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On average, someone in the United States has a stroke about every 40 seconds. This is about 795,000 people per year.
This year, an estimated 1.4 million Americans will have a new or recurrent heart attack.
Ether was used widely for surgeries but became less popular because of its flammability and its tendency to cause vomiting. In England, it was quickly replaced by chloroform, but this agent caused many deaths and lost popularity.
Human stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve small pieces of metal such as razor blades or staples.
Sildenafil (Viagra®) has two actions that may be of consequence in patients with heart disease. It can lower the blood pressure, and it can interact with nitrates. It should never be used in patients who are taking nitrates.