Cannabis and Myocardial Infarction


It has been noted that there is a five-fold increase risk of Myocardial Infarctions (MI) in the first hour after cannabis use. Traditional risk factors for MI include diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. The rising use of cannabis may have ushered in an additional MI risk factor to be added to the list; that is cannabis. In this review, we discuss the growing use of cannabis and potential link with MI, highlighting the common pathogenic hypotheses linking these risk factors. While Metabolic and Inflammatory effects accrue over time with cannabis use, cardiovascular effects from cannabis use can precipitate to a MI much more acutely. Myocardial effects result from alterations in coronary blood flow and heart rate promoting myocardial ischemia and potential infarction. Several studies have reported that acute THC use may be involved in reducing coronary blood flow.
Additionally, intravascular ultrasoundson patients experiencing THC associated myocardialinfarction usually findno evidence of atherosclerotic CAD.  Coronary angiography usually confirms coronary vasospasm and platelet thrombus formation without underlying atherosclerosis. Moreover, myocardial oxygen supply is further restricted by an increased concentration of carboxyhemoglobin leading to a reduction in oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells. Further exacerbating the myocardial oxygen supply are elevations in both heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in reductionof diastolic coronary filling and elevated diastolic coronary pressures.
Therefore, the reduction in coronary blood flow in combination with reduced oxygen carrying capacity and potential systemic and coronary vasoconstriction lead to an increase in myocardial oxygen supply-demand mismatch, resulting in ischemia. Patients suffering from preexisting cardiac conditions such as stable angina are especially prone to develop symptoms. Decreased exercise time to angina was reported in volunteers who use THC. Other studies have proposed that the hemodynamicmresponse caused by THC interrupts perfusion in susceptible atherosclerotic plaques. The role of beta blockers in reducing the myocardial oxygen supply-demand mismatch in cannabis users warrants further investigation.
The above Article originally got published at SciFed Journal of Cardiology in 2017, to have a glance please visit: Click Here
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Diet and Myocardial Infarction-Belgrade


Diet, as a major modifiable risk factor, vary markedly in different regions of the world, and the aim of this study was to investigate the association between different food groups and risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) among Belgrade population.
A case study involving 155 newly diagnosed cases of MI and 310 hospital-based controls was conducted. The cases and controls were matched by age (± 2 years), gender, and place of residence. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis.
Daily consumption of full-fat dairy products (OR, 7.19; 95% CI, 3.8–13.7), eggs (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.6–7.4) more than 3 times a week and processed meat (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2–3.7) more than two times increased the risk of MI after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Consumption of fish (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.1–0.6) and white meats (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.1–0.6) more than 2 times a week and daily consumption of fresh vegetables (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.2–0.6) and low-fat dairy products (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.3–0.9) significantly decreased the risk of MI.
The common Mediterranean diet has many heart healthy benefits. This diet encourages a high intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It encourages the use of monounsaturated fats such as olive oils and does not include many saturated fats. Fish, poultry, dairy and red wine are consumed as part of the Mediterranean diet. When it comes heart health, one concern with this diet is that a large portion of its calories are often derived from fat, which can lead to increased obesity, a known risk factor for heart disease. Be sure to talk with your doctor or dietitian to find out which diet is best for you.
The findings of this study suggest that dietary patterns may be associated with risk of MI in Belgrade population.
The above Article originally was published at SciFed Journal of Cardiology in 2017, to have a glance please visit: Click Here
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Stress Induced Cardiomyopathy in Post-Menopausal Women



Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurs in post-menopausal women undergoing emotional stress. The symptom of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an uncommon etiology of cardiac chest pain. Clinical characteristics include cardiac enzyme elevation, electrocardiogram changes, apical wall motion abnormalities and left ventricular dysfunction. However, cardiac catheterization typically show normal coronary vessels. There were also wall motion abnormalities consistent with Takotsubo pathophysiology as follows: mild LV dilation, LV dyskinesia at the anterior, apical, and distal inferior walls; and a hyper dynamic base. The most effective treatment for TCM is currently unknown due to the lack of case-control trials. However, most commonly antiplatelet medications, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and beta-adrenergic antagonists are used for treatment. Recurrence is documented, but is an extremely rare finding.
Recurrence occurs primarily in women and more commonly after TCM episodes associated with severe left ventricular dysfunction8. Singh demonstrated that patients with recurrence commonly have a significantly lower LVEF during the first episode of TCM, compared to their counterparts that did not experience recurrence. The most effective treatment for TCM is currently unknown due to the lack of case-control trials. Therefore, TCM is often treated supportively. TCM patients are most commonly discharged on antiplatelet medications, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and beta-adrenergic antagonists.
       Recurrence of TCM is a rare phenomenon making the incidence difficult to determine. Individual reports of incidence have been highly variable with ranges from 1.5-10%. Systematic reviews estimate recurrence rates of 1.5- 3.5%. Of note, they also found that the cumulative incidence of recurrence increased from 1.2% at the first six months, to nearly 5% at 6 years.
. The above Article originally got published at SciFed Journal of Cardiology in 2017, To have a glance please visit: Click Here
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Heart of Health Clinic


SciFed Journal of Cardiology aims to publish the highest-quality material covering original basic and clinical research on all aspects of the cardiovascular disease. Topics covered include Ischemic Heart Disease, Cardiomyopathy, Valvular Heart Disease, Vascular Disease and  Hypertension, Pericardium, Aortic valves, Palpitations, Arrhythmia, Congenital Heart Disease, Tricuspid valve, Auricles, Artery, Myocardial in Fraction, Atherosclerosis, Angina, Palpitations, Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatment, New Diagnostic Techniques, Coronary Syndrome and Cardiovascular Imaging. Journal of Cardiology also publishes a selection of review articles, clinical trials, short communications, and important messages and letters to the editor.
We encourage Cardiologists worldwide to submit manuscripts to the Journal of cardiology describing their original basic or clinical research findings that are of high academic value and which report new diagnostic techniques or summarize their treatment experiences.
In usual times the publication process of SciFed Journal of Cardiology are as follows: Step 1 includes the receiving of the manuscript and will undergo different processes of thorough checking like plagiarism, properly formatted and arrangement of figures, tables etc. Step 2 includes the review process with two or more reviewers, sending the comments to author and later author sends the revised paper, and finally Step 3 includes the final acceptance / reject from Editor. If rejected the article will not be published and the article will be send back to author for resubmission based on editor’s comments.  If the article is accepted, it will be published as the final electronic form as PDF or HTML format. 
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