Heart Health Archive

A rising triglyceride level can increase risk of damage to the heart and pancreas. Learn which foods to eat and limit to improve your numbers.

The most common problems detected with a stethoscope are conditions that affect one of your heart valves—usually the aortic valve or the mitral valve. While often harmless, these problems sometimes require monitoring and treatment.

Forest bathing, which originated in Japan, means spending time in the woods or other natural setting, immersed in the surrounding sights, sounds, and smells. Research suggests that the practice may reduce the harmful health effects of stress.

Legumes, which include beans, peas, and lentils, are a good source of plant-based protein. They also contain two forms of fiber that may help lower cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation, and body weight—all important causes of heart disease.

A small percentage of people with peripheral artery disease develop symptoms so severe they need a procedure to restore blood flow to their legs and feet. Options include angioplasty with a stent, endarterectomy, or peripheral artery bypass surgery.

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation include a fluttering, pounding sensation in the chest and a lightheaded, dizzy, or breathless feeling. But about a quarter of people with this disorder don’t notice any symptoms.

People with low blood pressure, which is defined as consistently having a reading lower than 90/60 mm Hg, sometimes feel dizzy or lightheaded during or after exercise. But modifying your exercise routine and taking simple precautions can help.

Daily low-dose aspirin can lower the risk of a second heart attack in people who’ve already had one. For people without a history of heart attack, the risk of dangerous bleeding usually outweighs any potential heart-related benefit from taking low-dose aspirin.

A common heartburn treatment may interact with an important heart medicine. Find out what to watch for and which options doctors may consider instead.