Doctors rarely talk about artery flexibility. But it may be just as important to your health as other more familiar markers such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
When your arteries lose flexibility, it can be the start of a destructive chain reaction. Having stiff arteries means your heart has to work harder to move blood through your body.… Read More
Cardiologists have long known that Christmas is the time when you are at most risk for a heart attack.
They even have a name for it. It’s called “holiday heart syndrome.”
A study shows that Christmas may be even more dangerous to heart health than previously believed. The research was conducted by cardiologists in Sweden. It was published in The British Medical Journal.… Read More
If you’ve been gorging on chocolate and nuts over the holidays, there’s no reason to feel guilty, a study finds.
In fact, you may be doing your heart a favor.
Penn State University researchers found that choosing the right kind of chocolate and nuts can actually help you improve your cholesterol readings.
Previous studies have shown that when eaten separately, almonds and dark chocolate can help prevent heart disease.… Read More
When was the last time your health care provider had you sit quietly for 12 minutes before taking your blood pressure?
Probably never.
And that means your readings may be falsely high.
Following the correct procedure when taking blood pressure readings is more important than ever. That’s because a few years ago new guidelines came out on when to treat hypertension.… Read More
This vitamin doesn’t get much attention. But researchers have discovered that it may be the single most important nutrient for your heart.
It prevents a serious and common condition that often leads to sudden cardiac arrest.[1]
Scientists at Augusta University in Georgia wanted to find out if this vitamin could stop left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). It is a gradual enlargement and thickening of the walls of your heart’s left ventricle.… Read More
The most common heart operation in the U.S. is bypass surgery. More than 200,000 are performed each year.[1]
During the procedure, the surgeon typically takes a vein from your leg and uses it to reroute your heart’s blood supply around a blocked coronary artery.
Although the surgery is common, it’s still serious. The doctor must crack your chest (cut through your sternum) to access your heart.… Read More