Heart Attack Archive

In late 2025, the FDA approved a nasal spray to treat a sporadic, rapid heart rhythm called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). The self-administered spray, called etripamil (Cardamyst), may help people avoid emergency room treatment for PSVT.

Periodontal (gum) disease is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly because gum disease can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation that damages blood vessels.

Wearing an Apple Watch capable of recording an electrocardiogram may increase the detection of atrial fibrillation in older adults at increased risk for stroke, according to a 2026 study.

The foundation of a heart-healthy diet should be minimally processed plant-based foods, which are good sources of fiber, protein, and phytonutrients. People should also limit saturated fat and make sure they consume omega-3 fatty acids.

A review of 17 studies found that for people at high risk of heart disease, cutting down on saturated fats may have lowered their risk of major cardiac events over the next five years, but people at lower risk did not see similar benefits.

Elevated levels of aldosterone (a hormone that regulates water, sodium, and potassium in the body) is an underrecognized and undertreated contributor to high blood pressure.

Two medications now in development, enlicitide and obicetrapib, can lower harmful LDL cholesterol and may be promising options for people who cannot tolerate statins or who still have high LDL despite their current treatment.

A narrowed aortic valve (aortic stenosis) affects about one in 20 people over age 65. Medical therapies for treating this progressive disease are under investigation, and a recent study explored the potential benefits of proactive valve replacement.