Heart Health Archive

News briefs

Smoking tobacco is a major cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. But did you know that smoking marijuana may also be associated with the same problems? A Harvard research review published Jan. 28, 2020, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that more than two million U.S. adults with cardiovascular disease are smoking pot despite the risks, although they may not be aware of the potential link to heart problems. Studies on marijuana use have been limited, primarily because the substance has been illegal for decades. Scientists are calling for more research, since medical marijuana use is now legal in more than 30 states, and recreational use is legal in 11 states and the District of Columbia. "Until we have more answers about the connection between using marijuana and heart problems, you should consider avoiding smoking any form of pot if you have known heart disease or a high risk for a heart attack or stroke," suggests Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, a study author and editor in chief of the Harvard Heart Letter.

Image: © Alexandrum79/Getty Images

In particular, cutting back on alcohol may lessen the burden of this common heart rhythm disorder.

As many as six million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular heartbeat that usually comes and goes without warning. Commonly known as afib, it can leave people lightheaded, breathless, and extremely tired. Even more worrisome is the fact that people with afib face four to five times the risk of stroke than those without the condition.

Medications and procedures can help ease afib symptoms and reduce the risk of stroke. "But people frequently ask me and my colleagues whether any lifestyle factors can make a difference in afib," says Dr. Paul Zei, director of the Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation Program at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. The answer is yes — and a provocative new study has strengthened the evidence about the role of alcohol in people with afib (see "Does abstinence make the heartbeat stay steady longer?").

Among all the grains, oats appear to be the most effective when it comes to lowering cholesterol. In fact, back in 1997, oatmeal was granted the first food-specific health claim permission by the FDA, based on research showing that soluble fiber from oats lowers the risk of heart disease.

Soluble fiber, which dissolves in water, forms a gel in the intestines. This gel traps some of the cholesterol in your body, so it's eliminated as waste instead of entering your arteries. Some evidence also suggests that eating oats helps regulate blood sugar levels and helps you feel full.

Balloon angioplasty appears to be just as good as surgery to unblock carotid arteries.

Date of last review, March 25, 2020Opening a blocked heart artery with a balloon and then propping it open with a wire-mesh stent is more commonly used than bypass surgery for restoring blood flow to the heart. Although coronary angioplasty plus stenting isn't quite as durable as bypass surgery, it is much easier on the body, since it doesn't require opening the chest.

The situation is similar in the carotid arteries, which convey oxygen-rich blood to the brain. In that territory, carotid angioplasty plus stenting (CAS) for many people has become preferred to endarterectomy, an operation to clean out a clogged carotid artery.

Get stronger and more fit with just a few props and simple moves.

As the world grapples with the effects of COVID-19, social distancing has become the new normal – at least for now. With gyms, beaches, and parks temporarily closed and people being encouraged to stay at home, it's easy to let your exercise routine fall by the wayside. And working from home or lacking a daily routine can make it hard to keep up with any physical activity at all.  

But you can get a good workout in the comfort of your own home, even if you don't have a dedicated workout space or fancy machines. In fact, you don't actually need any props, although a few small dumbbells can come in handy.

A study comparing the hearts of apes with four different groups of men demonstrates how the heart adapts over a person’s lifetime depending on what exercise a person does (or doesn’t do). The most revealing part of the findings pertained to men who are generally not active.

An analysis of research suggests those who run regularly –– regardless of pace, distance, or amount of time –– are more likely to live longer and have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer.

There is good evidence that the more you drink, the more likely you are to develop atrial fibrillation. A study found that people with afib who were willing to abstain from alcohol were less likely to have a recurrence.

Timing may improve potency and help you cope with side effects.

We all want our medicines to be as effective as possible, and that requires effort on our part. It may be necessary to avoid taking pills with certain foods or drinks, and to check that medications won't interfere with each other.

And in some cases, it may be important to take a drug at a particular time of day. This approach, known as chronotherapy, is gaining attention as research suggests a relationship between when we take medications and how well they work.