Heart Health Archive

Strokes fall into two main categories: ischemic (which result from a blockage inside one of the brain's arteries and account for 87% of all strokes) and hemorrhagic (also known as bleeding strokes, usually from a ruptured blood vessel). Three main types of ischemic strokes are those that result from atherosclerosis in a large artery supplying the brain (large-artery atherothrombotic strokes); those caused by clots in the heart that travel to the brain (cardioembolic strokes); and those in the brain's smallest vessels (small-vessel strokes).

Varicose veins are not just unsightly and uncomfortable; they can also be harbingers of more serious conditions, including deep-vein blood clots and venous ulcers. Ablation therapies to eradicate varicose veins can lower these risks. People can also try simple strategies to prevent and improve varicose veins, including doing exercises that work their calf muscles, elevating their legs, and wearing compression stockings.

The approach to certain blood tests appears to be shifting. Doctors might stop ordering routine vitamin D screenings for healthy people younger than 75; they might order a one-time combination of lipoprotein(a), C-reactive protein, and LDL (bad) cholesterol tests as a way to predict future heart problems; and they might rely less on standard ranges designated as "normal" in a complete blood count (CBC) test, and instead focus more on comparing someone's latest CBC results to previous CBC tests.

Cancer survivors are more likely to die of heart disease than from cancer-related complications. One reason is that certain cancer treatments can cause cardiovascular complications. But the two diseases share many root causes, including tobacco use and obesity, as well as diabetes and high cholesterol. Growing evidence suggests that people with heart disease may be more likely to develop cancer.

Most people don't need to fast before a lipid test because the difference between LDL cholesterol values when fasting or not fasting is very small. But people who have had high triglyceride levels should fast prior to the test.

Intensive blood pressure control that lowers systolic blood pressure (the first number in a reading) below 120 points may lower the risk of cognitive impairment or probable dementia.

In a 2024 study, people with a habit of eating dark chocolate-about an ounce a day-were less likely to develop diabetes compared to those who didn't consume it.

In a large 2024 study, people who ate more plant-based proteins than animal proteins had the lowest risks of developing cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, compared with those who ate more animal proteins than plant-based proteins.

Having type 2 diabetes doubles a person's odds of heart disease, and this risk may be present as early as 30 years prior to the diabetes diagnosis, according to a 2024 study. The findings support the long-held observation of the shared underlying causes of diabetes and heart disease. These include factors that contribute to both conditions, especially the tendency to accumulate fat in the middle of the body, known as abdominal obesity. This problem tends to occur in tandem with high blood pressure, unhealthy lipid levels, and elevated blood sugar-a cluster of signs and symptoms called metabolic syndrome.

Having an extremely low LDL level from aggressive cholesterol-lowering therapy was not associated with cognitive impairment, according to a 2024 study.