By Julie Carrico, MBA, CCRC
The term cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term for many types of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. These conditions include heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, heart valve problems and peripheral artery disease (“poor circulation”). Peripheral artery disease occurs when arteries narrowed by the accumulation of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis) reduces blood flow to limbs.
The “prevention” recommendations for different cardiovascular diseases are similar – quit smoking, exercise, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and maintain a healthy weight.
If appropriate, patients who have been diagnosed with a heart attack, stroke or symptomatic peripheral artery disease will be instructed to “double down” on the prevention recommendations mentioned above. Unfortunately, many patients go on to experience additional cardiac events. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 30 percent of heart attacks and 23 percent of strokes occur in people who have already had a heart attack or stroke.
Medical scientists have been studying patients with existing cardiovascular disease with the goal of reducing the recurrence of cardiac events.
A new clinical study at the Clinical Research Center is being done to evaluate the effect of a medication that might reduce cardiac risk in patients who have had a heart attack, stroke or symptomatic peripheral artery disease and who are overweight or obese. Participants in this study must be at least 45 years old and not have diabetes.
If you think you might qualify, the investigators for this important study – Michael Chen, M.D.; Brian Curtis, M.D.; and Ruth Palma, FNP-BC – invite you to contact The Clinical Research Center for more information.
The Clinical Research Center is currently seeking volunteer participants in studies for endometriosis, and reducing cardiovascular risk in obese patients with existing heart disease. In addition up to 4 different Type 2 diabetes studies will be open in the next few months. Click here if you’d like to be contacted about one of these studies.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, contact the Clinical Research Center at 541-766-2163 or send an email to research@corvallisclinic.com. Or, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corvallisclinicresearch.
– Julie Carrico is Associate Coordinator of The Corvallis Clinic Clinical Research Center and a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator.
