Harvard Heart Letter: September 2007

Some medications taken by people with heart disease to counteract water buildup in the body can remove too much potassium from the body, while others can leave too much behind.

A German study suggests that, because of the antioxidants it contains, eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily may lower blood pressure by a few points.

Many people with diabetes suffer from one of the numerous potential complications of the disease, but following a proper diet, getting exercise, and paying attention to risk factors can help prevent further problems.

An increasing waistline in middle age could be an indicator of metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors that often leads to heart disease or diabetes.

Researchers found that the blood thinner warfarin is more effective than aspirin at preventing strokes and blood clots, allaying concerns that it was too powerful to be taken safely by older people.

Splitting statin pills saves money without risk to cholesterol control. Treating or preventing heart disease lowers the risk of memory loss. Tests of coenzyme Q10's effectiveness are inconclusive.

I saw a newspaper column that said red yeast rice is a safer, more effective way to treat high cholesterol than statin drugs. Is that true?

I was admitted to the hospital with chest pain. The doctors found my blood pressure was much lower in my right arm than in my left. They rushed me for a CT scan, looking for a "tear." Fortunately there wasn't one. What was it they were worried about?

Salt intake affects blood pressure, and can increase the risk of heart disease. Most of the salt people eat is added to foods during processing, so it is relatively easy to reduce salt consumption by choosing foods more carefully.

A form of high cholesterol that is inherited, called familial hypercholesterolemia, can cause LDL levels of 200 or higher. Those who have it are at high risk for heart disease.

There are many possible causes of heart palpitations, including smoking, stress, and some medications. Though they are typically not serious or life-threatening, it can be difficult to determine the underlying cause.