Heart health: How to save your life

3:35 PM EDT, May 16, 2013

Lifestyle change may ease heart risk from job stress

Being under stress at work is tied to a higher risk of heart problems, new research confirms - but putting down the beer bottle and going for a walk may help.

2:55 PM EDT, May 14, 2013

Anger linked to raised heart attack risk

Bottling up emotions is thought to harm both mind and body, but a new study suggests that the opposite extreme may be no better.

5:05 PM EDT, May 8, 2013

Study questions fish oil benefit before heart attack

Fish oil supplements did not prevent heart problems in people who hadn't had a heart attack yet, in a large long-term study from Italy.

3:52 PM EDT, May 9, 2013

Pets may help cut heart disease risk: American Heart Association

Anyone wanting to live longer and cut their risk of suffering from heart disease might want to consider getting a pet.

2:20 PM EDT, April 24, 2013

Aging U.S. to drive up heart-related health costs: study

The costs linked to heart failure in the United States are expected to more than double within the next two decades as the population ages and treatments help patients with the disease live longer.

5:03 PM EDT, April 24, 2013

Gut bugs are implicated in heart attacks and stroke

Thousands of heart attack victims every year have none of the notorious risk factors before their crisis — not high cholesterol, not unhealthy triglycerides. Suspects? The human gut.

6:31 PM EDT, April 23, 2013

College binge drinking raises risk of heart disease

Step away from the beer pong table! College binge drinking may leave you with more than just embarrassing memories and excruciating hangovers.

6:12 PM EDT, April 22, 2013

Heart bypass surgery or stents? Depends on patient

The average person with multiple diseased arteries in the heart does slightly better following coronary artery bypass surgery than after having stents inserted, a new study suggests, but the optimal procedure varies by patient.

5:15 PM EDT, April 16, 2013

Heart attack, stroke not enough to prompt some people to shape up

We all know that smoking is bad for us, that exercise is good for us, and that we should eat vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious foods. All of this advice is even more true for people who have had serious health scares due to heart disease or stroke.

3:06 PM EDT, April 11, 2013

Raw fruit may not be linked to lower blood pressure

People who eat more raw fruits or drink juice do not necessarily have lower blood pressure, according to a new study that goes against previous evidence.

4:56 PM EDT, April 8, 2013

Red meat and heart disease link: Not all about the fat?

The long-established link between red meat consumption and heart disease may have less to do with the fat in the meat than many have assumed, researchers said Sunday.

2:36 AM EDT, March 27, 2013

Adding fiber to your food

According to the National Fiber Council, fiber is the go-to item to lower cholesterol, feel full longer, lowers the risk of certain diseases (heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and certain cancers) and helps with intestinal regularity. Click this photo gallery for food fiber shopping ideas and NFC's infographic to find out more about how fiber works in your body.

March 26, 2013

Prescription for nutrition

Despite a growing consensus that cardiovascular disease is a "food-borne" illness, many physicians are ill-prepared to advise patients on what they should eat to best protect them from heart attack or stroke.

3:23 PM EDT, March 22, 2013

FDA aims to change the way it monitors safety of defibrillators

Defibrillators are supposed to save lives by shocking a patient’s heart back into a normal rhythm, but they have malfunctioned in about 45,000 cases since 2005, according to the Food and Drug Administration. So on Friday, the FDA proposed new rules aimed at insuring that the potentially life-saving devices work properly when they’re needed.

3:15 PM EDT, March 20, 2013

Heart disease often missed in women

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, but many don't recognize the warning signs. They may ignore the symptoms or mistake them for more benign ailments. Dr. Shannon J. Winakur, medical director of the Women's Heart Center at Saint Agnes Hospital, said women should be more aware of heart disease and how to prevent it.

10:42 AM EDT, March 14, 2013

Too many drug types are compromising heart health: doctors

About 80 million Americans suffer from heart disease, the nation's No. 1 killer, and most are on multiple drugs.

5:35 PM EDT, March 13, 2013

Should family members watch as their dying loved ones get CPR?

On “Grey’s Anatomy,” doctors steer family members out of the hospital room when they call a code blue and start performing CPR on a patient because it’s just too upsetting to watch. But in real life, doctors should be inviting family members to observe their attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation, researchers say.

