Heart Health Archive

Since its introduction in 1998, catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has greatly improved, thanks to advances in the instruments, imaging techniques, and energy sources used during the procedure. The resulting increases in safety and effectiveness have transformed ablation into a routine procedure. For many people newly diagnosed with this heart rhythm disorder, ablation is now the first treatment offered.

Heart-friendly breakfast ideas include a mix of foods that provide protein, fiber, and unsaturated fat, which can help stave off hunger until lunchtime. Examples include eggs cooked with vegetables, Greek yogurt with berries and nuts, or oatmeal cooked with milk and topped with fruit. Other quick options are a slice of whole-grain toast spread with mashed avocado and cherry tomatoes, almond butter and sliced apple, or ricotta cheese and sliced kiwi.

A 2025 study found that in people who are overweight or obese, substituting standing and light walking in place of sitting may help improve blood levels of certain types of fats, including triglycerides and small, dense LDL cholesterol particles.

Older people with atrial fibrillation are sometimes advised to stop taking clot-prevention drugs due to fears about bleeding. But a 2025 study suggests that the risk of stroke and heart attack from stopping the drugs outweighs the risk of bleeding.

Telehealth visits combined with home monitoring may be an effective way to help people reach and maintain their blood pressure goals, according to a 2025 study.

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) creates a 3D image of the heart and its blood vessels, revealing both obstructive and nonobstructive plaque. Most heart attacks occur when smaller, nonobstructive plaques rupture and form a clot that triggers a heart attack. Used to assess people with stable angina, CCTA may prevent heart attacks by improving how cardiologists find and treat heart disease.

A 2025 studyfound that intermuscular fat—fat stored within muscle tissue—may increase a person's risk of heart disease.

People who aggressively lower their high blood pressure not only help their heart health, but also may protect their brains from cognitive decline in the process, according to a 2025 study.

Evidence published in 2025 suggests that 15 million people in the United States are at risk for developing heart failure, a condition in which the heart doesn't pump well enough to meet the body's needs. The estimate was determined with improved tools to calculate risk, called the PREVENT equations. Like previous methods, the equations consider age, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and smoking history. But the PREVENT equations remove race (an unreliable predictor) and add additional aspects of health.