Heart Disease Archive

Consuming less sodium and more potassium may be linked to better heart health, according to a November 2021 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. After controlling for other risk factors, the researchers found that for every extra 1,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium detected in the urine, there was an 18% increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. For every extra 1,000 mg of potassium in the urine, there was an 18% decrease in risk.

A 2021 study found that a low-carb diet may not necessarily be bad for heart health, despite its high saturated fat content. However, the study period was short, and the diet used in the trial was healthier than many low-carb approaches. More research is needed to confirm the results. In the meantime, experts recommend finding a sustainable diet that provides a healthy daily mix of nutritious foods instead of solely looking at carbohydrate content.

High blood pressure not only can raise risk for a heart attack, but also can affect the brain. Keeping blood pressure normal can make brain injury from stroke less likely to happen and perhaps slow the natural decline in cognitive function. Just like with the heart, the best way to protect the brain from high blood pressure is to lower blood pressure if it's high and keep it as close to a normal level as possible.

Older adults who eat fish several times a week may be less likely to develop early signs of cerebrovascular disease, a category that includes strokes, aneurysms, and related problems.

Being exposed to even low levels of certain toxic metals, including arsenic, cadmium, and titanium, may raise a person's risk for clogged arteries.

Air pollution is an often overlooked yet important contributor to cardiovascular disease. Tiny particles known as PM_2.5 travel deep into the lungs, where they irritate receptors and trigger nerves involved in the autonomic nervous system. This irritation also contributes to inflammation, which accelerates atherosclerosis. Climate change can worsen the damaging effects of air pollution in several ways, such as by promoting wildfires and dust storms, which creates more PM_2.5. To reduce pollution's harmful effects, people can check air quality information and use portable indoor air cleaners when pollution levels are elevated.

People with atrial fibrillation (afib) often wonder whether certain habits—such as drinking coffee or not getting sufficient sleep—might trigger their episodes. Some notice that disruptions to their normal routine are likely to trigger a bout of afib—for example, exhaustion due to jet lag or indigestion after eating a rich, heavy meal. Evidence increasingly suggests that smaller amounts of alcohol (even just one drink) may also raise a person's risk of afib, and some people may be more susceptible than others. But for many people, trying to identify afib triggers can be an exercise in frustration.

Mental stress ischemia occurs when emotional stress causes a decline in blood flow to the heart. The condition, which affects about one in six people with heart disease, may more than double a person's risk of heart attack. Mental stress ischemia appears to be caused in part by changes in the wall and inner lining of the heart's smallest blood vessels. Known as microvascular disease, this problem tends to be more prevalent in women. In contrast, a more common cause of chest pain is narrowing of the large arteries of the heart.

A study found that women who regularly dine alone may be at elevated risk for heart disease, possibly because they were found to have less nutritional knowledge and ate less nutritious meals.

Certain devices that use magnetic chargers may interfere with cardiac devices such as pacemakers. A doctor should advise people on which ones to avoid or to use caution when operating.