5:56 PM EDT, March 12, 2013

FDA warns heart patients of risk from a second antibiotic

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday warned that the widely prescribed antibiotic azithromycin -- marketed as Zithromax and Zmax -- may cause potentially fatal changes in the heart rhythm of people who are taking medications to treat existing heart arrhythmia or who have a slower-than normal heart beat or magnesium or potassium deficiencies.

7:47 PM EST, March 6, 2013

EECP offers possible relief for chest pain

Over the last year, Fred Lembkie, 62, has had three heart attacks, a failed bypass surgery, two subsequent angioplasty procedures and stents inserted into his arteries.

3:50 PM EST, March 5, 2013

HIV linked to higher chance of heart attack

People with HIV are almost 50 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those who aren't infected with the virus - even after taking into account their other health risks, according to a new study.

5:07 PM EST, March 4, 2013

Americans want government to promote good health — sometimes

Does the government have a role to play in preventing childhood obesity, helping smokers quit and heading off chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease? Yes, according to survey results published Monday by the journal Health Affairs.

2:58 PM EST, February 28, 2013

No clear benefits for kids' blood pressure checks

There's no evidence that checking kids' and teens' blood pressure - and treating them if it's high - can reduce their heart risks in adulthood, according to a new analysis.

8:38 PM EST, February 25, 2013

Teens who volunteered reduced their heart disease risk, study says

People who volunteer are often known to say they get more out of the experience than those who are being helped. A study in Canada concurs that that may be true: Researchers say that high school students who volunteered improved their own health.

1:26 PM EST, February 25, 2013

Mediterranean diet can ward off heart disease: study

A Mediterranean diet high in olive oil, nuts, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent heart disease and strokes, according to a new large study from Spain.

February 20, 2013

The heart in pregnancy

Jamie Feld followed all the pre-pregnancy advice, had a checkup before conceiving and was told she was fit and healthy to carry her first baby.

5:24 AM EST, February 1, 2013

Heart disease and symptoms different for women

It began for Nellie Hyacinth Davis with a cough.

2:54 PM EST, February 12, 2013

Overcrowded ERs, PTSD signs tied in heart patients

Being treated for a heart attack in a crowded emergency department may be linked to developing symptoms of a stress disorder, according to a new study.

February 6, 2013

Study finds women who undergo early menopause face increased risk for heart disease and stroke

A recent study has found that females who stop having their periods before age 46 had a higher incidence of heart disease and stroke.

3:58 PM EST, January 31, 2013

Could going veg lower your risk of heart disease?

Vegetarians are one-third less likely to be hospitalized or die from heart disease than meat and fish eaters, according to a new UK study.

9:19 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Photo gallery: Tips for preventing heart disease

February is National Heart Health Month. CDC provides tips for preventing heart disease.

9:42 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Overdoing it on exercise

Most people who exercise find a way to work it into their lives. Robert Silvers of Marshfield, Mass., organizes his life around his exercise.

3:41 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Yoga may aid people with irregular heart rhythm

Regular yoga classes could help people with a common heart rhythm problem manage their symptoms while also improving their state of mind, a new study suggests.

7:30 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Eating your way to heart health

Famed heart surgeon Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. has long rallied against the overuse of stents, cholesterol drugs and other conventional heart disease treatments. His solution? A diet rich in green, leafy vegetables. Doctors generally agree that a healthy diet is beneficial, but it's usually considered one piece of a larger treatment plan. To Esselstyn, however, heart disease is a "foodborne illness, one that can be prevented, reversed and even abolished by eating a plant-based, oil-free diet, one that eliminates meat, milk, fish, eggs and dairy."

7:34 PM EST, January 30, 2013

Heart disease a woman's disease too

Sarah Batts minded her diet. She exercised regularly. She made sure her waistline never exceeded 35 inches.

7:28 PM EST, January 30, 2013

New defibrillator goes under skin, not into heart

Rebecca Frost got her first defibrillator in 2002, after she collapsed from cardiac arrest in the parking lot of a Walmart near Asheville, N.C.

7:37 PM EST, January 30, 2013

It might be time to change your line

Marcus McCleery, the 372-pound version of him, had nothing to look forward to. Suffering from atrial fibrillation, an abnormally rapid beating of his heart that would leave him exhausted, he was so depressed that he did little more than sleep, eat and sag into a basement sofa and play video games until 2 or 3 in the morning.

1:57 AM EST, January 31, 2013

Photo gallery: Healthy food tips for February: American Heart Month

According to the American Heart Association, "There are nine calories in every gram of fat, regardless of what type of fat it is. That's a lot of calories compared to carbohydrates and proteins, which contain four calories per gram."

