Aldosterone overload: An underappreciated contributor to high blood pressure
Can you retrain your brain to stop excessive drinking?
Beyond statins: New ways to lower LDL cholesterol
What is a cardioversion procedure?
Waking up to urinate at night affects blood pressure
Reversing prediabetes may slash heart disease risk by half
For now, electric cars appear safe for people with implanted heart devices
Finding and fixing a stiff, narrowed aortic valve
Can you stop blood thinners after an ablation for atrial fibrillation?
VO2 max: What it is and how you can improve it
Heart Health Archive
Articles
Is an apoB test a better way to check your cholesterol?
An apolipoprotein B (apoB) test counts the number of LDL particles in the bloodstream as well as other particles that can contribute to clogged arteries and heart attacks. All of these so-called atherogenic particles carry a single apoB molecule but varying amounts of cholesterol. ApoB values are more closely linked to heart disease risk than LDL cholesterol. People with signs of an unhealthy metabolism-such as prediabetes, a big belly, or elevated triglycerides-are far more likely to have a high apoB.
Beta blockers: Who benefits from these common drugs?
Doctors have long prescribed drugs called beta blockers to all heart attack survivors. These drugs, which slow down the heart and lower blood pressure, include atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol). Growing evidence suggests that these drugs offer no meaningful benefit for people whose hearts still pump normally after a heart attack. Sometimes, however, a heart attack leaves the left ventricle (the heart's main pumping chamber) unable to contract effectively. When that's the case, beta blockers are still recommended.
When and why you need drugs for atrial fibrillation
Many people with atrial fibrillation (afib) - a rapid, irregular heart rhythm - need to control symptoms, such as the feeling that the heart is racing or fluttering. Medication options include drugs that slow down the heart or help restore its rhythm. Because afib can also increase the risk of blood clots that can lead to a stroke, many of these people also need to take clot-preventing medications.
Nearly everyone has at least one risk factor before a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke
A 2025 study suggests that more than 99% of people who have a first-time heart attack, stroke, or heart failure have at least one of four risk factors: unhealthy blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar levels, or past or present smoking.
The hidden heart danger of insufficient sleep
Insufficient sleep triggers a long list of physiological and hormonal changes that contribute to heart disease. For example, a lack of sleep can cause increases in blood pressure, blood sugar, inflammation, and weight. Doctors recommend getting at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Strategies that promote better sleep include going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, creating a healthy sleep environment, and turning off electronics an hour before bedtime.
A new risk calculator estimates your heart's age
A free online tool that estimates your heart's age suggests that most adults have a heart that is older than their chronological age, according to a 2025 study.
How relevant is heart rate variability?
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the tiny fluctuations in timing from one heartbeat to the next. Higher values are linked to better fitness levels and stress resilience.
Enjoy eggs - just skip the bacon
Eating two eggs per day doesn't appear to raise harmful LDL cholesterol, as long as people follow a diet low in saturated fat. Although eggs are high in cholesterol, dietary cholesterol doesn't have much of an effect on the amount in a person's bloodstream. But excess dietary saturated fat does raise blood cholesterol, which is why people should limit their saturated fat to 7% of their daily calories.
Higher fitness levels may protect against atrial fibrillation
A 2025 study suggests that higher fitness levels may help protect people from developing atrial fibrillation.
Ultra-processed foods linked to plaque buildup in neck arteries
A diet high in ultra-processed foods is linked to higher burden of fatty plaque in the carotid arteries, according to a 2025 study.
Aldosterone overload: An underappreciated contributor to high blood pressure
Can you retrain your brain to stop excessive drinking?
Beyond statins: New ways to lower LDL cholesterol
What is a cardioversion procedure?
Waking up to urinate at night affects blood pressure
Reversing prediabetes may slash heart disease risk by half
For now, electric cars appear safe for people with implanted heart devices
Finding and fixing a stiff, narrowed aortic valve
Can you stop blood thinners after an ablation for atrial fibrillation?
VO2 max: What it is and how you can improve it
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