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A heart attack during pregnancy, then heart valve surgery
As she walked up to her fourth-floor apartment, Marisa MacDonnell figured something was different with this pregnancy, her second. She felt winded. She had to take deeper breaths. And when she carried her then-2-year-old son, Sam, he felt heavier than his actual weight. Even the activities she loved – walking and running – seemed more laborious.
Keeping high blood pressure at bay for the holidays
No matter what winter holiday traditions you celebrate, you probably won't find "think about blood pressure" on your to-do list, even after checking it twice. But that would be a nice idea for your heart's sake, experts say. High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attack and...
'Supernatural' actor had a stroke at a fan convention. Now, he's giving back in his own way.
Actor and musician Rob Benedict was in his natural habitat, onstage and entertaining an audience, when two of his friends decided to pull a practical joke on him. They were all gathered in Toronto for a fan convention for "Supernatural," the long-running TV series. Benedict, who played the author Chuck Shurley (aka God) on the show, was taking part in a panel discussion when his two actor buddies suddenly climbed onstage, tickled him, lifted him and turned him upside down.
After cardiac arrest at a college basketball game, he's ready to cheer again
For more than 50 years, Stan Goldstein has donned his red, black, white and gold – the colors of the University of Maryland's Terrapins – to cheer for his alma mater's men's basketball team at home games. In the 1990s, the team invited him to travel on their...
What's new with the flu? Here are 7 things to know
Don't call it a comeback if it was never really gone, but the flu is poised for a breakout year. Like the killer in a horror movie franchise, this season's flu is bringing fresh twists to a familiar theme. Here are seven things you should know to stay safe. Early...
As winter approaches, seasonal depression may set in for millions
Winter's coming. The leaves have fallen, temperatures are dropping and there's less daylight to brighten our moods. While some enjoy the changing of the seasons, millions of U.S. adults will experience a form of depression during the winter months known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It can feel just like regular depression, because it is, said Thea Gallagher, a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at New York University Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone in New York City.
3 heart surgeries and a mini-stroke by age 35. This year? 3 marathons
For his first 29 years, Justin Cadelago thought little about his heart. The exception was even a fun memory: he got to leave school early once a year to visit his pediatric cardiologist. Cadelago was born with an aorta narrower than usual. This congenital heart defect is called coarctation of...
Make better snack choices with these healthy tips
The answer is almost certainly yes. An estimated 95% of U.S. adults reported consuming a snack on any given day, according to pre-pandemic survey data from the Department of Agriculture. And snacks contributed more than a fifth of the calories that adults eat. So if healthy eating is your goal,...
Her heart stopped in front of the U.S. Capitol. A Congresswoman called for help.
It was a Wednesday morning last October and still dark when Delya Sommerville took off for a run with her jogging club. They usually went out two to three times a week in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C., and ran for about an hour. On this day the focus was hills.
Persistent asthma linked to plaque buildup in arteries leading to the brain
Adults with persistent asthma may experience nearly twice the amount of plaque buildup in major arteries leading to the brain as people without asthma, raising their risk for a stroke, new research suggests. The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also found higher levels of...
As hearts race over the World Cup, playing soccer has its benefits from head to toe
Soccer is filled with cardiovascular activities that can benefit the brain as well as the heart. From fullbacks sprinting back to prevent a counterattack to midfielders jogging up the other end to build up play, players on the pitch are rarely standing still. The quadrennial World Cup, being played in Qatar from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, will shine a spotlight on what's known as the "beautiful game," exposing the sport to perhaps a new generation of young fans and potential players.
'I need to walk again': Stroke survivor keeps promise to her husband, who died on 9/11
From her hospital bed, Beth Murphy demanded that a television be brought into her room. She needed to see the face of her husband. Kevin Murphy died on 9/11 as he worked at the World Trade Center in New York City. Of the 2,977 killed that day in separate terror attacks, Kevin and 2,752 others died at the twin towers. He was 40 years old.
Some reduced-carb diets may decrease diabetes risk, but others may raise it
When it comes to reduced-carb diets, it may be quality, not quantity, that matters most. New research finds that animal-based, low-carbohydrate eating was associated with a higher Type 2 diabetes risk, whereas plant-based, low-carb eating was associated with a lower diabetes risk. The research, recently presented in Chicago at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions conference, is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Fatty liver disease may increase heart failure risk
An abnormal buildup of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol may greatly increase the risk of heart failure, according to new research. Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a condition known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. Scientists already knew NAFLD can lead to permanent liver damage and increase the risk for atherosclerosis, when plaque builds up in the arteries.
A new route to keeping women in rural communities healthy
A community health program that included exercise classes and hands-on nutrition education helped women living in rural areas lower their blood pressure, lose weight and stay healthy, according to a new study. Compared to women in urban areas, women in rural communities have higher cardiovascular disease risk, are more likely...
Mothers could develop high blood pressure months after childbirth
It's standard practice to monitor a woman's blood pressure during pregnancy and immediately after childbirth. But new research at one medical center suggests the condition could be missed in some new mothers with no history of high blood pressure if the practice ends after six weeks. The study, published Tuesday...
Study of heart disease trends reflects diversity among Asian Americans
Cardiovascular disease rates differ among Asian American subgroups but are rising faster for most of them than for white adults, new research from Northern California suggests. Only people of Japanese American and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander descent are not experiencing a faster rise in heart disease rates, according to...
Teens' research highlights lasting heart health effects of redlining
Science is about discovery. It's about answering questions and, often, raising new ones. For Elise and Demir Dilci – 16-year-old twins whose research was presented Sunday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago – it was certainly all that. The two high school sophomores from Houston's Awty International School set out to answer a single question and found they had so many more.
More physical activity before a heart attack may reduce risk for a second one
Being physically active in middle age – before having a heart attack – may reduce the risk of having a second heart attack, according to new research. Scientists have long known that regular physical activity helps prevent stroke, heart attacks and other forms of cardiovascular disease. But few studies have explored whether exercise protects against another serious cardiovascular event after an initial heart attack.
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Heart and Stroke News: Stories about people, science and health, from American Heart Association News.
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