Dr. Jason L. Koontz, MD

FRIDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- There are apps that turn your smartphone into a metal detector, a musical instrument and a GPS system, and now there's an app that may help doctors save your life if you're having a heart attack.

The app, which was designed by engineers and critical care...Full Article

FRIDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Management of heart disease risk factors -- such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking -- varies significantly among outpatient practices in the United States, according to a new study.

Researchers found that among 18 primary care and card...Full Article

THURSDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with heart failure or a heart attack appear to be at high risk of death or readmission to the hospital for at least one month after being discharged, researchers say.

And the period of increased risk for these patients may be even longer afte...Full Article

WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- People who are obese or out of shape in their 40s or 50s might think it's too late to start getting fit, but new research finds that shaping up in middle age lowers the odds for heart failure later in life.

What's more, the reduction in risk is indepe...Full Article

WEDNESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Among young heart attack victims, women often have more medical issues, more chest pain and worse quality of life before the event than men, a new study reveals.

The researchers, from the Yale School of Medicine, said young women also tend to have wo...Full Article

SUNDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) -- At least 10 percent of severe genetic heart defects are caused by new gene mutations that were not passed down from patients' parents, a new study finds.

Congenital heart disease is the most common form of birth defect and occurs in nearly 1 percent of n...Full Article

THURSDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- That four-legged friend of yours may be more than a companion -- he also may be boosting your heart health, experts say.

An official statement released Thursday by the American Heart Association says there is evidence that having a pet, particularly a d...Full Article

WEDNESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Although previous research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids may help those who have already had a heart attack or suffer from heart failure, a new study finds that the supplements do little to prevent cardiac trouble in people who have risk factors for heart...Full Article

THURSDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Even the minor noise that fills everyday life, from the ring of a cell phone to the conversation that follows, may have short-term effects on heart function, a small new study suggests.

In the study of 110 adults equipped with portable heart monitors, r...Full Article

WEDNESDAY, April 24 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans with heart failure could rise 46 percent, from 5 million in 2012 to 8 million in 2030, new research says.

And the direct and indirect costs of treating the condition could more than double, from $31 billion to $70 billion, ov...Full Article

THURSDAY, April 11 (HealthDay News) -- As anyone who's lost a job can attest, stress and worry often quickly follow. But the health of your heart after unemployment can also take a tumble.

Job loss can cause immediate heart issues, and the stress and bad habits that frequently come with u...Full Article

MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- A drug called amiodarone that's widely used to treat heartbeat irregularities might raise a patient's risk of cancer, Taiwanese researchers report.

The risk, which the researchers termed "borderline significantly increased," is more pronounced in men an...Full Article

WEDNESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- New research out of Japan shows a potential link between male baldness and an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

But it only affects men who are balding on top. Those with a receding hairline are not at risk, the re...Full Article

TUESDAY, March 12 (HealthDay News) -- A simple blood test conducted annually in your primary care doctor's office might be a first step in preventing heart failure, a new study suggests.

The next steps include getting a diagnostic echocardiogram and then receiving coordinated care between...Full Article

FRIDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Television ads for cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may lead to overdiagnosis of high cholesterol and overtreatment with the drugs, according to a new study.

The research found that patients' visits with doctors to ask about ...Full Article