For some people, fixing a bulging aorta from the inside is an okay alternative to surgery.

When it comes to fixing a potentially deadly ballooning of the aorta, the heart's main pipeline for distributing oxygenated blood, how does a relatively new no-surgery procedure stack up against the traditional open operation? Although much hangs on the answer, it has eluded experts. A study from Sweden suggests that the kinder, gentler approach, called endovascular repair, is a good alternative to open surgery, at least in the short term.

Key points It's important to fix a large abdominal aortic aneurysm (more than ...

Rapid cooling of cardiac arrest victims increases their chances of eventual survival by reducing the extent of damage caused by lack of oxygen to the brain when the heart stops.

A new study is comparing methods of treating leg pain caused by peripheral artery disease.

When doctors interpret a blood pressure reading, should they also consider the heart rate? My pressure is often higher when my heart rate is close to its usual resting rate and lower when my heart is beating faster than that.

I'm an 85-year-old man with aortic valve stenosis, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation. My doctor said I should wait until I experience signs of heart failure before having my aortic valve replaced. Shouldn't I get it done sooner?

Are the coronary arteries more prone to developing blockages than arteries elsewhere in the body? When arteries from other parts of the body are used in bypass surgery, does their tendency to become blocked change?

I've heard that apple cider vinegar can clean out the arteries. Is there any truth to that?

If your diet gave you high cholesterol, it can lower it, too.

It's easy to eat your way to an alarmingly high cholesterol level. The reverse is true, too — changing what you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream.

Doing this requires a two-pronged strategy: Add foods that lower LDL, the harmful cholesterol-carrying particle that contributes to artery-clogging atherosclerosis. At the same time, cut back on foods that boost LDL. Without that step, you are engaging in a holding action instead of a steady — and tasty — victory.

In with ...

Following your doctor's instructions will pay off.

Ask survivors to describe the impact of their heart attacks, and a common theme is that it was a "wake-up call." Unfortunately, many people seem to hit the snooze alarm once the danger has passed. Some ignore advice that can protect the heart; others gradually let it fall by the wayside.

In a study of nearly 2,500 heart attack survivors across the country, researchers looked at the so-called discharge instructions given to these men and women when they left the hospital. These instructions should cover everything from who to call in case ...

The FDA has approved two new drugs you are likely to be hearing about.

The Food and Drug Administration approves dozens of new drugs each year. Many aren't worth noting, like spin-offs of existing drugs with only minor differences ("me too" drugs), reformulations, or combinations of existing drugs. But readers are bound to be hearing about two new ones that got the green light in July 2009.

Dronedarone (Multaq) What it does: Dronedarone (droe-NEH-dah-rone), which will be sold as Multaq, is the first new drug approved since 1999 for treating heart rhythm problems. Multaq affects the flow of potassium ...