Fluoroquinolones antibiotics associated with risk of heart problems

In a new study, researchers have established the link between one of the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics and heart problems.

In a study, researchers found that current users of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as Ciprofloxacin or Cipro, face a 2.4 times greater risk of developing aortic and mitral regurgitation, where the blood back-flows into the heart compared to patients who take amoxicillin, a different type of antibiotic.
The greatest risk is within 30 days of use.

Some physicians favour fluoroquinolones over other antibiotics for their broad spectrum of antibacterial activity and high oral absorption, which is as effective as intravenous or IV, treatment.
You can send patients home with a once-a-day pill, said the lead author of the study.

The class of antibiotics is very convenient, but for the majority of cases, especially community-related infections, they're not really needed. The inappropriate prescribing may cause both antibiotic resistance as well as serious heart problems, added the author.

One of the key objectives of Therapeutic Evaluation Unit is to evaluate different drugs and health technologies to determine whether they enhance the  quality of care delivered by our programs or improve patient outcomes, said the researcher.

For the study, researchers analysed data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's adverse reporting system. They also analysed a massive private insurance health claims database in the U.S. that captures demographics, drug identification, dose prescribed and treatment duration.

Researchers identified 12,505 cases of valvular regurgitation with 125,020 case-control subjects in a random sample of more than 9 million patients.

They defined current fluoroquinolone exposure as an active prescription or 30 days prior to the adverse event, recent exposure as within days 31-60 , and past exposure as within 61-365 days prior to an incident. They compared fluoroquinolone use with amoxicillin and azithromycin.

The results showed that the risk of aortic and mitral regurgitation, blood back-flow into the heart, is highest with current use, followed by recent use. They saw no increased risk aortic and mitral regurgitation with past use.


this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations 
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement    

Mechanical heart valves safer than biological ones

Mechanical heart valves may be safer in certain cases than those made of animal tissue and should be used more as a replacement, especially in younger patients, according to a study.

Researchers  found that the best choice can hinge on whether the aortic or mitral valve is being replaced.

The study shows that for patients undergoing mitral valve replacement, a mechanical valve is actually beneficial until the age of 70.

On the other hand, for patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, the benefit of implanting mechanical valves ceased after the age of 55.

"This has potential to significantly impact the current national practice guidelines," said a professor.

Most patients who need open-heart surgery to remove a diseased heart valve face complicated conversations with their heart surgeons about whether to use a natural-tissue or mechanical valve as a replacement.

Mechanical valves can last a lifetime, but they come with increased risks of blood clotting and bleeding and a lifetime of having to take the blood-thinning medication warfarin.

Biological valves, which are most often made from pig or cow tissue, do not increase the risk of bleeding or clotting, but they wear out within about 10 to 15 years, making a second surgery likely.

The decision has been made difficult by the lack of sufficient scientific evidence to back up either choice, said senior author of the study .

For those younger than 50, a mechanical valve is currently recommended, and for those older than 70, a biologic tissue valve is recommended, author said.

However, the guidelines do not distinguish between whether the mitral or aortic valve is being replaced.

"If you think about this just in terms of age, the older you are, the less likely that you will outlive the durability of a biological valve," author said.

Surgeons have noted in recent years a trend towards younger patients choosing biological valves, primarily because they do not want to deal with a lifetime of taking blood thinners and with the accompanying dietary restrictions and routine blood testing necessitated by a mechanical valve.

Researchers examined rates of mortality, stroke, bleeding and reoperation in patients who underwent heart-valve surgery at 142 hospitals  between 1996 and 2013.

They examined the records of 9,942 patients who underwent aortic-valve replacement and 15,503 patients who underwent mitral-valve replacement during the study period.

Results showed a stark difference in health benefits depending on which valve was being replaced, the author said.

The long-term mortality benefit associated with a mechanical valve compared with a biological valve persisted until age 70 in patients undergoing mitral-valve replacement, the study found.

For those undergoing aortic-valve replacement, this benefit persisted only until age 55.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.   
 
PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

High Blood Pressure Linked with Common Heart Valve Disorder

High blood pressure or hypertension has always been linked to quite some health hazards. Now according to a study, there is a strong link has been established between high blood pressure and the most common heart valve disorder known as mitral regurgitation. The research revealed that the valve disorder, which is increasingly diagnosed worldwide, particularly among older people, is not an inevitable consequence of ageing, as previously assumed, but may be preventable.

According to the study, given the large and growing burden of mitral valve disease, particularly among older people, these findings are likely to have significant implications for medical policy and practice around the world. Mitral regulation can lead to back-flow of blood into the heart, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, tiredness, dizziness and chest pain. This condition is more common in older people, and may be associated with a greater risk of mortality.

According to the researchers, further research is needed to test whether lowering blood pressure, through exercise, diet or blood pressure lowering drugs, could actually reduce the risk of the disorder occurring.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common problem in most of us, but the right diet can help regulate BP in many ways. Here are some foods that you can include in your daily diet in order to regulate high blood pressure.

1. Oatmeal
Consuming a high fiber diet and whole grains help your body maintain a healthy blood pressure. Oatmeal helps reduce both systolic and diastolic pressure.
2. Beetroot
This vegetable is rich in nitrates, which is thought to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. Drinking a glass of beetroot juice can yield a five-point drop in blood pressure, as per an Australian study.
3. Carrots
Carrots are high in potassium and beta-carotene that have been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure. Carrots help maintain normal blood pressure by regulating heart and kidney functions.
4. Oranges
Oranges are vitamin rich fruits, which may help in lowering you blood pressure. Opt for a glass of fresh orange juice and stuff yourself with fiber and vitamin C.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                          

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM