Lipids and cardiovascular disease (CVD) Lipid metabolism involves a wide range of complex pathways that play key roles in both normal physiology and disease. Lipids are essential for maintaining cell membrane integrity and supporting energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. Among them, cholesterol has drawn particular attention for its strong association with CVD.– While cholesterol is vital for several physiological functions — such as those related to nervous system structure and steroid hormone production — its role in the development of […]

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, and systemic and pulmonary arterial hypertension., Oxidative stress is characterized by an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defenses. Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron, making them highly reactive and capable of causing cellular damage. The most common free radicals are reactive oxygen species (ROS) […]

The use of decision support tools and automation in medical practice is not new. Early tools employed simple regression models to reduce heterogeneity and offer more structured care. In cardiology, initial examples of decision support tools included the Framingham risk scores for primary prevention risk stratification and automated sliding scale dose adjustments for heparin or warfarin. Since then, automation processes have become more sophisticated and are now widespread in many routine aspects of medical practice. In cardiology, these include automated […]

Introduction In an era of sophisticated diagnostics and personalized therapies, one aspect of patient care remains routinely overlooked: sexual health. Sexual activity (SA) is more than a source of pleasure; it is also a marker of vitality, intimacy, and emotional resilience.– For individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), the desire to resume SA often signals not only physical recovery but also emotional healing and renewed self-confidence. On the other hand, we encourage patients to walk, to eat better, and to take […]

Over the last years, advances in digital technology (DT) have revolutionized various sectors, and health is not an exception. Digital tools including monitoring devices, telemedicine platforms and even wearables have enabled individuals to be responsible for their self-care. These technological innovations are particularly transformative for women, contributing to overcome a historical barrier to access to health care (now in the palm of their hands), and also to promote health and prevention of disease progression. The recent World Health Organization report […]

Introduction Laughter therapy, also known as humor therapy, utilizes laughter and enjoyment as tools to enhance physical and emotional well-being. This practice offers numerous benefits, including: (1) lowering cortisol levels, thereby reducing stress – a well-established cardiovascular risk factor; (2) improving blood circulation through the release of vasoactive substances; and (3) boosting mood, which helps to combat depression and anxiety – conditions commonly found in patients with cardiovascular diseases and which are also risk factors for the development of coronary […]

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, with an increasing incidence in more elderly patients. It is well known that AF is a substantial risk factor for cardiovascular events, increasing morbidity and mortality among affected patients, in addition to causing reduced physical and cognitive capacity and quality of life.– Current treatment of AF is based on modification of aggravating clinical factors, introduction of anticoagulants based on individualized risk-benefit ratio, medications to control heart rate and […]

Willem Einthoven – A Brief Biographical Overview In 1924, the Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Willem Einthoven for “the discovery of the mechanism of the electrocardiogram” (ECG). This prestigious award illustrated the relevance of Einthoven’s research, which provided crucial data on cardiovascular pathophysiology, and that would go on to form one of the pillars of modern Cardiology. Willem Einthoven was born in 1860 in Semarang, on the island of Java, then part of the Dutch East […]

Acute myocardial infarction with acute coronary occlusion represents the most severe and urgent facet of acute coronary syndromes. Seminal studies have taught us that reestablishing coronary flow in patients with occluded arteries, whether through thrombolysis or primary angioplasty, can alter the natural history of the disease and significantly reduce mortality associated with this syndrome., The authors of “The Clinical and Economic Impact of Delayed Reperfusion Therapy: Real-World Evidence” provide compelling data from a wealthy metropolitan region in Brazil, concluding that […]

Brazilian Society of Cardiology Guidelines The first Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC) guidelines also emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, addressing issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of prevalent cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. In 2006, the SBC’s Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee (ConDir) was established. It is responsible for coordinating the development of guidelines and technical standards for clinical practice among Brazilian cardiologists. The guidelines of other international cardiology societies have […]