Medical breakthrough

I heard about an amazing research project at the Cleveland Clinic on the local news. I have cut and pasted information from the Clinic website below. In short, researchers can detect heart failure using a simple breath test! Many of our diabetic clients are at an increased risk for heart failure. It is very important we stay informed.

Here is the link followed by a portion of the article for your review:
http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/cleveland-clinic-develops-breath-diagnostic-heart-failure/2013-03-26

As researchers around the world work to develop noninvasive diagnostics to ease patient discomfort, the Cleveland Clinic is testing a diagnostic that can identify heart failure through a simple breath test.

In an early study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers figured how to test patients' unique "breathprints" for volatile organic compounds that signal heart failure, according to the clinic. In a prospective, single-center study of 61 patients, researchers found that patients with acute decompensated heart failure had higher levels of the compounds in their breath, opening the door for a breath-based diagnostic.

"The ability to identify patients with heart failure using a breath test has the potential for broad application due to its noninvasive nature and ease of application," lead investigator Raed Dweik said in a statement. "These exciting new observations may lead to future studies to determine how to best utilize these information to reduce heart failure re-hospitalizations."

Until tomorrow,

Dr. Janet