Mayo Clinic proceedings
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jul 2023
ReviewManagement of Premature Ventricular Complexes in the Outpatient Setting.
With an aging population and an explosion in ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, primary care clinicians will undoubtedly see an increase in patients presenting with premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), especially given how common they are in the general population. A sizable number of patients with PVCs are asymptomatic, and these PVCs have no significant clinical implications. ⋯ In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiologic basis of PVCs, appropriate diagnostic testing, management, and prognostic considerations necessary when faced with PVCs in the outpatient clinic. We also provide a simplistic approach to help guide the initial work-up of PVCs, basic treatment strategies, and indications of when to refer for cardiovascular specialty consultation to improve physician comfort and to enhance patient care.
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Postinfectious syndromes have been described since the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918. A similar syndrome-post-COVID condition (PCC)-is common; it occurs months after COVID-19 infection and involves fatigue, postexertional malaise, dyspnea, memory loss, diffuse pain, and orthostasis. The medical, psychosocial, and economic impact of PCC is immense. ⋯ Treatments of PCC are little researched, are largely expert based, and are likely to evolve as more evidence emerges. Current therapies, which are symptom targeted, include medications and nonpharmacologic therapies such as optimizing fluid intake, compression garments, progressive activity, meditation, biofeedback, cognitive rehabilitation, and addressing concomitant mood disorders. Many patients will enjoy significant improvements in their quality of life with multimodal treatments and longitudinal care.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jun 2023
ReviewDoes the Combination of Finnish Sauna Bathing and Other Lifestyle Factors Confer Additional Health Benefits? A Review of the Evidence.
Sauna bathing, a tradition deeply rooted in the Finnish culture, has been used for thousands of years for leisure, relaxation, and wellness. Sauna bathing is linked with substantial health benefits beyond its use for leisure and relaxation. Several observational and interventional studies suggest that regular or frequent sauna bathing reduces the incidence of vascular and nonvascular diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and respiratory conditions; may improve the severity of conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders, COVID-19, headache, and influenza; and increases the life span. ⋯ Evidence suggests that frequent sauna bathing is an emerging protective risk factor that may augment the beneficial effects of other protective risk or lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness, or attenuate or offset the adverse effects of other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, systemic inflammation, and low socioeconomic status. This review summarizes the available epidemiologic and interventional evidence linking the combined effects of Finnish sauna bathing and other risk factors on vascular outcomes including cardiovascular disease and intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes, nonvascular outcomes, and mortality. We also discuss the mechanistic pathways underlying the joint contributions of Finnish sauna bathing and other risk factors on health outcomes, the public health and clinical implications of the findings, gaps in the existing evidence base, and future directions.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jun 2023
ReviewExamining Impostor Phenomenon Through the Lens of Humility: Spotlighting Conceptual (Dis)Connections.
Impostor phenomenon has gained increasing attention within the health care and health professions education literature. Although consistently depicted as a debilitating socioemotional experience, studies also suggest a strategic aspect to impostor phenomenon - denoting a conceptual ambiguity to impostor phenomenon that has yet to fully examined. Within this paper, we use humility as a conceptual sparring partner with impostor phenomenon to examine the similarities and differences between the concepts, as well as explore the various nuances associated with impostor phenomenon. By comparing and contrasting impostor phenomenon and humility from interdisciplinary perspectives and within the context of health professions specifically, we not only further refine their meaning and usage within the literature, but also spotlight key areas for future research.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · May 2023
ReviewOral Anticoagulation in Patients With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease and Atrial Fibrillation: Beyond Anticoagulation.
The optimal approach to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atrial fibrillation remains unresolved. We conducted a narrative review to explore areas of uncertainty and opportunities for future research. First, the relationship between atrial fibrillation and stroke is more complex in patients with advanced CKD than in the general population. ⋯ The VKAs may be harmful in CKD patients, in particular in patients with a high bleeding risk and labile international normalized ratio. The better safety and efficacy of NOACs as opposed to VKAs may be particularly evident in advanced CKD as a result of better on-target anticoagulation with NOACs, harmful off-target vascular effects of VKAs, and beneficial off-target vascular effects of NOACs. The intrinsic vasculoprotective effects of NOACs are supported by animal experimental evidence as well as by findings of large clinical trials and may result in use of NOACs beyond their anticoagulant properties.