Heart Health Archives

Mind Your Heart

Jan 24, 2025 · Judith C. Thalhaimer, RD, LDN · Heart Health

This Valentine’s Day, savor a bite of good chocolate, linger over a meal with a loved one, close your eyes and breathe in the scent of those flowers, or focus on the beauty of your surroundings as you take a peaceful nature walk. These activities are examples of ways you … Read More

A Healthy Heart Can Benefit Brainpower

Jan 24, 2025 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

Two recent studies add to evidence that following Life’s Essential 8™ (LE8)—a cardiovascular health metric developed by the American Heart Association (AHA)—benefits cognition. LE8 comprises eight healthy lifestyle components: diet, physical activity, smoking habits, body mass index (BMI, a relation of height to weight), cholesterol, fasting blood sugar (defined as … Read More

Cardiac Imaging Scans After Cancer

Jan 24, 2025 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

Q: I recently received a mailing that advertised affordable cardiac imaging at a location near my home. I’m interested, but as a cancer survivor who previously had radiation treatment, is it safe for me to undergo imaging tests? A: Imaging scans can be invaluable tools for accurately diagnosing health conditions … Read More

Can Adding Sterols to Statins Lower Cholesterol Even More?

Jan 24, 2025 · Denise Webb · Heart Health

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, when plaque builds up in artery walls, is the leading cause of death in the United States. Arterial plaque is made up of, among other things, cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste, fats, and fibrin, a blood-clotting substance. Statins, such as Crestor® and Lipitor®, the drugs of choice for … Read More

Coconut Water

Jan 24, 2025 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

Q: What is Coconut Water, and Are There Benefits to Drinking It? A: Coconut water is the clear liquid inside young, green coconuts. Unlike coconut milk, which is made by blending coconut meat with water, coconut water is a natural beverage low in calories, fat-free, and rich in electrolytes like … Read More

Frontline: Bone health; lower heart disease risk; US breast cancer cases

Dec 18, 2024 · Rochelle Nataloni · Heart Health

Blackcurrant Could Help Protect Bone Health in Older Women Blackcurrant supplements may help reduce bone loss in peri- and post-menopausal women, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Researchers administered blackcurrant powder capsules daily to 40 women between ages 45 and 60 … Read More

Cannabis Use is Associated with Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes

Dec 18, 2024 · Judith C. Thalhaimer, RD, LDN · Heart Health

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, nearly17 percent of American adults currently use marijuana, and its popularity is rising as its use becomes more socially acceptable and increasingly legal. This rising acceptance, availability, and usage is prompting more research into possible negative health effects of regular cannabis … Read More

Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure is Common—and Dangerous

Dec 18, 2024 · Judith C. Thalhaimer, RD, LDN · Heart Health

Nearly half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure. This usually symptomless condition is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke and is also associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cognitive decline. High blood pressure (hypertension) can be controlled with medication … Read More

Study Suggests Benzodiazepines May Be Overprescribed to Stroke Survivors

Dec 18, 2024 · UHN Staff · Heart Health

In the days following a stroke, survivors often experience elevated levels of anxiety and have difficulty sleeping. To treat these symptoms, doctors sometimes prescribe benzodiazepines, depressant drugs that help relieve anxiety, produce sedation, and reduce seizures and muscle spasms. While there has been a downward trend in providing benzodiazepines to … Read More

Newsbriefs: Breast cancer; lower A-fib risk; weekend warriors; hearing loss and dementia

Dec 18, 2024 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

Black Women More Likely to Die from Breast Cancer A recent study confirms racial disparities in breast cancer survival. For the study, researchers from Mass General Brigham looked at 228,885 women with breast cancer, 34,262 of whom were Black. The analysis (Journal of Clinical Oncology, Sept. 17, 2024) showed that … Read More

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