Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review.

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The association between the two conditions have significant systemic effects and a chronic, progressive evolution, affecting exercise tolerance and quality of life. The diseases share common risk factors, such as smoking, advanced age, and low-grade systemic inflammation.

Drug-induced arterial hypertension - a frequently ignored cause of secondary hypertension: a review.

The prevalence of hypertension is likely to grow during the future years, mainly due to aging of the population and increasing prevalence of obesity, as an important risk factor for hypertension. One of the main causes of secondary hypertension, frequently ignored, is represented by certain categories of drugs, that can induce hypertension, increase the blood pressure values in previously controlled hypertension, decrease the effects of antihypertensive medication or induce a hypertensive emergency. These drugs may be over-the-counter medications, illicit drugs or prescription drugs used for the treatment of acute or chronic conditions.

Positive pressure therapy in patients with cardiac arrhythmias and obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Positive pressure therapy (CPAP) in patients with cardiac arrhythmias and obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) may have favorable effects by correcting intermittent hypoxemia and sympathetic activation.

Objective: To assess the effect of CPAP added to pharmacological treatment in the rate control and prevention of arrhythmias recurrence in patients with OSA.

Materials And Methods: Prospective, interventional study study which included patients diagnosed with OSAS (cardiorespiratorypolygraphy, AHI>5/hour), and arrhythmias (ECG, Holter ECG), divided in two groups: group A (pharmacological therapy only) and group B (pharmacological therapy and CPAP).