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What goes into a Mediterranean diet, and how to get started
If you know anything about healthy eating, you've probably heard that the benefits of Mediterranean-style eating are as clear as the crystal sea at a Greek island getaway. But for someone just testing the waters of heart-healthy eating, the specifics of such a diet can get a little murky. That's because its definition can vary.
COVID-19 infection poses higher risk for myocarditis than vaccines
The overall risk of myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle – is substantially higher immediately after being infected with COVID-19 than it is in the weeks following vaccination for the coronavirus, a large new study in England shows. The detailed analysis of nearly 43 million people was...
How you feel about aging could affect health. Here's how to keep the right attitude.
Perhaps not the number, but how we age might be. A growing body of research suggests a person's mindset – how they feel about growing old – may predict how much longer and how well they live as the years go by. Several studies over the past 20...
New report details what to know about cardiovascular disease symptoms
Symptoms of cardiovascular problems run the gamut. Some – like chest pain during a heart attack or a droopy face during a stroke – are sudden and severe, while others last years with varying intensity. Factors such as sex, cognitive function and depression can complicate the recognition or diagnosis of symptoms.
Smartphone video may help detect narrowed neck arteries that can lead to strokes
Narrowed arteries in the neck – a major risk factor for stroke – may be detected by analyzing smartphone video that picks up the motion of blood flowing just beneath the skin, a small study shows. The research, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association,...
Having ideal heart health may lessen the risk for brain vessel disease
Maintaining excellent cardiovascular health may lower the risk for abnormalities in the small vessels of the brain, a new study suggests. Scientists aren't sure what causes the condition, known as cerebral small vessel disease, or CSVD. Previous research shows CSVD contributes to about half of dementia cases, a quarter of clot-caused strokes and most bleeding strokes.
Heart failure at age 30 brought on by pregnancy
Fatima Mathews knew something wasn't right. She was more tired than she'd ever felt in her life. "You just had a baby," her doctor reminded her. "It's normal to be tired." She'd been feeling tired – and bloated and swollen – since the last few months of her pregnancy. And now it was time to go back to work. Mathews told herself she'd be fine.
Obstacles didn't stop this heart defect survivor from competing on 'American Ninja Warrior'
At 21, Chris O'Connell learned his pediatric cardiologist had retired. He was assigned a new doctor for the annual checkups he'd had all his life. "I know you've been told to not exercise hard or strain your heart, but that's the old way of thinking," the cardiologist told him. "Think of your heart as a muscle that needs to be worked out."
When her smartwatch indicated she might be in AFib, she thought it was a mistake
Megan Buchholz groggily read the notification from her smartwatch. Its vibration had roused her out of a deep sleep. At 3 a.m. on a Monday this past March, she read an alert that said the device identified an irregular rhythm suggestive of atrial fibrillation, or AFib, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
What's new this year for school lunches?
In the past, school cafeterias might have served as a source for more punchlines than nutrition. But lunch is a more dynamic and, these days, healthy part of students' lives than many people realize. Some of its importance is obvious. "You really don't need to do a study showing that...
Is caffeine a friend or foe?
Caffeine jump-starts your day and puts a bounce in your step. It can help you focus, improve your mood and maybe even help you live longer. Caffeine, a natural stimulant, can be found in a variety of foods, such as coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao beans, guarana berries and yerba maté leaves. It also can be synthetically created and added to beverages such as soda and energy drinks. Research shows that about 90% of U.S. adults consume some form of caffeine every day.
63 years ago, she had pioneering open-heart surgery at age 4
At Susan Mangini's checkup at age 2, the doctor subbing for her pediatrician asked about the girl's heart murmur. Mangini's mother was stunned. No one had ever mentioned a problem with her daughter's heart. Doctors ultimately found the little girl had pulmonary stenosis, or a narrowing of the valve between...
Social isolation, loneliness can damage heart and brain health, report says
Social isolation and loneliness may increase the risk of having or dying from a heart attack or stroke, according to a new report summarizing research on the topic. The scientific statement from the American Heart Association highlights the need for more data on strategies to improve cardiovascular health for people who are socially isolated or lonely, as well as more robust evidence showing how these experiences affect brain health.
What parents can do to protect kids from heart disease
The consequences of heart disease often don't show up until someone is well into adulthood. Why should busy parents be thinking about it in their kids?. "Because it's probably way easier to prevent the development of cardiac risk factors than to try and get rid of them once they've developed," said Dr. Sarah de Ferranti, a pediatric cardiologist at Boston Children's Hospital. "Prevention really is key."
Are you taking blood pressure in both arms? You should, study finds
Taking blood pressure readings from both arms and using the higher reading would more accurately capture who has high blood pressure – and is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and death – than relying on readings from a single arm, new research suggests. While current recommendations call...
Born with a heart defect, 13-year-old now thrives at dance
Three days after giving birth to her son, Anthony, Tanya Lydon was still in the hospital. She thought the lengthy stay was a little odd, but at the same time, the doctor gave no indication that anything was wrong, so she tried not to worry. Her suspicions intensified after a...
Chemicals produced in the gut after eating red meat may contribute to heart disease risk
Chemicals produced by microbes in the digestive tract may be partly responsible for the increased heart disease risk associated with higher consumption of red meats such as beef and pork, a new study suggests. Cardiovascular disease – which includes heart attacks and strokes – is the leading cause of death...
Research captures unfolding cardiovascular toll from meth use
A massive new study spotlights the toll methamphetamine use may take on heart health, suggesting men, people with kidney disease and those with high blood pressure are especially at risk. The findings, published Monday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, indicated people who used meth faced a 32%...
At 15, she knew heart disease lurked in her genes. At 37, it caught up to this mom.
When a medical technician demonstrating to a high school class how to check blood pressure asked for a volunteer, 15-year-old Katie Moegenberg got the nod. The man took the reading, then told her, "Whoa, your blood pressure is kind of high. We'll need to tell your parents." A doctor's visit...
Fresh or frozen, wild or cultivated? What to know about blueberries and health
Let's not beat around the bush: Blueberries are good for you. This will come as no surprise to many Americans, who have found their thrill with blueberries in ever-rising numbers. It's easy to understand why. Not only do they taste great, but studies keep suggesting more reasons to embrace them.
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Heart and Stroke News: Stories about people, science and health, from American Heart Association News.
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