Heart Health Archive

Using a Web-based app, most people can correctly assess their need for a cholesterol-lowering statin and take the drug appropriately with good results, according to a 2024 study. If approved, the app could facilitate statin use without a doctor's prescription.

A 2024 study suggests using cannabis weekly may be associated with an increase in people's risks of heart attack and stroke, and the risks rise dramatically with more frequent use.

A large observational study published in 2024 suggests that stroke isn't the biggest risk of atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm condition). The biggest risk seems to be heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood effectively.

Cardiac rehabilitation, a personalized program of supervised exercise and heart-healthy lifestyle coaching, helps people recover from heart-related problems, including stable angina, heart attack, heart surgery, and stable heart failure. A 12-week program helps people regain their stamina, enabling them to resume their favorite activities, and may also lessen stress and depression. Cardiac rehab is also proven to lower the risk of future heart-related illness and hospitalization and may help people live longer.

Physical activity lowers cardiovascular disease risk in part by reducing stress-related activity in the brain, according to a 2024 study.

Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (so-called "blood thinners") are prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation, deep-vein thrombosis, or blood clots in the lung. Doctors also prescribe antiplatelet drugs to prevent blood clots in arteries that can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

People who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease can benefit from driving down "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels as low as possible to help reduce their risk for heart attacks and strokes. Guidelines recommend that people at high risk aim for LDL levels below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The general population should strive for levels below 100 mg/dL. Taking statins and adopting healthier lifestyle habits like following a plant-based diet and increasing exercise can help manage LDL levels.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia is caused by an electrical glitch in the heart's upper chamber that causes the heart rate to suddenly soar for no apparent reason—sometimes as high as 200 beats per minute. The condition, which people describe as palpitations or a fluttering sensation in the chest, is usually not dangerous. But long-lasting bouts can lead to lightheadedness, breathlessness, and fainting.

Migraines and cardiovascular disease share certain common features, including changes in blood vessels, blood flow, and inflammation. Migraine with aura is linked to an increased risk of stroke, and common migraine drugs called triptans are linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart attack in people at risk for cardiovascular disease. Although both of these risks are extremely small, migraine sufferers with heart-related risks should seek out a personalized approach for treatment and know the warning signs of a stroke.