Heart Health Archive

Heart Health

What is palliative care for heart failure?

Published December 1, 2021

Palliative care, which focuses on comfort and quality of life, is gradually becoming more widely used in people with advanced heart failure. The approach includes discussions about advance care planning and is often confused with hospice care. But palliative care can begin at any stage of a serious illness. For heart failure, it may include tiny doses of morphine to ease breathing and help people feel less distressed. Increasing doses of diuretics, which help flush fluid from the body, are often prescribed as well.

Heart Health

Over-the-counter drugs that can boost blood pressure

Published December 1, 2021

People with high blood pressure should avoid certain popular over-the-counter drugs used to treat cold and flu symptoms and pain. The problematic products are those that contain decongestants such as oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Because drugstores contain an overwhelming number of products that feature those drugs, people should ask their pharmacist to recommend a product.

Heart Health

Switching to a salt substitute may reduce stroke risk

Published December 1, 2021

Swapping regular table salt (sodium chloride) with a salt substitute containing some potassium chloride may lower the risk of strokes and related heart problems.

Diet and nutrition

Anti-inflammatory food superstars for every season

Published November 30, 2021

Inflammation is part of the body's healing process, but chronic inflammation can contribute to a range of health issues. In every season, regularly eating a variety of anti-inflammatory foods can benefit your health.

Diet and nutrition

Walnuts: A worthy addition to your daily diet?

Updated November 19, 2021

Research has found that people who eat nuts regularly are less likely to have heart disease. While all varieties of nuts are full of important nutrients, a two-year randomized trial shows a daily dose of walnuts lowered levels of harmful blood lipids that affect cardiovascular health –– and without adding extra pounds.

Heart Health

Ask the doctor: Is it possible to reverse coronary artery disease?

Updated November 16, 2021

I have coronary artery disease. Is this something I can have cured or get rid of, or is keeping it from getting worse the best I can do?

Heart Health

Different types of tachycardia

Published November 1, 2021

A rapid heartbeat may be due to supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia. The former is usually harmless, while the latter is more serious and more likely to occur in older people with heart disease.

Heart Health

Aerobic exercise helps hard-to-treat high blood pressure

Published November 1, 2021

Regular aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling may help people with resistant hypertension lower their blood pressure.

Heart Health

Diets rich in vitamin K linked to lower heart disease risk

Published November 1, 2021

Diets rich in vitamin K, especially the kind found in green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils, are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Heart Health

The danger of a "silent" heart attack

Published November 1, 2021

So-called silent heart attacks (marked by unexplained weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, or nausea) often go unrecognized. But they may be almost as concerning as regular heart attacks and have been linked to a higher risk of stroke. Some of this heightened stroke risk stems from shared risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels. But heart attacks can also damage the heart’s lower chambers. This may prevent the heart from contracting normally, which can lead to formation of a clot that then travels to the brain, causing a stroke.

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Heart Health Archive

Articles

What is palliative care for heart failure?

Over-the-counter drugs that can boost blood pressure

Switching to a salt substitute may reduce stroke risk

Anti-inflammatory food superstars for every season

Walnuts: A worthy addition to your daily diet?

Ask the doctor: Is it possible to reverse coronary artery disease?

Different types of tachycardia

Aerobic exercise helps hard-to-treat high blood pressure

Diets rich in vitamin K linked to lower heart disease risk

The danger of a "silent" heart attack

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