Heart Health Archive

Articles

Complications after receiving a stent

Two main complications can occur with coronary stents: the gradual renarrowing of the area inside the stent, known as restenosis, and the formation of clots inside the stent, called stent thrombosis.

Under pressure: How stress may affect your heart

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.

Meal of the month: Stir-fry supper

Stir-fries feature a healthy dose of vegetables combined with lean protein and a flavorful sauce. When served over steamed brown rice, stir fries are a good example of a well-balanced, nutritious meal.

New guidance on return to youth sports and activity after COVID-19

Early in the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that any child who tested positive for COVID-19 have an in-person evaluation with their pediatrician before returning to sports, but recently the AAP updated its guidance with recommendations based on the severity of a child's illness.

Scoring highly on Alternative Healthy Eating Index lowers risk for many illnesses

Most of us know a healthy diet reduces the risk of heart disease but may not know it's possible to choose a combination of foods that help lower risks for many illnesses. An index created by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health grades food choices and it's easy to incorporate components of this into daily eating habits.

The facts on fat and heart health

Dietary fat can both help and hurt heart health, depending on the source. Eating adequate amounts of the "good" fats—monounsaturated and polyunsaturated—can help reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. "Bad" saturated fat found in many processed foods can have the opposite effect. Following heart-healthy diets like the Mediterranean and DASH diets and making small substitutions in daily eating habits can ensure people get the proper amounts of good fats.

The best bedtime for heart health?

People who fall asleep between 10 and 11 p.m. may be less likely to develop heart disease than those who start their slumber earlier or later.

A new way to detect dangerous blood clots

A substance that binds to blood clots may one day offer a novel, less invasive strategy for finding dangerous clots in the heart and elsewhere in the body.

Drinking coffee and tea linked to lower stroke risk

People who sip several daily cups of both coffee and tea may be less likely to have a stroke than people who don't drink either beverage.

Low heart rate warnings via smart watch

When a smart watch alert suggests that person's heart rate is below 40 beats per minute, it could be an error, especially if no symptoms are present. But it could signal a heart problem called bradycardia that has many possible causes.

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