April 2010 references and further reading

Lloyd-Jones DM, Hong Y, Labarthe D, et al. Defining and setting national goals for cardiovascular health promotion and disease reduction: the American Heart Association's strategic Impact Goal through 2020 and beyond. Circulation 2010; 121:586-613. Gibbons RJ, Balady GJ, Bricker JT, et al. ACC/AHA 2002 guideline update for exercise testing: summary article: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to Update the 1997 Exercise Testing Guidelines). Circulation 2002; 106:1883-92. Riegel B, Moser DK, Anker SD, et al. State of the science: promoting self-care in persons with heart failure: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2009; 120:1141-63. (Locked) More »

American Ideal

The American Heart Association is promoting a series of healthy lifestyle habits known as "The Simple 7" in an effort to improve the health of Americans and reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease. More »

Exercise stress test

An exercise stress test is a good — but not great — indicator of the health of the heart and coronary arteries. It works quite well for people who are likely to have cholesterol-clogged arteries and who can exercise long enough to reach their maximum heart rate. The test isn't as good for people at low risk of heart disease, or those who are too frail or out of shape to exercise long enough. More »

Taming a killer

Heart attacks are much less deadly than they used to be, primarily due to advances in knowledge and understanding of the underlying cause of heart attacks, and to the prevalence of specialized coronary care units. (Locked) More »

Trial Watch

The VITAL study hopes to determine whether taking vitamin D and omega-3 fats have an effect on rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other illnesses, and whether high dosages of these supplements are safe. (Locked) More »

In Brief

Brief reports on the potential risks of a certain diet drug, cutting salt intake, the effect of bronchitis and emphysema on the heart, and fish oil and longevity. (Locked) More »

Ask the doctor: Can I take PreserVision for my eyes even though I take warfarin?

I am 95 years old and recently began treatment for early macular degeneration in one eye. My retinologist said that PreserVision might help protect the other eye. But she cautioned that it contains a large dose of vitamin E, which could cause a bleeding problem with the Coumadin I take because of a mechanical aortic valve. What would you suggest? (Locked) More »