Heart Disease Archive

High temperatures raise risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and also stress the cardiovascular system, making the heart work harder. If you have a heart condition, here's how to keep cool and protect yourself when temperatures rise.

Bigeminy is a usually harmless heart rhythm problem caused by premature heartbeats that may cause palpitations. Possible triggers include caffeine, stress, and lack of sleep. People with additional symptoms may need further testing.

Exercise heart rate zones reflect different percentages of a person's estimated maximum heart rate. While some people find it helpful to monitor their heart rate zone during exercise, consistently engaging in physical activity is the most important priority.

A narrowed aortic valve (aortic stenosis) affects about one in 20 people over age 65. Medical therapies for treating this progressive disease are under investigation, and a recent study explored the potential benefits of proactive valve replacement.

Many people with atrial fibrillation - a rapid, irregular heart rhythm - need medications to control symptoms and lower their risk of stroke. These include drugs that slow down the heart, help restore its rhythm, and prevent blood clots.

Carotid artery stenosis, which happens when fatty plaque accumulates in neck arteries that supply the brain, leaves people vulnerable to a stroke. Intensive drug therapy may forestall the need for invasive procedures to treat this problem.

A 2025 study suggests that polyphenols, found in a wide range of plant foods, may have long-term benefits for the heart. Over an average of 11 years, people whose diets contained the most polyphenol-rich foods ranked lowest on scores of heart disease risk.

People with atrial fibrillation (afib) who drank an average of one cup of caffeinated coffee daily had a lower risk of recurrent afib compared to those who avoided caffeine, according to a 2025 study.

Long QT syndrome is a disorder of the heart's electrical system that can be either acquired (for example, due to a medication) or congenital. Although usually people have no symptoms, it can cause a fast, erratic heartbeat that may lead to shortness of breath, fainting, and sometimes death.

Chronic, low-level inflammation is just as important as cholesterol in causing clogged heart arteries. Cardiologists are calling for more widespread testing for inflammation, which is easily measured with an inexpensive blood test.