Heart Health Archive

A diagnosis of influenza (flu) was linked to a sixfold risk of heart attack over the following week, according to a 2024 report.

Air travel tips for people who have or are at risk for heart disease include bringing extra prescription medications in a carry-on bag and drinking water-but not alcohol-during the flight. When taking medications (especially blood pressure and anti-clotting drugs), people should try to schedule their doses based on their home time zone. On a long flight, walking a little every hour or so will help improve circulation in the legs; so can flexing the feet and circling the ankles. Doing so may reduce the chance of developing a blood clot, although the overall risk of such clots (known as deep-vein thrombosis) is quite low.

Leadless pacemakers, which are no bigger than a multivitamin pill, are far less prone to complications that traditional pacemakers, which have long leads (wires). These wires may become infected, dislodged, frayed, or broken. Scar tissue or blood clots can form around the leads, which may hinder blood flow and cause pain and swelling. Thanks to recent advances, most people who need pacemakers may now be candidates for leadless devices. However, doctors have less experience with what happens with leadless pacemakers over the long term-and they cost two to three times as much as a traditional pacemaker.

Carbohydrates include fiber, starches, and sugars. The healthiest sources include whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, which are rich in fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. Starches, the most commonly consumed form of carbohydrate, make up a large part of cereal grains such as rice, wheat, and corn; root vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes; and vegetables like peas and winter squashes. Low-quality carbohydrate choices include sodas, candy, and sugary desserts.

About one in five medications taken by older people is inappropriate. Many of these are heart drugs that are potentially harmful, have no clear benefit, or aren't as good as other options. These should be stopped or switched. One common example is low-dose aspirin, which is advised only for people who've had or are at high risk for a heart attack. Other drugs that may need to be stopped or replaced include beta blockers, warfarin, and older diabetes drugs.

What we eat plays an important role in health and quality of life - but is there a single best diet? One newer choice is the largely plant-based portfolio diet, which combines aspects of highly regarded eating patterns and focuses on foods proven to lower harmful blood lipids and enhance cardiovascular health.

New research has found that Americans are now dying from heart failure at a higher rate than 25 years ago, making prevention more important than ever. The best strategy to lower one's risk from heart failure is to address its top underlying contributors: high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid levels, and weight gain. Addressing these risk factors can also protect against developing coronary artery disease and diabetes, two of the main medical conditions that cause heart failure.

Getting an electrocardiogram (ECG) prior to undergoing noncardiac surgery should be the exception rather than the rule. About half of surgeries are low-risk and pose very little danger for the heart. Asking about a person's symptoms during physical activity-for example, whether they can walk up a flight of stairs without feeling winded-is a better gauge of their risk than the findings from an ECG. But presurgical ECGs make sense for older, inactive people with heart disease. The results can reveal signs of reduced blood flow to the heart or an unstable electrical heart rhythm that may require treatment before surgery.