Heart Health Archive

Find ways to be more active — even if you have sore joints or other limitations.

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You're probably well aware that exercise is the best way to keep your heart strong and healthy. Any activity that moves your muscles will raise your heart rate, making it better able to pump blood through your body. Over time, exercise enables your heart to beat slower and keeps your blood pressure under control.

But many people don't exercise regularly. Just over half of adults in the United States meet the recommended physical activity guidelines (see "Weekly physical activity goals"). Two of the main reasons people say they don't exercise are (1) not having enough time and (2) having joint pain, fatigue, or a chronic health condition.

Ask the doctor

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Q. I was recently diagnosed with long QT syndrome, which was apparently caused by a medication I was taking. But I understand that there are also genetic causes for this problem. Can you tell me more about this disorder?

A. Long QT syndrome is a rare disorder of the heart's electrical system. Electrical signals coordinate your heartbeat, telling the heart to contract and relax to pump blood. After each beat, the heart's muscle cells are busy recharging themselves for the next contraction by moving sodium, potassium, and calcium through tiny pores on their surfaces.

But surveillance and other strategies — especially exercise — can limit the risk.

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Better treatments for breast cancer have contributed to the growing number of breast cancer survivors, now about three million in the United States. However, these women may face a heightened risk of heart disease from the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation, according to a statement from the American Heart Association in the Feb. 20, 2018, issue of Circulation.

Doctors have long known that certain cancer drugs can decrease the heart's pumping ability, especially doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and trastuzumab (Herceptin), two common treatments for breast cancer. Many women receive radiation therapy as well, which can cause heart tissue to scar or stiffen, possibly leading to valve disorders, coronary artery disease, or other heart problems. But specialists who focus on keeping the heart healthy during and after cancer treatment — known as cardio-oncologists — can offer strategies to both prevent and treat heart damage from cancer therapy.

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Slivers of this vibrantly colored vegetable, also known as purple cabbage, are sometimes added to cabbage salads and coleslaw. But why not add red cabbage to any salad — or even make it the star ingredient?

Red cabbage contains substances called anthocyanins, which are responsible for the red-orange to blue-violet colors found in many fruits and vegetables. Population-based studies have linked a higher intake of anthocyanins and other so-called phytochemicals to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Research we're watching

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Roaring jets, rumbling trains, and revving automobiles may have a detrimental effect on your cardiovascular health.

According to a review article in the Feb. 13, 2018, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, many studies have observed a connection between transportation-related noise and a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. The association persists even after adjustment for possible confounding factors, such as air pollution and socioeconomic status.

Research we're watching

Compared to sitting, standing burns slightly more calories — about 0.15 calories per minute. But that tiny difference adds up: a person who weighs 143 pounds could burn an extra 54 calories per day by standing instead of sitting for six hours, as researchers report in the Jan. 1, 2018, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Assuming that person kept eating the same number of calories per day, that translates to 5.5 pounds of weight loss after one year. The estimate comes from data pooled from 46 different studies.

Research we're watching

For people with atrial fibrillation, losing a little weight and getting exercise may improve their symptoms, according to a review published online Feb. 7, 2018, by The American Journal of Cardiology.

Atrial fibrillation (or afib) is a common heart rhythm disorder marked by a quivering or fluttering heartbeat, which can cause dizziness and breathlessness. Other symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and fainting.

Ask the doctor

Q. Is it possible to have heart problems, even if you live a healthy lifestyle? Or to avoid heart problems, even if you don't live a healthy lifestyle?

A. Life contains no guarantees: yes, even if you live a healthy lifestyle you still can develop heart problems — particularly if you have been born with "bad" genes that make you vulnerable to heart disease.