Heart Disease Archive

Menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, called vasomotor symptoms, are linked in research to higher odds of dementia and cardiovascular disease. But studies don't necessarily account for other health and lifestyle factors that influence brain and heart health. Women who are physically active and have a lower body mass index are less likely to become cognitively impaired. Disrupted sleep, which is common for women with vasomotor symptoms, may also contribute to cardiovascular and cognitive problems.

People with very high calcium scores (over 1,000) have a risk of heart attack or stroke similar to those who have already had a heart attack. They should take cholesterol-lowering drugs to bring down LDL levels and possibly undergo additional testing.

Direct-to-consumer genetic tests can screen for rare heart conditions that arise from variants in a single gene (such as cardiomyopathies) as well as common conditions influenced by many thousands of gene variants (such as coronary artery disease). But because the results are not definitive, they can be challenging to interpret.

A 2025 study suggests that squeezing a week's worth of exercise (150 minutes) into just one or two days - a "weekend warrior" pattern - is linked to the same heart benefits as daily exercise.

For people with a family history of early heart disease, getting a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan plus intensive coaching and a statin may help limit the progression of the plaque in their arteries, according to a 2025 study.

A 2025 study found that a new type of medication may safely slow the progression of aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) and delay the need for valve replacement.

Since its introduction in 1998, catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has greatly improved, thanks to advances in the instruments, imaging techniques, and energy sources used during the procedure. The resulting increases in safety and effectiveness have transformed ablation into a routine procedure. For many people newly diagnosed with this heart rhythm disorder, ablation is now the first treatment offered.

A 2025 research review suggested that women with certain gynecological disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, heavy periods, and irregular menstrual cycles, have higher risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.