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Atrial fibrillation Archive

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Meal of the month: Baked salmon, farro, and colorful vegetables

A good option for a simple but special Valentine’s day dinner is baked salmon (or another fish variety), along with a whole grain such as farro, two types of roasted vegetables, and chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert.

When the doctor becomes the patient: A transformative experience

A doctor's serious health threat prompts reflection on the power of spirituality, the value of mindfulness practice, and acknowledgment of mortality as a motivator to reassess one's priorities.

Harvard Health Ad Watch: How helpful are pulse monitors and home ECGs?

Ads for consumer health monitoring devices make it seem like having ready and regular access to heart rate, heart rhythm, and electrocardiogram data is something everyone needs. While it may help some people with existing heart conditions, how about for an average person without such a concern?

Coffee and your blood pressure

A recent study alleviates concerns about coffee's role in heart disease and stroke and makes observations about coffee's physiological effects.

Is there such a thing as a silent stroke?

It is possible to experience a stroke without symptoms. Addressing cardiovascular risk factors can help lower the risk.

Seasonal changes and blood pressure

Some people with borderline high blood pressure have higher readings during winter, even high enough to need medicine to control it. In spring or summer, they might be able to reduce the dose or stop taking the medication. Losing excess weight and cutting back on salt also can help.

Don't fail your heart health

The most common type of heart failure in older adults is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This is caused by the heart's left ventricle not being able to relax, which means less blood enters the chamber, so less gets pumped out. Prevention and treatments continue to evolve, but include controlling blood pressure, addressing weight gain with exercise and diet, not smoking, and curbing alcohol intake.

FDA urges the food industry to cut back on salt

The FDA called for the food industry to voluntarily cut the amount of sodium in processed, packed, and prepared foods. Those products provide about 70% of the sodium in the typical American diet.

Chemical in plastics and personal care products linked to heart disease

Exposure to chemicals called phthalates, found in commonly used plastics, may be linked to a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

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