Most people have their blood pressure measured once a year during their checkup, but the doctor’s office might not be the best place to get an accurate diagnosis of hypertension. Many patients get nervous or even agitated when …
Heart Disease
Who Dies from Heart Disease? New Research Defines Those at Highest Risk
Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans, but many are still able to survive heart attacks. What determines who is able to overcome an attack and who succumbs? A team of researchers from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical …
Why Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Smoke
It’s not healthy to smoke during pregnancy but an estimated 12% to 24% of pregnant women continue to use tobacco, according to national data [PDF]. So if the existing evidence hasn’t convinced them to quit, perhaps this new study …
Why Being Thin Doesn’t Always Mean Being Healthy
If there’s a universal truth in health news lately, it’s that being overweight isn’t good for your health. Extra weight, especially in the form of fat, can lead to heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, among …
Study: High-Dose Statins May Raise the Risk of Diabetes Slightly
High doses of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may protect patients from heart attack, but a new analysis of five previous clinical trials finds that they may also increase patients’ risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Study: Baked, Broiled — But Not Fried — Fish Is Good for the Heart
Want a healthier heart? Try adding fish to your diet. But be careful how it’s cooked, a new study warns: baked or broiled fish will boost heart health, but fried fish is probably better left uneaten.
Big and Tall Men Are More Likely to Suffer Blood Clots
By almost any measure, tall men are winners of the genetic jackpot. They’re perceived as more desirable by potential partners and earn more money than their shorter peers. But height is no advantage when it comes to the risk of …
Can Wrist Size Help Predict Children’s Heart Disease Risk?
There are already several different ways to tell if you’re at increased risk of heart disease — whether you’re overweight, or have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, for example — but researchers want to add one more …
Has Work Got You Burning the Midnight Oil? It Could Be Bad for Your Heart
The benefits of gainful employment are many, but working hard may have a downside: an increased risk of heart attack.
Scientists Uncover the First Case of Hardened Arteries in a Mummy
It’s widely known that atherosclerosis — the hardening of the arteries that contributes to heart attack — is caused by our modern lifestyle: how many of us sit sedentary at our desks all day, eating fat-laden fast-food diets, …
Study: The Heart Benefits of Fish May Outweigh the Mercury Risks
Eating fish is good for your heart, but there’s a catch: the fish richest in good-for-you omega-3 fats also tend to harbor the most mercury, which can be harmful for brain development, particularly among young children.
Are You at Risk for Congestive Heart Failure?
The news that actress Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday morning of congestive heart failure at age 79 highlights how common the disease is in the U.S.
Infrequent Sex or Exercise Can Trigger Heart Attacks
There’s no denying that regular physical activity and a healthy sex life are good for your heart. But if you’ve ever huffed and puffed your way through a jog or a particularly strenuous bout of lovemaking, you might have wondered …