Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. If you’re concerned about your risk, the experts at the National Institute on Aging suggest asking your doctor and nurse these questions: 1.What is my risk for heart disease? 2.What is my blood pressure? 3.What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include total… Continue reading Ask Your Doctor These Questions About Heart Disease
Category: Heart Health
Your heart keeps your body running. And we keep you on top of everything you need to know about heart health so that you’re in the know.
How Low Is Too Low? Experts Debate Blood Pressure Targets in the Post-SPRINT Era
Following the landmark SPRINT trial, there is a growing body of evidence for reducing systolic blood pressure targets, resulting in the development of new US guidelines. However, this has led to many questions about the impact of such fundamental changes in blood pressure management, and whether they should be implemented in other constituencies. Two studies… Continue reading How Low Is Too Low? Experts Debate Blood Pressure Targets in the Post-SPRINT Era
African-Americans Hospitalized for Heart Failure Less Likely to See Cardiologist
African-American patients were less likely than Caucasian patients to be treated primarily by a cardiologist when admitted to the intensive care unit for heart failure, according to a study published in JACC: [Journal of the American College of Cardiology] Heart Failure. Previous studies have shown that in-hospital survival is higher when patients of any race… Continue reading African-Americans Hospitalized for Heart Failure Less Likely to See Cardiologist
Wildfire Smoke Associated with More ER Visits for Heart, Stroke Ailments among Seniors
Smoke from wildfires may send people – particularly seniors – to hospital emergency rooms (ERs) with heart or stroke-related complaints, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. . Previous studies have shown that wildfire smoke exacerbates respiratory conditions but… Continue reading Wildfire Smoke Associated with More ER Visits for Heart, Stroke Ailments among Seniors
Not Enough Women Included in Some Heart Disease Clinical Trials
Women are underrepresented in clinical trials for heart failure, coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome but proportionately or overrepresented in trials for hypertension, atrial fibrillation and pulmonary arterial hypertension, when compared to incidence or prevalence of women within each disease population, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.… Continue reading Not Enough Women Included in Some Heart Disease Clinical Trials
Men under 50: The More You Smoke, the More You Stroke
Men under 50 who smoked were more likely to have a stroke, and their risk increased with the number of cigarettes they smoked, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke. In a release from the American Stroke Association, the group said: An increasing number of young adults are suffering ischemic stroke,… Continue reading Men under 50: The More You Smoke, the More You Stroke
Music Intensifies the Effects of Anti-Hypertensive Medication
In addition to remembering to take the medication prescribed by their cardiologists at the right times and going to the trouble of making healthy lifestyle changes, patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) can include a pleasing beneficial activity in routine treatment of the disease thanks to the discovery that listening to music significantly enhances the… Continue reading Music Intensifies the Effects of Anti-Hypertensive Medication
Relaxation Response May Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure — or hypertension — is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke that affects as many as 100 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide. Decades of research have demonstrated that the relaxation response that can be achieved through relaxation techniques such as yoga or mediation can reduce blood pressure… Continue reading Relaxation Response May Lower Blood Pressure
Chronic Illnesses and Functional Limitations Are a Risk in Older Adults with Heart Failure
A release from the American Geriatrics Society notes that heart failure affects more than 6 million people in the U.S.–most of whom are older adults. Roughly half the older adults who have heart failure also live with five or more other chronic health conditions. This group of people may have difficulty performing daily activities, such… Continue reading Chronic Illnesses and Functional Limitations Are a Risk in Older Adults with Heart Failure
When Heart Disease Runs in The Family, Exercise May Be The Best Defense
Exercise may be the best way to keep hearts healthy – and it works even for people with a genetic predisposition for heart disease, according to new findings in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation. Data assessed from roughly a half-million people in the UK Biobank database showed that greater grip strength, more physical activity… Continue reading When Heart Disease Runs in The Family, Exercise May Be The Best Defense
To Battle High Blood Pressure, Most People Prefer Taking a Pill Over Exercising
In a survey to assess treatment preferences for high blood pressure, respondents were more likely to choose a daily cup of tea or a pill over exercise, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2018, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in… Continue reading To Battle High Blood Pressure, Most People Prefer Taking a Pill Over Exercising
Heart Disease, Stroke Less Widespread among Foreign-Born vs. U.S.-Born Adults
Foreign-born adults living in the United States had a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease and stroke than U.S.-born adults in nationally representative data spanning 2006-2014, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control… Continue reading Heart Disease, Stroke Less Widespread among Foreign-Born vs. U.S.-Born Adults
Genetic Testing and Cardiovascular Surgery
Using genetic testing to inform which blood thinner to use following a procedure to open narrowed blood vessels resulted in significantly fewer complications among patients, according to new research in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, an American Heart Association journal. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and stroke is… Continue reading Genetic Testing and Cardiovascular Surgery
Fitness Trackers Help Cardiac-Rehab Patients Maintain Exercise Goals
Using fitness trackers and call-in sessions with a health coach can help patients who have undergone heart surgery stick to their healthy routines, and even surpass them, according to new research from Duke Health. The analysis represents progress for patients who participate in cardiac rehab programs and typically do well during enrollment but tend to… Continue reading Fitness Trackers Help Cardiac-Rehab Patients Maintain Exercise Goals
Top Cardiologist Disagrees with New Hypertension Guidelines
Last November, a panel of medical professionals issued guideline that redefine blood pressure readings. Now, one of the nation’s leading cardiologists is challenging them, saying that the lowered numbers may lead to unnecessarily aggressive blood pressure treatments. Robert A. Phillips, M.D., Ph.D., Houston Methodist Hospital’s chief medical officer, said that while patients at higher risk… Continue reading Top Cardiologist Disagrees with New Hypertension Guidelines
African-Americans Have More Exposure than Whites to Air Pollutants Raising Risk of Heart Disease, Death
African-Americans often have higher exposure to air pollution than whites, which may partially explain their higher risk heart disease and death compared to whites, according to new research in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, an American Heart Association journal. Exposure to air pollution is associated with elevated blood sugar levels, poorly functioning blood vessels,… Continue reading African-Americans Have More Exposure than Whites to Air Pollutants Raising Risk of Heart Disease, Death
Music Boosts Exercise Time in Cardiac Stress Testing
Listening to music during a standard cardiac stress test may help extend the time a patient is able to perform the test, and that can provide important additional information about a person’s heart health and capacity for exercise, according to a new study. The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 67th Annual… Continue reading Music Boosts Exercise Time in Cardiac Stress Testing
New Blood Pressure App and Hardware Rivals Arm Cuff Accuracy
Cuff devices for blood pressure measurement are inconvenient, and mobile device apps for blood pressure measurement that are now being introduced may lack accuracy. To solve this problem, a team of Michigan State University scientists has created a new app and hardware for smartphones to measure blood pressure with accuracy that may rival arm-cuff devices.… Continue reading New Blood Pressure App and Hardware Rivals Arm Cuff Accuracy