Heart Health Archive

Over a 24-year span, people whose diets favored plant-based fat lived longer than people who ate more animal-based fat, according to a 2024 study. The same distinction appeared specifically for deaths from heart disease.

People sometimes wonder if the calcium they consume affects their calcium score, a test that measures calcium in the heart's arteries to predict heart disease risk. But a 2024 study linked higher calcium intake to a lower risk of heart calcifications. Calcium helps lower blood pressure, possibly by improving the function of the lining of blood vessels. Older adults should make sure they're getting the recommended amount of calcium in their diets. Good sources include dairy products, tofu made with calcium sulfate, almond or oat milk, canned sardines or salmon, collard greens, and kale.

In 2024, the FDA approved two catheter-based devices for treating a leaky tricuspid valve. Both relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for people with moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation, which affects about 4% of people ages 75 and older. One device is a modification of a system to treat mitral valve regurgitation that works by bringing the valve leaflets together at the areas of most severe leakage. The other device delivers a new valve made of cow heart tissue, which is commonly used in surgical valve replacements.

An online tool to predict heart disease risk might be more accurate if it included a psychological health assessment. Including depression screening results appears to strengthen the tool's ability to predict heart disease deaths.

People seeking motivation to be more active and connected to their community might consider signing up for a Turkey Trot, a race or "fun run" held on Thanksgiving morning. Most events are 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), and participants can walk all or part of the course. Many feature ways to support a local community charity.

Renal denervation, a nondrug treatment for uncontrolled high blood pressure, works by disrupting some of the nerves surrounding the renal arteries, which supply the kidneys. Two systems are FDA-approved for people whose blood pressure remains high despite lifestyle changes and medications. Renal denervation lowers systolic blood pressure by an average of 8 to 9 points-about the same as what people get with a single blood pressure drug. But the response varies widely; some people experience more dramatic drops, while others have no response.

About one in five medications taken by older people is inappropriate. Many of these are heart drugs that are potentially harmful, have no clear benefit, or aren't as good as other options. These should be stopped or switched. One common example is low-dose aspirin, which is advised only for people who've had or are at high risk for a heart attack. Other drugs that may need to be stopped or replaced include beta blockers, warfarin, and older diabetes drugs.

Air travel tips for people who have or are at risk for heart disease include bringing extra prescription medications in a carry-on bag and drinking water-but not alcohol-during the flight. When taking medications (especially blood pressure and anti-clotting drugs), people should try to schedule their doses based on their home time zone. On a long flight, walking a little every hour or so will help improve circulation in the legs; so can flexing the feet and circling the ankles. Doing so may reduce the chance of developing a blood clot, although the overall risk of such clots (known as deep-vein thrombosis) is quite low.

Heart attack symptoms can be severe or subtle. The underlying process that causes a heart attack can differ, and people may experience significant heart damage or little to none. Doctors diagnose a heart attack based on symptoms, a person's cardiovascular risk profile, electrocardiogram findings and the blood troponin level. Troponin is a protein released when heart damage occurs. Immediate and long-term treatment depend upon the type of heart attack and its impact on heart function.