South Korean Researchers Develop Simple Thermometer-Like Device to Spot Heart Attack

South Korean researchers have developed a simple thermometer-like device to diagnose heart attacks that could make detecting whether one has had a heart attack or not a lot easier and cheaper.

Sangmin Jeon from Pohang University of Science and Technology and colleagues said that one way to tell whether someone has had a heart attack involves measuring the level of a protein called troponin in the person’s blood.

Double Amputee Indian Swimmer Masudur Rahman Baidya Dies of Heart Attack
Baidya lost both his legs at the age of nine, but his passion for swimming and zeal to achieve something earned him worldwide attention.

Inspired by the simplicity of alcohol and mercury thermometers, the researchers created a similarly straightforward way to detect troponin.

It involves a few easy steps, a glass vial, specialized nanoparticles, a drop of ink and a skinny tube.

Troponin’s concentration rises when blood is cut off from the heart, and the muscle is damaged.

Quitting Smoking at 60 Cuts Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Within First Five Years
The increase in risk depends on the number of cigarettes a person has smoked in his or her lifetime. After one quits smoking, this risk continues to decrease.

Today, detecting troponin requires bulky, expensive instruments and is often not practical for point-of-care use or in low-income areas.

Yet three-quarters of the deaths related to cardiovascular disease occur in low-and middle-income countries. Early diagnosis could help curb these numbers, the researchers said.

Save Yourself from Heart Attacks, Heart Diseases by Brushing Your Teeth Regularly
People suffering from periodontitis often have cardiovascular problems. The risk of stroke is greater especially among men and younger people.

The findings were detailed in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

Source-IANS

Divorced Women have Higher Risk of Heart Attack, Even If They Remarry
Although men are at higher risk for heart attacks, a study reveals that women fared worse than men after divorce. They had a higher risk even if they remarried.