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Intensive blood pressure control may lower risk for cognitive problems in more people
Several years ago, researchers published in JAMA a promising discovery: intensively lowering blood pressure appeared to reduce the risk for cognitive decline in people 50 and older with high blood pressure. But questions remained about whether the strategy was safe or effective in people whose diastolic blood pressure – the bottom number in a blood pressure reading – was low. Some data suggested intensive control might raise the risk for dementia in this group.
At annual 'Thriller' event, zombie went into cardiac arrest
A week before Halloween 2021 and five days before her 68th birthday, Sarah Katzenmaier slipped into a royal blue bridesmaid dress and carefully applied her zombie makeup. Then she made her way to Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, like she had for the past 12 years to perform in the annual "Thriller" event.
Simple or moderate congenital heart defects might not impair fertility
Women and men born with simple or moderate heart defects who choose to have children are no more likely than others to experience infertility as adults, a study in Denmark suggests. The researchers said it is the first study to examine the risk of infertility among women and men with...
Stroke symptoms require emergency treatment even if they quickly disappear, new report says
Stroke symptoms that vanish in less than an hour still require emergency medical assessments to prevent a full-blown stroke, according to a new science report from the American Heart Association. The scientific statement, published Thursday in the AHA journal Stroke, offers guidance for evaluating suspected "warning strokes" – called transient...
Farewell, my friend: A tribute to Dr. Ralph Sacco
In the early 2000s, when I was Chief Operating Officer of the American Heart Association, I flew to New York for some meetings. I remember looking forward to the visit because I was going to meet a volunteer whom colleagues had been raving about, a neurologist-epidemiologist named Dr. Ralph Sacco.
ER worker's heart stopped, leaving her 'the color of Cookie Monster'
As a child life specialist in the emergency room of a children's hospital, Christi Eberhardt spent a Wednesday morning getting kids comfortable with their upcoming procedures. She showed them IVs and other surgical equipment. Around midday, Eberhardt, who was 29, left the Akron, Ohio, hospital to make a phone call....
Dr. Ralph Sacco – first neurologist to serve as AHA president – dies at 65
Between his first and second years of medical school, before he was certain about what he'd specialize in, Ralph Sacco landed a job alongside Dr. Philip Wolf. Sacco's role included feeding punch cards into a machine, a tedious but necessary step in the rudimentary days of electronic data collection. The fascinating part was seeing what happened next – the way Wolf used the information to save and improve lives, particularly those at risk of stroke.
5 things to know about AEDs after a defibrillator helped save Damar Hamlin
We've all walked past them: Little red, yellow or green boxes with hearts on them and the letters "AED." They can be found in office buildings, gyms, schools, airports, shopping malls – almost anywhere large crowds gather. These little boxes can save lives. But few people use them. An...
Black people rarely hit the ski slopes, but those who love winter sports are working to change that
Like many skiers, Dr. Ouida Brown can't narrow her love of the sport down to just one element. "I love the scenery," said the orthopedic surgeon from Chicago. "I love the people." She loves being the first to make tracks in fresh powder in the morning. She loves the physical and mental challenge of trying to improve her time on a racecourse.
When he stopped breathing, his dog called out for help
On a Friday morning in late February, Ken Walsh and his wife, Nicole, sat on their couch in East Brunswick, New Jersey, having coffee and talking about weekend plans. Their dog, Indiana, a 6-month-old Australian Shepherd mix, sat on the floor at Ken's feet. She was a happy, friendly dog who loved walks. She was especially attached to Ken, often curling up by the door after he left for work.
Uric acid linked to later risk for irregular heart rhythm
High levels of uric acid in midlife may significantly raise the risk for a serious type of irregular heartbeat in the decades that follow, even in people without traditional risk factors, new research shows. The study, published Thursday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that uric acid...
ER nurse went into cardiac arrest at daughter's school
Laura Rodriguez felt dizzy after dropping off her 5-year-old daughter for one of the first days of kindergarten. Then she began sweating as she walked the halls of the elementary school in Arlington, Texas. This made no sense. It wasn't separation anxiety. Rodriguez was planning to go running at a...
Ginger brings zing to a meal – but does it do more?
Ginger is not subtle. Whether sprinkled from the jar in your kitchen cabinet or sliced fresh from the produce section, its sweet, sharp warmth stands out. Ginger is certainly an old spice, having been used in India and China perhaps 5,000 years ago. It was a valuable trade good in the Middle Ages, when a pound of ginger would have been equivalent to the cost of a sheep. Arguably, this makes it a posh spice as well.
Quinton Aaron of 'The Blind Side' aims to be an inspirational story of his own
Quinton Aaron knows the power of a success story featuring a talented young man and a mother figure who helps him beat the odds. Those elements helped make the 2009 film "The Blind Side," which he starred in alongside Sandra Bullock, a blockbuster. That film was about football star Michael...
New year, healthier you? Here's how to gradually improve your eating patterns
Losing weight is a popular New Year's resolution. But people often fail to keep this commitment or quickly gain back the pounds. Instead of jumping on the latest fad diet, experts advise improving the nutritional quality of what goes into your body. A gradual shift to healthier eating is more likely to stick and can reap long-lasting rewards, such as better heart health and a lower risk of dying from heart disease or stroke.
Report highlights lack of medical worker diversity – and how to fix that
Racial and ethnic diversity among medical workers is critical to Americans' health, but more needs to be done to recruit, train and support those professionals, a new report says. The report, published Thursday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, describes barriers to a diverse workforce,...
NFL player's cardiac arrest was a triggering, traumatic event for many
When Damar Hamlin's heart stopped, millions held their breath. Monday night in Cincinnati, the 24-year-old football player for the Buffalo Bills had a cardiac arrest after making a tackle. In the packed stadium, thousands watched as medical workers performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator to restore his heartbeat. Players and coaches hugged, wept and prayed as he was taken away in an ambulance.
Heart attack at 46 led to a new heart and new outlook on life
Eddie Garcia juggled roles as the chief of staff for an elected official and the president of a school board. The positions seemed to be wearing him down. At 46, he felt short of breath, his neck was sore and he had chest pain. Could it be a panic attack, he wondered?
Want a short-term New Year's resolution you may be able to keep? Try Dry January.
For many people, New Year's resolutions fall flat on their face by the first of February. But what if your "New Year, New You" is only supposed to last a month?. Enter Dry January, a promise to not drink alcohol for 31 days. Launched a decade ago as a public health initiative by a British group, the practice has gained popularity on this side of the Atlantic. A 2022 national survey suggested that up to 35% of drinking-age U.S. adults abstained from booze last January.
AHA News' most-read survivor stories of 2022
Nearly 100 survivors of cardiovascular disease, stroke, congenital heart defects and more were featured this year. Here are the top 5 stories readers were inspired by, ranked in order of unique page views. 1. College softball player's heart stops after routine play. Fordham University athlete Sarah Taffet discovered she had...
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Heart and Stroke News: Stories about people, science and health, from American Heart Association News.
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