Heart Health Archive

The surge in heat waves and extreme heat poses serious health risks for everyone but is a particular worry for older adults. What can you do to manage heat-related risks, especially if you have existing health conditions or take certain medications?

A regular yoga practice may help people shed pounds while also improving their heart health. A form of low- to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, yoga also stretches and strengthens muscles. A 2025 review article suggests that yoga can decrease body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage while also improving blood pressure and cholesterol values.

Fatty plaque that accumulates in the arteries of the legs, known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), can cause a painful, crampy sensation in the legs during walking. Smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol increase the risk of PAD, which affects nearly one in three people over age 75. Beyond quitting smoking, regular walking is the best treatment for PAD. A 2025 study found that semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) may help people with PAD walk farther with less pain.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as having at least three of the following: abdominal obesity, high blood triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and low HDL cholesterol levels. The condition significantly increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, fatty liver disease, and sleep apnea. While each factor is problematic, the main driver is abdominal obesity, from visceral fat surrounding internal organs. The best way to reduce visceral fat is aerobic exercise, strength training, and a plant-based diet.

High blood pressure means that blood pushes against artery walls more forcefully than normal. Women's blood pressure is typically lower than men's until around age 60. An estimated 41% of women develop high blood pressure after menopause. High blood pressure increases people's risks of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other problems. Factors that increase women's risk of high blood pressure at midlife include menopause, elevated sympathetic nerve activity, weight gain and redistribution, stress, and genetics.

People with very high calcium scores (over 1,000) have a risk of heart attack or stroke similar to those who have already had a heart attack. They should take cholesterol-lowering drugs to bring down LDL levels and possibly undergo additional testing.

Cannabis use is rising among older adults, who mostly use cannabis edibles such as gummies for relaxation and sleep. While smoking cannabis may raise heart attack risk, the cardiac effects of consuming cannabis in food or drinks are less well understood. Taking too much cannabis can lead to a panic attack, which can cause a pounding heart or palpitations. People who use cannabis should take it only as needed to relieve symptoms, using the lowest possible dose.

A 2025 study found that a pill version of the drug semaglutide, marketed as Rybelsus, can lower the risk for serious heart problems in people who have diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or both.

A 2025 study suggests that squeezing a week's worth of exercise (150 minutes) into just one or two days - a "weekend warrior" pattern - is linked to the same heart benefits as daily exercise.

A 2025 study found that chronic stress is associated with higher stroke risks among women under 50, but not in men.