Heart Health Archive

Up to 10% of people with high blood pressure have secondary hypertension, which is caused by another condition or disease. The most common of these involve problems with the adrenal glands (hyperaldosteronism), or the arteries supplying the kidneys (renal artery stenosis). People most likely to have secondary hypertension include those with resistant hypertension who use three or more medications to manage their blood pressure, and people who develop hypertension before age 30.

If most middle-aged and older American adults added just 10 to 20 minutes of moderate exercise to their normal daily activities, it could prevent an estimated 110,000 to 209,000 premature deaths each year.

Watching television for four or more hours a day is linked to a higher risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can help diagnose unusual causes of breathlessness, such as pulmonary hypertension or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. CPET collects information about a person's heart and lung function to assess how the body responds to exercise. It may also help doctors better understand the lingering fatigue and breathlessness that sometimes occur after a COVID-19 infection.

Consuming just a half-tablespoon or more of olive oil a day is linked to a lower risk of dying from heart disease and other chronic health conditions.

The FDA will allow companies to make certain health claims regarding the consumption of magnesium and a reduced risk of high blood pressure. But the evidence for the link is inconclusive and inconsistent.

Heart attacks occur when a blocked coronary artery prevents blood flow to part of the heart. Cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical misfire that causes the heart to abruptly stop beating.

Between-meal snacks can either help or hinder people's efforts to eat a heart-healthy diet. Simple strategies such as upgrading food choices can help. Instead of low-quality carbs like candy or potato chips, people should choose high-quality carbs like fruit or whole-grain crackers, along with a little protein or healthy fat (such as half an apple with a handful of nuts). They should also try to avoid eating simply out of habit when they're not actually hungry.

For most people, statins are still the best way to lower harmful LDL cholesterol. But two newer drugs may be promising additions or alternatives for those with stubbornly high LDL levels. Bempedoic acid, which lowers LDL by about 25%, works in a manner similar to statins but may help reduce muscle-related side effects seen with statins. Inclisiran interferes with a protein that's involved with regulating LDL production in the liver; it lowers LDL by about 50%.

According to the "active grandparent" hypothesis, humans evolved to be physically active throughout life. That frequent movement helps ward off chronic disease (including heart disease) and promotes longevity. While hunter-gatherers had to be active to survive, they also had a natural instinct to avoid unnecessary activity to preserve energy when food was scarce. Modern humans don't need to expend physical effort to meet their basic needs for food and survival. Instead, they must exercise (defined as discretionary activity for the sake of health) to stay healthy and live a long life.