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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.
Some flu vaccine reactions might be a good sign for people with heart disease
People with heart disease who forego annual flu vaccination for fear of having an adverse reaction may wish to reconsider. New research finds individuals with high-risk heart disease who experience mild to moderate side effects are less likely to be hospitalized for heart or lung problems or die from any cause.
As cardiac arrest deaths fall, Black and rural communities lag
Cardiac arrest deaths have dropped significantly in the U.S., except in Black and rural communities, according to new research. Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating unexpectedly. A heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, but so can other heart and non-heart issues. Higher bystander CPR rates and improved cardiovascular care have saved lives, but cardiac arrest was still a factor in more than 370,000 deaths in the United States in 2019.
How a middle-of-the-night heart attack at 40 became her wake-up call
Intense chest pain awakened Natalie Latham from a deep sleep. Surely, she figured, it was from the spicy soup she'd eaten the night before. Natalie had worked a full day in her role as marketing director for a bank in Brandon, Mississippi, then took one of her sons to baseball practice. Afterward, they picked up dinner from one of their favorite restaurants.
Upping your step count, even in small amounts, may increase life span
Adding 1,000 or even 500 steps to your daily routine could lead to a longer life, new research suggests. Experts have long endorsed walking as a free and easy way for people to get a wide variety of health benefits, including improved sleep, prevention of weight gain and reduced risks for serious conditions like heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
COVID-19 pandemic erased decade of progress in lowering heart disease death rate
After steadily declining for nearly a decade, the heart disease death rate rose significantly during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, new research finds. The increase erased years of progress, especially among Black and younger adults. "Prior to 2020, death rates from heart disease had been declining among adults...
Chest pain, shortness of breath linked to long-term risk of heart trouble
Chest pain and shortness of breath may offer distinct warnings of future heart problems over 30 years' time, according to a new study. Chest pain accounts for more than 6.5 million visits to U.S. emergency rooms each year. Yet little research has looked at what it might signify over the years to come, said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Kentaro Ejiri, a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Similarly, he said, few studies have examined long-term implications of shortness of breath, called dyspnea.
New guidelines revise how aortic disease is diagnosed and treated
The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have issued new guidelines for diagnosing and managing diseases that affect the body's largest artery, providing recommendations for surgery, imaging, family screening and more. The updated guidance replaces two older documents for identifying and treating disease in the aorta, the artery...
Heart inflammation risk remains rare after third COVID-19 vaccine dose
A third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine poses no more risk of heart inflammation than a second dose, a large study suggests. The findings could help allay concerns about risk going up with each additional dose. Cases were rare. Most appeared within seven days of vaccination and...
Hearts from COVID-19-positive donors appear safe for transplant
Donor hearts from people with COVID-19 may be just as safe as those from people without, finds a short-term analysis of the first such transplants done in the United States. "These findings suggest that we may be able to be more aggressive about accepting donors that are positive for COVID-19 when patients are in dire need of an organ for heart transplantation," study researcher Samuel T. Kim said in a news release. Kim is a third-year medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Marital stress may make heart attack recovery tougher
Marital stress – especially if it's severe – may make it harder for younger adults to regain good physical and mental health following a heart attack, increasing the likelihood for chest pain and hospital readmission, a new study suggests. "Health care professionals need to be aware of personal...
Dementia risk may be tied to how long blood pressure stays in target range
The longer a person's blood pressure levels remain under control, the lower their risk may be for dementia, new research shows. The findings add to evidence suggesting that good heart and brain health is best achieved by keeping systolic blood pressure (the upper number) consistently under control, compared to having levels that vary, even if the average falls within the target range.
Black licorice is a candy that should inspire caution
"How do you feel about black licorice?" sounds like a question for starting a simple chat at a Halloween party – or a silly internet fight. It's a love-it-or-hate-it candy that inspires intense opinions. But if you ask a health expert, expect a serious conversation – because eating lots...
Former Grand Slam tennis champion wants his survival story to help everyone, everywhere
Murphy Jensen looked across the tennis court and smiled – a joyful, mischievous grin. At 6-foot-5, with a smooth face and scalp, the bright flash of his teeth radiated warmth and happiness. Of course it did. This is a guy so peppy that a friend insists "the sun decides where to shine based on where Murphy goes."
Actor uses humor, vulnerability to share what life after 3 strokes is like
Like many actors in Los Angeles, Michael Shutt had a second job. As a bartender at a restaurant, he had flexible hours and a reliable income with benefits. Shutt worked the day shift so he could devote his evenings to a theater company where he acted, directed, produced, helped develop scripts and more.
Telehealth may be just as good as clinic visits for treating high blood pressure
Telehealth care by pharmacists is an effective alternative to clinic-based care for managing high blood pressure, a new study has found. Scientists know that high blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular-related deaths in the U.S. But controlling the condition, also known as hypertension, has been difficult.
Healthy fun or health risk? The two sides of fear
The good news is that fear can persuade us to avoid dangerous situations or help us flee from an angry bear. The bad news is that fear can lead to chronic stress, with serious health consequences. So should that affect your Halloween plans?. Probably not, said Zachary Sikora, medical director...
Protecting LGBTQ people from the health risks of social isolation
The ways Donald M. Bell and his Chicago neighbors connect with one another are as simple as they are significant. "We have certain rituals that pull certain clumps of people together," said Bell, 73. Sometimes, it's gathering to watch "Jeopardy!" in the community room of their senior apartment building. Other times, they make meals for each other, because cooking for one can be hard, but sharing is easy.
Using friendly faces to help close gaps on vaccines and more
The coronavirus pandemic magnified health disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Some experts say using trusted community voices could help close gaps not only in vaccination rates but in overall health. Even before the pandemic, public health experts knew that people from historically underrepresented and underserved populations were less likely...
California boy needed surgery to fix unusual heart defect
On her first visit to the hospital to check on her newborn patient, the pediatrician detected a heart murmur. A few days later, at Cix Greene's first office visit, the doctor didn't hear it. It was almost eight years later, at the boy's annual checkup, before she heard it again. She told Cix's mother to take him to a pediatric cardiologist.
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Heart and Stroke News: Stories about people, science and health, from American Heart Association News.
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