Your donation changes lives. Learn more.

Stay safe! It's a jungle out there

Spring has sprung and that means it’s time to get your yard and gardens into shape. You may be tempted to get it all done in one weekend, but that’s not necessarily a wise idea. Lehigh Valley Health Network doctors are available to offer tips on how to complete your yard work safely and painlessly this spring. To learn more or to schedule an interview, contact Lehigh Valley Health Network’s media relations team at 484-884-0819, or send us an email.

New Study Sheds Light on Treatment Options for Heart Failure Patients

For people with congestive heart failure, the gold standard to prevent blood clotting is warfarin, otherwise known as an anticoagulant. But a new research study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and co-authored by Lehigh Valley Health Network’s chief of cardiology and medical director of the Heart and Vascular Center, Ron Freudenberger, MD, says that aspirin is just as good as warfarin for preventing blood clots. More specifically, warfarin has a statistical advantage in preventing strokes, but that advantage is canceled out because of an increased risk of hemorrhaging, or uncontrolled bleeding. Aspirin was generally tolerated better with fewer side-effects, and is cheaper. “We now know that clinicians don’t need to put heart failure patients with a normal heart rhythm on anticoagulants like warfarin, thus reducing the risk of bleeding." says Freudenberger. “We can give patients aspirin and be reassured that it’s not going to either worsen the heart failure or lead to increased risk of death.”

For more information about the study, or to speak with Freudenberger about his involvement, please contact the media relations team at 484-884-0819, or send us an email.

Find Lehigh Valley Health Network on Facebook!

Find Lehigh Valley Health Network on Facebook. Lehigh Valley Health Network has created a Facebook page where we post the latest health news and tips, invitations to upcoming events, classes and programs, and updates on what's happening within our health network – the largest in the Lehigh Valley. Anyone can become a fan of our page and as a result, our fans have access to new exclusive photos and videos. Become our fan at Facebook today!