Study focuses on improving benefits of cardiac rehab

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Exercise capacity is one of the most important markers of cardiovascular health, and now a local study is focused on improving the evaluation heart function.

Dr. Christos Mihos, with Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Heart Institute, is overseeing a study called “FIT-TWIST” to closely monitor the effects of a standard cardiac rehab program on patients who’ve had heart attacks.

“The heart is a muscle, just like any other muscle in our body. It’s the most complex muscle in our body and it moves in very intricate ways — let’s say three dimensional ways — and what we’re doing with this study is we’re saying, ‘OK, you’ve had a heart attack.’ We do an echocardiogram, which is just a basic ultrasound of the heart, but we apply very advanced modalities called speckle tracking and that allows us to visualize that three dimensional motions that we’re talking about,” Mihos said.

The goal is to tailor physical therapy to each individual patient.

The study was funded by the Florida Heart Research Foundation.

MELATONIN INGESTION PUTS KIDS AT RISK

Data from a new report highlights the dangers of children ingesting melatonin without parental supervision.

The report from the CDC and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that between 2019 and 2020, nearly 11,000 kids younger than 5 visited the ER after ingesting melatonin.

“Even though it’s sold, you know, at your local grocery store or drug store and it’s easily accessible, there still are significant side effects, especially when used in amounts greater than recommended,” said Dr. Jenna Wheeler, with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Experts said research is needed to determine if supervised use of melatonin for children is safe or even necessary.