8:52 PM EST, January 10, 2013

Heart attack pattern shifted after Katrina: study

Heart attacks are usually most common on weekdays and mornings, especially Mondays, but the pattern reversed in New Orleans after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, according to a U.S. study.

10:27 AM EST, January 1, 2013

Omega-3s may not protect against faulty heart rhythm

Fish oil supplements did not prevent atrial fibrillation in patients who had already experienced episodes of the heart rhythm malfunction, a new clinical trial has found.

8:40 AM EST, December 18, 2012

A single day of overindulgence: Hours off your life?

The risks of bad behaviors are well known but not necessarily well understood. Most people are aware that binging on red meat, cigarettes and whiskey on a regular basis isn't good for us -- but how to make sense of the severity of the risk?  When a study reports that adults who ate an extra portion of red meat had a 13% greater chance of dying over the course of a study that spanned more than 20 years, what does that really mean? And what is a sensible person to do about it?

December 19, 2012

Intoxicated ER patients see fewer potentially fatal problems

Although drinking too much alcohol impairs judgment and motor skills, intoxicated trauma-center patients also appear to be less likely to have potentially fatal problems such as heart and renal failure, a statistical study by a University of Illinois at Chicago professor found.

December 19, 2012

Consuming too many food studies leaves a bad taste

Coffee is now good for you. According to a research study, it may help prevent Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's, stroke and dementia as well as help you live a little longer. But java lovers know this: Another study says that drinking three or more cups of caffeinated coffee may be linked to a higher risk of glaucoma.

6:59 PM EST, December 16, 2012

Daylight savings tied to bump in heart attack rates

Setting the clock ahead for daylight savings time may set the scene for a small increase in heart attacks the next day, according to a U.S. study - which suggests that sleep deprivation may be to blame.

2:51 PM EST, December 13, 2012

Mental health scars common after cardiac arrest

A quarter of cardiac arrest survivors suffer long-term psychological problems such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, a new review of research estimates.

5:17 PM EST, December 11, 2012

Americans living longer, with unhealthy lifestyles: report

Americans have longer, but not necessarily healthier, lives due to high rates of preventable chronic disease, according to an annual report on the nation's health released on Tuesday.

4:05 PM EST, December 6, 2012

Omega-6 fats not linked to heart failure risk

Despite evidence suggesting omega-6 fatty acids might protect the cardiovascular system, a large new study of men finds the fats typically found in flax seeds and some vegetable oils do nothing to prevent heart failure.

9:00 AM EST, December 5, 2012

The 'healthy immigrant' effect: For Mexicans, not so true

The robust good health of newly arrived Mexican immigrants is an article of faith among public health experts--as is the notion that the longer they are in the United States, the unhealthier they become. But the idea that emigrating to the United States is bad for a newcomer's health--possibly because he departs from the healthful eating and exercise habits of his home country--has a major flaw in it, a new study says: These immigrants may not be so healthy to begin with.

6:57 PM EST, December 4, 2012

Life expectancy rises as fine particle air pollution drops

A new study links even small reductions in fine particle air pollution to increased life expectancy.

December 5, 2012

Doctor performs cardiac surgery without X-rays

Dr. Mansour Razminia used to worry about exposing patients to repeated bouts of radiation during lengthy surgery to correct heart rhythm problems. That is, until he began using such alternatives as 3-D imaging and high-frequency ultrasound.

4:05 PM EST, November 27, 2012

Journals to heart researchers: Get your words right

When it comes to describing medical findings, researchers may need to tone it down a bit, according to a group of heart journal editors.

3:56 PM EST, November 16, 2012

Do people turn to Twitter for CPR info?

Amid snarky comments and links to cat videos, some Twitter users turn to the social network to find and post information on cardiac arrest and CPR, according to a new study.

9:05 PM EST, November 13, 2012

Visible signs of aging signaled increased risk of heart disease, study finds

Visibly aging but young at heart? Don't count on it, researchers suggested.

2:15 PM EST, November 12, 2012

Cost becomes bigger question in treating heart disease

The cost of treating heart disease has become a key factor in decisions by U.S. cardiologists grappling with the nation's No. 1 killer.

4:10 PM EST, November 12, 2012

For cholesterol tests, fasting may not be required

Most people getting their cholesterol checked may not need to fast beforehand, a new Canadian study suggests.

