Two recent studies show that AEDs--originally designed to restore a normal heartbeat in adult victims of sudden cardiac arrest--are also safe for treating infants and children.

"The broader the application of AEDs, the better," says renowned cardiologist and Post contributor Dr. Douglas Zipes. "More lives will be saved."

A report published in the August Annals of Emergency Medicine found that Medtronic's Lifepak 500 defibrillator is accurate for infants and children experiencing cardiac arrest. Data on 203 children being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center show the AED correctly analyzed life-threatening heart rhythm disorders in 99.1 percent of patients, each of whom ranged in age from one day to seven years.

In July, the American Heart Association approved the use of AEDs on children ages one to eight. Previously, emergency personnel and the public were told to use the automated devices only on those over nine years of age.

Screening for a silent threat

Long-time Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster (and baseball's resident comedian) Bob Uecker is going to bat to raise awareness of the serious but often silent medical condition known as abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA.

While pitching batting practice, Uecker suffered a pain in his back so severe that he had to lie down. The team doctor immediately ordered an advanced imaging scan.

"The MRI scan looked like I had swallowed a cantaloupe," Uecker recalled. "It was an abdominal aortic aneurysm. I was shocked because, except for the back pain, I felt good."

Catastrophic bleeding from the body's largest artery can claim a life with little or no warning. Something similar happened last September when actor John Ritter was stricken and died suddenly during the filming of a TV show. While the exact cause of AAA is not yet known, research suggests that low-grade inflammation slowly weakens the wall of the aorta.

The good news is that screening for aortic aneurysms is simple and effective with Doppler ultrasound. Once detected, large aneurysms can be monitored and surgically repaired to prevent life-threatening ruptures. Uecker's procedure was successful, and today doctors consider him cured.

Vascular disease experts recommend screening adults over 60--especially men, smokers and those with a family history of aneurysms. Approximately 20 percent of AAA patients have a close relative with the condition.

New-generation drug saves lives

In a head-to-head study, heart-failure patients taking a new beta-blocker drug called carvedilol lived longer than those prescribed an older version. The Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial (COMET) tested 3,029 patients from 15 European countries and 317 centers over a period of six years.

Carvedilol, marketed as CoregŪ in the United States, reduces the amount of work for the heart and improves its ability to pump blood through the body. The drug is approved for treating hypertension, as well as to reduce the risk of hospitalization in heart-failure patients.

Metoprolol tartrate--the type of metoprolol used in the COMET study--is a generic form of LopressorŪ,

Nearly five million Americans are now living with heart failure.

February is American Heart Month: What can you do?

1. Support community AED programs. Take action to ensure that portable defibrillators are as common as fire extinguishers in your community. To find out more, visit www.Neighborhood-Heart-Watch.org.

2. Learn to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone nearby experiences symptoms.

3. Sign up for CPR training.