep habits are incrementally less likely to die early. Moreover, the data suggest that about 8% of deaths from any cause could be attributed to poor sleep patterns.

Reference:

Frank Qian et al,“Low-risk Sleep Patterns, Mortality, and Life Expectancy at Age 30 Years: A Prospective Study of 172,321 U.S. Adults,”AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY.