Harvard Heart Letter: January 2009

When I am under great stress, my blood pressure sometimes shoots up to 200/120 but then quickly goes down to 120/80 or lower and stays there. One doctor told me that spikes like these are normal. Another told me this isn't healthy. Who is right? Read More »

Gathering all your health records and vital information in one place can streamline your care and help doctors in the event of an emergency. Several web sites now offer ways to simplify the online storage of health information.

The results of a large trial suggest that people with LDL cholesterol in the normal range but with a high C-reactive protein level may benefit from taking a statin. This may lead to increased use of the CRP to test for heart disease.

Start the year with these tips for heart care and healthier living. Suggestions include learning CPR, reducing stress, establishing an advance care directive and choosing a health care proxy.

The editors of the Harvard Heart Letter introducean issue focused on acquiring new knowledge in order to improve your health.

I had an electrocardiogram in preparation for minor surgery. My doctor told me it showed that I have right bundle branch block. Neither he nor my cardiologist are worried about it, but I am. Is this serious?

I have coronary artery disease. Is this something I can have cured or get rid of, or is keeping it from getting worse the best I can do?

The medical view of atherosclerosis is changing from the traditional one of arteries blocked by plaque to a more encompassing one, with inflammation as the main cause and an emphasis on stopping it before it even starts.

There is plenty of information available online to help you learn about cardiovascular health, but not all of it is unbiased or accurate.

Searching for health information is one of the top things people do on the World Wide Web. Some want more information than they can get from their doctor or nurse. Others want to investigate a symptom, find a new doctor, or track down a new treatment. If you are new to this, the vast amount of information on the Web can be like drinking from a fire hose. Harvard Heart Letter editor Patrick Skerrett demonstrates some good places to start.