The Exchange
Commentary and Observations from
the Medical Front Lines
Sign up to receive posts from The Exchange
CATEGORIES
Cardiometabolic
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (Part 2)
Posted By: 
Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA | September 06, 2019
Thoracic aortic aneurysms often expand slowly over time and usually without symptoms, making them difficult to detect. Some aneurysms never rupture. Many start small and stay small, although many expand over time. How quickly an aortic aneurysm may grow is difficult to predict. Only about 5% of patients experience symptoms before an acute event occurs, and for the other 95% the first “symptom” is often death. more >
Found in: Cardiometabolic
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (Part 1)
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA | September 03, 2019
Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) are located above the diaphragm, may involve one or more aortic segments (aortic root, ascending aorta, arch, or descending more >
Are Chemicals Making Us Fat?
Posted By: 
Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC | August 07, 2019
Holistic health proponents are advocating to get rid of our so-common use of plastics for environmental as well as health reasons. For example, did you ever more >
Energy Drinks Tied to QTc Prolongation
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA | July 26, 2019
Consuming caffeinated energy drinks is associated with QTc interval prolongation, which is a risk factor for torsades de pointes, according to a small study in more >
Palliative Care for Heart Failure: An Early Discussion Would Benefit Patients
Posted By: 
Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C | July 19, 2019
As clinicians, we care for patients over the course of a lifetime and often face the reality of patients who are challenged with end-of-life (EOL) decision more >
No Difference in Outcomes and Treatment No Matter the Etiology—Analysis from PARADIGM-HF Trial
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C | July 16, 2019
Heart failure (HF) is a complicated disease state with multiple, staged therapies. Over the last couple of years, addition of a sacubitril/valsartan more >
CHAMPS HF - We All Can do Better!
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C | June 14, 2019
Many of us manage patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction, or HFrEF. The management of this patient population is complex, and most more >
Hypertension in the Pediatric Population
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA | May 07, 2019
The prevalence of systemic hypertension (HTN) in the pediatric population is now commonly observed to be increasing, especially in view of the growing more >
Cardiovascular Health Promotion—A Must Read for PAs and NPs
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C | April 23, 2019
PAs and NPs are encouraged to read a recent issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on cardiovascular health and promotion. This more >
Was the Apple Heart Study Virtually Useless?
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C | April 12, 2019
When Apple included in the Apple Watch the capability of providing public health apps in detecting things such as falls and irregular pulses, many began to more >
Fluoroquinolone Use and the Potential Risk for Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA | April 05, 2019
Fluoroquinolones have long been a popular class of antibiotics for use in a myriad of infections. There are even newer fluoroquinolones that have been more >
Aspirin Use for ASCVD Prevention
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA | April 02, 2019
For decades aspirin has been a staple of primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in at-risk populations, based on recommendations more >
Caution: Population Is Having More Heart Attacks at a Younger Age
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C | March 15, 2019
This March, the American College of Cardiology will meet in New Orleans for their annual scientific assembly, and one major discussion will be the growing more >