Heart Health Archive

Immediate first aid works to minimize blood clotting triggered by plaque ruptures

How should you take aspirin for a heart attack? You've always been healthy, but you seemed to run out of steam at your wife's 60th birthday dinner last week. And now your chest feels heavy, as if you're in a vise. You take some antacids, even though it's 7:00 a.m. and you haven't even had breakfast. But you get no relief, and the pain is spreading to your jaw and shoulder. You call your wife, who takes one look at you and rushes to the phone. After calling 911, she brings you an aspirin and some water.

Your wife got it right: You may be having a heart attack, and you need to get to the hospital fast. You also need to get some aspirin into your system quickly — but should you chew the tablet or swallow it?

People who are prescribed medication for high cholesterol or high blood pressure may be more likely to gain weight and less likely to exercise, but for those who are on such medications, it’s even more important to commit to making healthier lifestyle choices.

Initial investigation into COVID-19 focused on its respiratory effects, but a more recent report describes serious cardiovascular complications in people with pre-existing heart disease. How does this underlying condition increase risk for these people?

Research we're watching

People often think of heart disease as a modern-day affliction, caused mainly by our contemporary diet and lifestyle habits. But researchers have found evidence of stiff, narrowed arteries, or atherosclerosis — the telltale sign of heart disease — in ancient mummified remains found in different parts of the world.

The most recent of these discoveries, described Dec. 27, 2019, in JAMA Network Open, comes from four individuals who died in Greenland some 500 years ago. Their bodies were of special interest because their diets consisted primarily of fish and marine mammals, which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Around 50 years ago, the low heart attack rates among native Greenland Inuit spurred the original interest in omega-3s.

Research we're watching

A new kind of drug given by injection can lower blood levels of lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), a fatty particle linked to a heightened risk of heart attack and narrowing of the aortic valve, according to a study published January 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Up to one in five people has a very high level of Lp(a), which is nearly completely determined by a person's genes. Lp(a) particles are similar to the better-known LDL cholesterol particles but with an extra protein coiled around each particle.

A regular sex life offers many heart health benefits. But can you stay sexually active with heart issues?

Regular sex is good medicine for your heart. But what if you've had a heart attack or a heart procedure? When is it safe to resume sex again — and should you?

"Most men can continue their sex life after a heart attack, unless there are additional circumstances that increase their risk," says Dr. Jason Matos, a cardiologist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "It depends on the person and his specific issue, but most men don't have to give up their sex life because of their heart health."

Research we're watching

Exposure to pyrethroids, a common class of insecticides used to kill lice, mosquitoes, and other pests, may raise a person's risk of cardiovascular disease and early death, a new study suggests.

Researchers measured levels of a breakdown product of pyrethroids in urine samples from 2,116 adults who were part of a large national health study. The samples were obtained between 1999 and 2002, when the participants were about 43 years old, on average. After a median follow-up of 14.4 years, people with the highest exposure to pyrethroids were three times more likely to die from heart disease than those with the lowest exposure to the chemicals. The study was published online Dec. 30, 2019, by JAMA Internal Medicine.

The right kind of inflammation is essential to your body's healing system. But chronic inflammation can be a problem.

The saying "too much of a good thing" applies to much of life, but especially to inflammation.

"People think inflammation needs to be stomped out at all times, but it plays an essential role in healing and injury repair to keep your body safe and healthy," says Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, medical editor of Understanding Inflammation from Harvard Health Publishing and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Some inflammation is good. Too much is often bad. The goal is to recognize when inflammation is simply doing its job, and when it can potentially cause problems."

Ask the doctor

Q. I'm in my 70s, and I get breathless when I climb stairs. Maybe that's normal at my age, but my doctor says the cause may be my slow heartbeat. Can a slow heartbeat be dangerous?

A. Yes, it could be. To explain why, let's begin with the basics. Your heart beats in order to pump blood around the body. The circulating blood brings the nutrition that every cell in your body needs, and it removes cellular waste material: blood brings the food and takes away the garbage. The effectiveness of the circulation depends on how much blood your heart pumps with each heartbeat and how many times per minute it beats. Even if each heartbeat pumps a lot of blood, if your heart doesn't pump often enough, your body won't get the blood it needs. And when you exert yourself, the body needs more blood.

How much dairy should you consume each day? And are some dairy products or milk alternatives better for heart health than others?

These days, the supermarket dairy aisle can be tricky to navigate. Along with the nonfat, 2%, and full-fat cow's milk lining the refrigerated shelves, you'll often find a dizzying array of plant-based milk alternatives made from different nuts, beans, and grains. Even the yogurt and cheese sections now feature nondairy products, such as coconut yogurt and cashew cheese.

The expanded choices reflect the growing trend toward plant-based diets, which people embrace for a range of reasons. Some people minimize or avoid meat, dairy, and other animal-based foods because of religious reasons or concerns about environmental sustainability or animal welfare. People who are focused mainly on a heart-healthy diet know to steer clear of red and processed meat. But when it comes to dairy products, the story isn't quite as straightforward.