Heart Failure Archive

Breaking up long periods of sitting with a short walk every half-hour may have health benefits. Walking even as little as one minute per hour may lower blood pressure, but a notable drop in blood sugar may require a five-minute walk every 30 minutes.

A standing side leg raise helps strengthen muscles in the outer thighs, hips, and backside, which can improve the range of motion in the hips and improve stability.

New guidelines about aortic disease highlight the risks and screening recommendations for these uncommon but life-threatening conditions, which include abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms. Cigarette smoking and high blood pressure can heighten the risk of aortic disease, as can genes and certain other medical conditions, which can weaken the wall of the aorta. As a result, the aortic wall may tear (aortic dissection) or bulge outward (aortic aneurysm) and possibly rupture.

A gene editing technique that permanently shuts down a cholesterol-raising protein called PCSK9 is being tested in heart attack survivors with an inherited form of high cholesterol. The one-time infusion contains tiny particles that contain the editing tools, which travel through the blood to the liver and changes the cells that produce the protein. If early data show the treatment to be safe and effective, the therapy potentially could be used in people who have "garden variety" high cholesterol.

Running can boost cardiovascular fitness faster and better than walking, but this high-impact activity comes with a higher risk of injuries than walking. Beginning runners should start slow and alternate walking and running at first. Doing strength training and increasing mileage gradually may help. People who sustain minor injuries when running should rest for a few days and consult a physical therapist if the injury doesn't get better.

A coronary artery calcium scan (often called a calcium scan) uses a special type of CT scan to look for calcium deposits in the lining of the heart's arteries. The results can help people decide whether to start taking a statin.

In addition to raising blood pressure, too much salt in the diet can have other detrimental effects on the heart, including damaging the inner layer of blood vessels and altering the body's hormonal and inflammatory response. Following the DASH diet, choosing lower-sodium versions of commonly eaten foods, and skipping the saltshaker can help people eat less salt. To boost flavor without salt, options include salt-free herb and spice blends, lemon or lime zest or juice, and flavored vinegars.

Pulmonary hypertension affects the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The vessels tighten, become stiff and thick, or develop blood clots. These changes reduce or block blood flow, raising pressure in the pulmonary arteries.

In about half of all cases of heart failure, the heart’s muscles are thin and weak, so the heart can’t pump very well. In the other cases, the muscles are thick and stiff, which prevents the heart from relaxing normally to fill with blood.

Although uncommon, heart infections may trigger inflammation that can damage the heart. People should be aware of the risks and symptoms of the three main types: pericarditis (swelling and irritation of the protective, double-layered membrane that surrounds the heart, called the pericardium), myocarditis (inflammation in the middle, muscular layer of the heart), and endocarditis (inflammation that affects the heart’s inner lining or one or more of the heart’s valves).