It’s impossible to ignore the fact that heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death around the world, and it has been on the rise in the United States. Though those facts are disheartening, as we consider ways to care for our cardiovascular health and learn about heart disease during American Heart Month, it’s the perfect time to celebrate how recent technological advancements are helping in the battle against heart disease.
New imaging techniques
Being able to monitor the health of arteries plays a big role in the prevention of heart attacks, and traditional diagnostic tests that rely on the analysis of blood flow have not always successfully detected plaque buildup.
New imaging techniques such as coronary calcium scoring, carotid ultrasounds and CT coronary angiography are being used to look for other signs that could indicate future problems, creating an opportunity to intervene early for those not yet at high-risk for life-threatening cardiovascular events.
Artificial intelligence seems to be changing almost everything these days, and healthcare is no exception. Based in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Valley Hospital is making use of AI-based imaging technology to identify plaque buildup.
A group of researchers is using a GAN-based approach to generate high-resolution, 3D Magnetic Resonance images. GAN, which stands for Generative Adversarial Network, is a type of machine learning model, and the results suggest that their approach is capable of generating highly accurate images.
Medical devices
The development of new medical devices is also invaluable in the battle against heart disease, both directly and indirectly.
ControlRad, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, has developed devices that reduce the amount of radiation medical staff and patients are exposed to during cardiac catheterization lab procedures.
TA Instruments, based in New Castle, Delaware, has developed an instrument for testing heart valve durability, which is contributing to the process of designing better valves for future use.
Consumer devices
Prevention and the technology helping facilitate prevention aren’t only being developed for use in medical settings. Personal responsibility and lifestyle are major factors in the prevention and management of heart disease, and technology is helping individuals on this front as well.
Home blood pressure monitoring is one of the American Heart Association’s recommendations for people with high blood pressure, and home blood pressure monitors have become widely available. Properly validated, app-connected smart monitors can be purchased from many places that sell electronics and are available for a range of budgets.
Heart rate monitors and other wearable devices are also becoming more widely used, more accurate, and more recognized as potential tools in aggregating data that could be useful in monitoring heart health.
New Treatments
Prevention alone is not always enough when it comes to heart disease, and those who find themselves needing treatment may face many challenges that go beyond just the procedure itself.
A study has found that the use of a technique called quantitative flow ratio (QFR) can help improve outcomes for patients undergoing a procedure that treats narrowed arteries by helping determine where stents are needed.
People who need heart transplants often face long waits before they ever have to face the surgery itself. A new type of artificial heart has successfully been transplanted into a woman at the University of Louisville Health – Jewish Hospital, showing its potential to be used for those who are facing imminent heart failure but need more time before they can receive a transplant. Furthermore, this artificial heart is small enough to fit inside the chest cavity of women, making it a better option for a wider range of people than larger artificial hearts.
Final thoughts
These are just a few examples of the technological research and advancements that are always in progress. Acknowledging these developments and the researchers and developers behind them can provide hope through American Heart Month and throughout the year by reminding us of the progress that has been made and providing insight into what progress we can look forward to in the future.
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