7:34 PM EST, November 8, 2012

Home blood pressure monitors show mixed results: study

Home blood pressure monitors may be useful to some older adults who have suffered a stroke, but little help to others, according to a UK study.

7:54 PM EST, November 4, 2012

Bypass tops stents in diabetics with diseased arteries

Diabetics with more than one diseased artery fared significantly better if they underwent bypass surgery than those who received drug coated stents following artery clearing procedures to improve blood flow to the heart, according to data from a five-year study presented on Sunday.

4:23 PM EDT, October 29, 2012

Do secondhand smoke laws prevent heart attacks?

Heart attacks dropped by one-third in one county in Minnesota after two smoke-free workplace ordinances went into place, a new study shows.

October 17, 2012

Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to heart disease, strokes and death

Considering how many people eat too much and exercise too little, it's not surprising that nearly 67 million Americans have high blood pressure. But here's the asterisk: 36 million of them do not have it under control, even though most know they have the disease and, often, have medication for it.

7:58 PM EDT, October 10, 2012

If I work out, can I eat more salt?

Q: If you exercise daily (and sweat), can you have more than the daily recommended limit of sodium?

5:06 PM EDT, October 2, 2012

Fish linked to heart failure risk, omega-3 results mixed

For people conscious about their heart health, a new study suggests it may be best to eat fish instead of taking individual omega-3 fatty acids in supplement form.

1:40 PM EDT, October 3, 2012

Moderate drinking linked to abnormal heart rhythm

People with heart disease who drink, even moderately, may have a slightly increased risk of a common heart rhythm problem, a new study suggests.

12:29 PM EDT, September 18, 2012

Pediatricians may skip kids' blood pressure checks

Despite recommendations to check children's blood pressure, pediatricians may often skip it, a U.S. study suggests.

3:42 PM EDT, September 18, 2012

Health benefits of gastric bypass persist for years

The short-term benefits of weight loss surgery are well known in severely obese people, but a new study finds that improvements in diabetes and blood pressure may hold up for years after the procedures.

5:36 PM EDT, September 4, 2012

Millions of Americans have uncontrolled blood pressure: report

Nearly half of about 67 million Americans with high blood pressure are not effectively treating their condition and face a high risk of a heart attack or stroke, a U.S. health official said on Tuesday.

4:09 PM EDT, September 4, 2012

Common household chemical tied to heart disease risk

People who had higher levels of a common synthetic chemical in their blood were more likely to have heart disease or have had a stroke, in a new U.S. study.

9:51 AM EDT, August 25, 2012

Greek study finds e-cigarettes no threat to heart

Electronic cigarettes, an increasingly popular option among smokers trying to quit, do not appear to pose a threat to the heart, according to results of a clinical study presented on Saturday.

11:50 PM EDT, August 23, 2012

Family history foretells early heart disease

If you have a relative who died of heart disease before age 60, your own risk of early heart trouble is higher as well, a study involving millions of people in Denmark over three decades has determined.

7:06 PM EDT, August 20, 2012

Even low blood lead levels linked to gout risk

Even relatively low levels of lead in the blood may be linked to an increased risk of gout, a painful form of arthritis, researchers reported Monday.

August 15, 2012

As we age, chronic conditions come in pairs

Hypertension plus diabetes is the most common combination for people 45 to 64, but those 65 or older are more likely to have hypertension plus heart disease. Hypertension plus cancer is the third most common duo for both age groups.

7:05 PM EDT, August 14, 2012

Flavanol-rich cocoa may reduce blood pressure a bit

Eating a daily dose of cocoa or dark chocolate — rich in plant compounds called flavanols — may lead to a slight drop in blood pressure for a short period of time, a fresh look at past research suggests.

4:38 PM EDT, July 23, 2012

Hip and knee replacements tied to heart attack risk

Older patients having a hip or a knee replaced have a higher risk of heart attack in the two weeks after the procedure compared to those who don't need joint surgery, according to a new study.

July 20, 2012

City ambulances finally equipped to detect severe heart attacks

Brian Thies was at home when the ache he'd been feeling all day suddenly turned into crushing chest pain. Inside the ambulance, paramedics quickly determined he was suffering from the deadliest type of heart attack, an aptly named "widow-maker."

2:50 PM EDT, July 9, 2012

Half of all heart patients make medication errors

Half of all heart patients made at least one medication-related mistake after leaving the hospital, and guidance from a pharmacist didn't seem to reduce those errors, in a new study.

