Heart Health Archives

Rules Change for Predicting High Stroke Risk

Dec 5, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

If you have atrial fibrillation (AF), but were told you did not need to take an oral anticoagulant to prevent stroke, that may change. New guidelines for the prevention of AF-related stroke use a different formula to predict stroke risk than older guidelines. As a result, two-thirds of patients previously … Read More

Help Prevent Hypertension with a Potassium-Rich Diet

Dec 1, 2016 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

A diet that is high in potassium has been associated with a reduced chance of developing high blood pressure (hypertension), which, in turn, lowers the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Potassium Balances Sodium Potassium affects blood pressure through its complementary relationship with sodium; these two minerals play … Read More

Ask the Doctor: Cholesterol Drugs; Vitamin E & Alzheimer’s; Skin Discoloration

Dec 1, 2016 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Q: I’ve been taking a statin to help me manage my high cholesterol level, but it’s still high. My doctor mentioned that I might need another drug to prevent me from “absorbing cholesterol.” Can you explain what he meant? A: It sounds as if your doctor was referring to ezetimibe … Read More

Newsbriefs: Tea Benefits; Sleep Problems; Eating Disorders; Supplements; Memory Recall

Nov 28, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Tea Found to Lower Risk of Heart Attack. When consumed as part of a heart-healthy diet, tea may slow the progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and reduce the risk of heart attack, a study in the American Journal of Medicine (Sept. 15, 2016) has found. The finding is based … Read More

A New Specialty: Cardio-Oncology

Nov 28, 2016 · Diane Muhlfeld · Heart Health

Imagine being cured of cancer, only to learn the treatment that saved your life caused you to develop heart failure. Or perhaps your risk factors for heart disease spiral out of control when you begin chemotherapy. More concerning: What if your doctor suggests you stop your cancer treatment because it’s … Read More

Does Your Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Deliver More Risk Thank Benefits

Nov 2, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Heart Health

New research has raised serious questions about the practice of taking daily low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. Aspirin can help thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots; however, several large studies suggest that side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding and cerebral hemorrhage … Read More

Side Effects of Blood Pressure Meds

Nov 1, 2016 · Susan Jimison Vitek · Heart Health

Life-saving antihypertensive drugs are widely used to lower blood pressure linked with damage to the brain, eyes, heart, arteries and bodily organs. They also prevent injury or death from stroke or heart attack. However, antihypertensive medications can cause mental and physical side effects, some of which may seriously affect vulnerable … Read More

Frontline: Post-Heart Attack Procedures; Radiation After Mastectomy; Heavy Drinking & the Brain

Oct 26, 2016 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Post-Heart Attack Procedures Improve Survival Rates Following an NSTEMI heart attack, patients who have a procedure to increase blood flow in coronary arteries, such as angioplasty and/or stenting, have higher survival rates after six months than patients treated with medications alone, according to a study in the Sept. 13, 2016 … Read More

Peripheral Artery Disease Signals A Risk of Other Cardiovascular Issues

Oct 26, 2016 · Dawn Bialy · Heart Health

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a buildup of plaque within the peripheral arteries in the legs, arms, and brain. It may not sound as serious as coronary artery disease, since it doesn’t occur in or around the heart, but it can have serious consequences if it’s not diagnosed and treated. … Read More

Could Your Medications Worsen Your Heart Failure?

Oct 26, 2016 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

About 40 percent of older adults with heart failure have five or more separate medical conditions, and may take as many as seven or more prescription and over-the-counter (OTC)medications daily in order to manage these conditions. But many commonly used drugs and nutritional supplements can cause or worsen heart failure, … Read More

Heart Health

Enter Your Login Credentials