Heart Health Archive

Research we're watching

People who smoke marijuana may face a higher risk of dying of complications of high blood pressure than people who never use the drug, new research suggests.

The study included 1,213 people ages 20 and older who were part of a larger national health survey that began in 2005. Those who said they'd ever used marijuana (57%) were considered users. Researchers then looked at data on different causes of death in 2011 and estimated the association between marijuana use with death from high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

New research links "safe" levels of air pollution to premature death.

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Every day, you inhale thousands of gallons of air — mostly nitrogen, oxygen, and a smattering of other gases. But that air also contains tiny particles spewed from power plants, industrial factories, and vehicles. These pollutants can trigger heart attacks, strokes, and irregular heart rhythms, especially in people who already have or who are at risk for heart disease.

And even though the air we breathe is much cleaner today than it was in the 1970s, there's still room for improvement. In fact, a major Harvard study recently found that air pollution kills thousands of people in the United States each year, even at pollution levels currently allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency (see "Something in the air: Regulating pollution").

Ask the doctor

Q. My doctor suspects I may have vasculitis. What can you tell me about this condition?

A. Vasculitis refers to a group of uncommon disorders marked by inflammation of the blood vessels. This inflammation can affect arteries, veins, or capillaries, the tiny vessels that connect the smallest arteries to the smallest veins. It can damage vessels that supply only one part of the body (such as the head or skin) or those that supply many different organs.

In many cases, another physician's perspective about a proposed heart procedure can be helpful.

You've just found out that several of your heart's arteries are almost completely blocked. Your doctor believes bypass surgery is the best treatment option for you, but you wonder if a less invasive procedure might be possible. Or perhaps you have a heart valve that isn't working well — should you have it repaired, or fully replaced?

These scenarios are two heart-related examples that often prompt people to seek a second opinion. "But any time a physician suggests a surgery or procedure, consulting another doctor often makes sense, especially if you have questions that aren't being explained in a way that makes sense to you," says cardiologist Dr. Dale Adler, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Bulky recorders with lots of wires are being replaced by small patches and implanted devices.

An abnormal heart rhythm — when your heartbeat is too fast, too slow, or irregular — can be tricky to detect and diagnose. These electrical misfires are often short-lived and sporadic, so they're rarely seen on a routine electrocardiogram (ECG), a 10-second recording of the heart's electrical activity.

Many heart rhythm changes are harmless, but some cause fainting or other worrisome problems — including stroke. That's why doctors often rely on portable ECG devices that record your heart rhythm for several days — or even up to a month. But they're a bit of a nuisance because of the many wires, and you must remove and replace the electrodes when you shower or bathe.

A little bit of worry and stress is normal — even beneficial. But chronic anxiety may raise your risk for heart problems.

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If you feel anxious now and then, that's perfectly normal. In fact, worrying can spur you to take positive action that may benefit your health, such as getting screening tests or doing regular exercise. But excessive worrying can have the opposite effect.

"Small amounts of anxiety and stress can push people to be more productive. The problem happens when anxiety becomes so overwhelming that you're unable to function normally," says Dr. Christopher Celano, a psychiatrist at the Cardiac Psychiatry Research Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. That level of worry and stress may represent an anxiety disorder, a group of conditions that affect some 40 million adults in this country.

Research we're watching

People with cardiovascular disease who exercise regularly, don't smoke, and manage other risk factors spend far less money on medications than people who don't take such steps, a new study finds.

The study included 4,248 people ages 40 and older with clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), the most common form of cardiovascular disease. Researchers also relied on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a national snapshot of health care expenses based on a survey of nearly 76,000 Americans.

Research we're watching

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Want to help improve your cholesterol profile? Swap your midmorning muffin for a handful of almonds, suggests a study in the Aug. 1, 2017, Journal of Nutrition.

Nutritionists have long known that eating almonds and other nuts tends to lower harmful LDL cholesterol and raise desirable HDL cholesterol. But recent evidence suggests that the heart-protecting effects of HDL depend on a person's particular complement of the various forms of HDL, some of which are more beneficial than others.

Research we're watching

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People who develop the painful, blistering rash known as shingles may be more susceptible to a heart attack, according to a study in the July 11, 2017, Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Also known as herpes zoster, shingles results from a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox, which most adults had during childhood.

Researchers relied on a Korean health database to identify people newly diagnosed with shingles, stroke, or heart attack over 10 years. Among the nearly 520,000 people they followed for that period, just over 23,000 were diagnosed with shingles, whom they compared with a similar number of people without shingles. People who'd had shingles had a 59% higher risk of later having a heart attack and a 35% higher risk of having a stroke compared with people who did not have shingles. The risk was highest during the first year after the onset of shingles and then diminished over time.

Today's versions can correct many types of heart conditions that can keep you active and help you live longer.

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Think of a pacemaker, and perhaps the image of a frail person stuck on the couch comes to mind. If so, you need to update your mindset. For many men, these tiny electronic devices can change their lives for the better.

"The likelihood of needing a pacemaker increases with age," says Dr. Peter Zimetbaum, a cardiologist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "The good news is that today's pacemakers have evolved from fixing irregular heartbeats to helping the heart mimic normal function, all of which can help many men with certain heart conditions stay more active longer."