Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2015
Case ReportsVisceral angioedema: an under-recognized complication of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
Cough and upper airway angioedema are well-recognized adverse reactions of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) therapy. Visceral angioedema is an infrequent and often unrecognized complication of ACEI therapy. We describe a patient in whom the diagnosis was delayed for > 2 years. ⋯ ACEI-induced visceral angioedema was considered, enalapril was discontinued and supportive care was provided. Patient's symptoms and CT appearance improved 48 and 72 hours, respectively, after stopping enalapril. She remained symptom-free 1 year after discharge.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2015
ReviewPersonal health technology: A new era in cardiovascular disease prevention.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide yet the majority of related risk factors are largely preventable (primary prevention [PP]) and effectively treatable (secondary prevention [SP]) with healthy lifestyle behaviors. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) offers a unique approach to personal health and CVD prevention, as these mediums are relatively affordable, approachable, and accessible. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of ICT-driven personal health technologies and their potential role in promoting and supporting self-care behaviors for PP and SP of CVD. ⋯ A synthesis of existing literature indicates that the overall efficacy of ICT-driven personal health technologies is largely determined by: 1) the educational resources provided and the extent to which the relayed information is customized or individually tailored; and 2) the degree of self-monitoring and levels of personalized feedback or other interactions (e.g. interpersonal communications). We conclude that virtually all the technological tools and resources identified (e.g. Internet-based communications including websites, weblogs and wikis, mobile devices and applications, social media, and wearable monitors) can be strategically leveraged to enhance self-care behaviors for CVD risk reduction and SP but further research is needed to evaluate their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and long-term maintainability.