Heart Health Archive

Diets high in free sugar—which includes sugar added to processed foods and drinks as well as the sugar in syrups, fruit juice, and honey—are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

A crescent stretch, which can be done in a seated or standing position, stretches the sides of the torso and strengthens the core.

An estimated 2.5 million Americans have implanted heart devices, which can be affected by magnetic or electrical interference from electric vehicle charging stations, induction cooktop stoves, and smaller gadgets such as smartphones and wireless earbuds. Magnetic energy can cause pacemakers to revert to a preset mode that may be faster or slower than the programmed heart rate. Electrical interference can cause a pacemaker or implanted cardioverter defibrillator to mistakenly stop functioning or deliver an unneeded shock.

Obstructive sleep apnea is common but often unrecognized in people with heart disease. The condition is marked by brief pauses in breathing, often triggering loud snoring, grunts, gasps, and choking noises. These repeated interruptions cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise, putting stress on the heart and circulation. The STOPBANG quiz helps doctors assess the likelihood of sleep apnea, which is more common in people who are older and those who are overweight or obese.

Hospital at home provides care in a person's home for common conditions such as heart failure. Health care providers visit at least twice daily and can draw blood, provide intravenous medication delivery, and take portable ultrasounds and chest X-rays. Patients are constantly monitored via a small patch on the chest that measures heart rate and rhythm, breathing rates, and activity. The program also provides a tablet used for videoconferencing with the doctor and specialists, if needed.

Yoga has modest yet positive effects on several factors linked to cardiovascular health, including lower blood pressure and lower levels of harmful LDL cholesterol. The postures, breathing, and meditation practices inherent in yoga help cultivate the relaxation response, which trains the body to be less reactive during times of stress. People new to yoga should seek out a beginner, gentle, or chair yoga class, especially those who are over 65 or who have any medical conditions.

The carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity considers the biological mechanisms that trigger the body to store too much fat. Eating fast-digesting carbs causes the body to release large amounts of insulin, which causes excess calories to be stored as fat. When fat cells suck up too many calories, there are too few calories for the rest of the body, which causes hunger and overeating. Cutting back on carbohydrates may shift metabolism in ways that promote weight loss without causing excess hunger, while also improving common risk factors for heart disease. The amount of carbohydrate reduction people might consider depends on their specific health parameters.

A wearable sensor no bigger than a postage stamp can capture detailed images of the heart, even when a person is exercising. The technology may one day make high-quality cardiac imaging more widely accessible to a larger population.

People who experience stroke symptoms that disappear in less than an hour, a phenomenon known as a transient ischemic attack, should seek immediate care to prevent a full-blown stroke.

Medication to lower high blood pressure is a proven way to reduce a person's risk for heart disease. But adopting lifestyle changes may let people maintain healthy readings and perhaps even avoid drug therapy. Six lifestyle changes have the most significant influence on blood pressure: diet, exercise, weight control, limiting sodium and alcohol, and managing stress.