4:19 PM EDT, July 9, 2012

Expensive, newer stents not better for all patients

Many heart patients get newer, pricey stents inserted during artery-clearing procedures, even if it's not clear they'd be worse off with more basic models, a new study suggests.

7:48 PM EDT, June 27, 2012

Heart disease shouldn't rule out sex

For the first time, the American Heart Association is weighing in on a very personal subject: sexual activity. The organization has issued a scientific statement noting that sex is safe for the majority of heart disease patients and that patients should discuss the subject with their doctors.

6:52 PM EDT, June 24, 2012

Diets suggested for more pregnant women

Before Aiesha Eddins got pregnant, she didn't give much thought to her diet.

9:05 PM EDT, June 20, 2012

Getting back to work after a heart attack

Q: My 59-year-old husband just came home after being hospitalized for a mild heart attack. He was only in the hospital for five days, and he feels great, though he does have to take three prescription medicines plus aspirin. I'm writing because my husband's doctor doesn't want him to go back to work for another six weeks, even though his job doesn't involve any lifting. I think the stress of staying home would be worse than going to work. Any advice?

5:09 PM EDT, June 13, 2012

Contraceptive pill, ring tied to higher stroke risk

The largest study to examine the risks of hormone-based birth control has concluded the contraceptives carry a small risk of stroke and heart attack, depending on the method and type of hormone used.

7:44 PM EDT, June 13, 2012

Blue light has a dark side

Study after study has linked working the night shift and exposure to light at night to several types of cancer (breast, prostate), diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

10:12 PM EDT, June 10, 2012

Mind, body rest tied to concussion healing

Taking a week off from nearly all mental and physical activity — including television, talking on the phone and visiting with friends — was linked with improved mental performance and fewer symptoms in people who had suffered a concussion, a study said.

11:11 AM EDT, June 5, 2012

American Heart Association adds heart-check symbol for some Subway items

The American Heart Association has used its heart-check symbol in grocery stores for 17 years. It has now expanded its use to restaurants with the Heart-Check Meal Certification program.

7:09 PM EDT, May 31, 2012

Can a decade of dark chocolate protect your heart?

A scientific study likely to stir the souls of chocoholics has suggested that eating dark chocolate every day for 10 years could reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes in some high-risk patients.

7:14 PM EDT, May 22, 2012

Scientists turn skin cells into beating heart muscle

Scientists have for the first time succeeded in taking skin cells from patients with heart failure and transforming them into healthy, beating heart tissue that could one day be used to treat the condition.

12:25 PM EDT, May 3, 2012

Keep tabs on your blood pressure; 7 signs to look for

The American Heart Association advises that keeping a check on your blood pressure is critical to heart health and preventing stroke.

1:26 PM EDT, April 19, 2012

Do clean teeth protect against heart disease?

Older adults who get thorough dental cleanings may be somewhat less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than their peers who are less careful about oral hygiene, a new study suggests.

April 11, 2012

S.M.A.R.T. Heart engages in upbeat care

For most of 2011, Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute was "home" for Deborah Cole, 52. Thanks to the hospital's new stress management program, though, she kept up her spirits.

9:06 PM EDT, March 21, 2012

Patient at UW is first in Northwest to leave a hospital with an artificial heart

Christopher Marshall left the University of Washington Medical Center on Wednesday without a human heart. Instead, Marshall, 51, has an artificial heart in his chest with a power supply he carries around in a backpack.  

10:33 AM EDT, March 18, 2012

Doctors' life-support skills fade after training

Doctors and nurses are trained in how to save a cardiac arrest victim's life, but those skills can fade quickly if they're not used, a new study shows.

March 14, 2012

A quick review of the state of statins

Statins are the most prescribed drugs in the world, taken by nearly 21 million Americans. So when anything changes with these cholesterol-lowering medications, it makes headlines.

8:47 PM EST, March 7, 2012

Breaks to get up and move good for health: study

Taking a break to walk every 20 minutes instead of staying seated for hours helps reduce the body's levels of glucose and insulin after eating, according to a study — the latest to highlight the hazards of long periods of inactivity.

11:55 PM EST, February 22, 2012

Heart-healthy 'Kathy's Cookbook' was labor of love for late cardiac patient

Kathy Brown wasn't always much of a chef — but she was an educator. When Brown, the former head of Grace Christian School, was diagnosed with amyloidosis of the heart in April 2008, she began experimenting with recipes to suit her new low-fat, low-salt, low-sugar diet.