Heart Health Archive

A review of 17 studies found that for people at high risk of heart disease, cutting down on saturated fats may have lowered their risk of major cardiac events over the next five years, but people at lower risk did not see similar benefits.

Edema is swelling caused by fluid trapped in body tissues. It can occur in anyone, but it's more common in older adults. A variety of factors contribute to mild edema, including weakened valves in veins, gravity, inactivity, arthritis, and certain medications.

Elevated levels of aldosterone (a hormone that regulates water, sodium, and potassium in the body) is an underrecognized and undertreated contributor to high blood pressure.

Two medications now in development, enlicitide and obicetrapib, can lower harmful LDL cholesterol and may be promising options for people who cannot tolerate statins or who still have high LDL despite their current treatment.

Electrical cardioversion is generally a safe, painless procedure used to convert a rapid or irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation) back to a normal rhythm. It's done under sedation and takes only a few minutes.

People with prediabetes who successfully lower their blood sugar back to normal levels may cut their future risk of death due to heart disease by half, according to a 2025 study.

A 2025 review of past research found that electromagnetic field exposure from electric cars poses no immediate health risks for people with implanted heart devices, such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

After a successful catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation, some people may safely stop taking anti-clotting medications. But the decision to discontinue those drugs depends on a person's underlying risk of stroke rather than the success of the procedure.