Heart Health Archive

Research we're watching

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Aggressively treating high blood pressure might help ward off cognitive changes, according to findings presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in July. Researchers from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial compared two strategies to manage high blood pressure in more than 9,300 older adults (average age about 68). One strategy aims to achieve the standard treatment level for high systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading), keeping it under 140 mm Hg. The more aggressive strategy sets a goal of less than 120 mm Hg. The aggressive strategy reduced not only heart risks, but seemed to protect the brain.

People in the more aggressively controlled blood pressure group were 19% less likely than those in the standard treatment group to develop new cases of mild cognitive impairment (often a forerunner to dementia). They were also 15% less likely to develop any form of dementia or mild cognitive impairment. This study provides another reason to work with your doctor to reduce high blood pressure.

Using stretchy bands to build muscle can be an easy and effective way to burn more calories and boost your heart health.

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Most people know that brisk walking and other movement that gets your heart beating faster is great for your cardiovascular health. But even health-conscious folks often overlook another key fitness recommendation: doing muscle-strengthening exercises at least twice a week.

Not crazy about the idea of going to a gym and hoisting heavy weights? There's no need to do so. You can work your muscles with stretchy bands (called resistance or exercise bands) at home. In fact, if you're out of shape or overweight, a simple resistance band workout can be a good way to ease into exercise, says Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

Ask the doctor

Q. A friend was just diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. What causes this problem, and what is the prognosis?

A. In simple terms, cardiomyopathy refers to abnormal heart muscle. Some cases are mild and require no treatment. But in other cases, the condition causes severe symptoms (such as breathing difficulty and leg swelling) and leads to serious complications. Cardiomyopathy is one of many possible causes of heart failure, which happens when the heart is unable to pump well enough to meet the body's need for oxygen-carrying blood.

Experts recommend one or two servings of fish per week. But healthy vegetarian meals are a good alternative.

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Eating fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, or mackerel at least once a week may help prevent heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems. That's according to a recent scientific advisory from the American Heart Association, which reaffirms a long-held observation about the health benefits of seafood.

You'll potentially reel in the biggest benefit if you replace less healthy foods — such as red meat or processed meats — with seafood entrees. For example, choose salmon over steak, and swap the ham on your sandwich for tuna.

High blood levels of a fatty particle called lipoprotein(a) may explain some unexpected premature heart attacks.

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Have you ever heard of a middle-aged man who was in great shape, never smoked, had a normal cholesterol level, but still had a heart attack? Many people either know someone who fits that profile or have read about Bob Harper, the celebrity fitness trainer from the TV show The Biggest Loser, who had a heart attack last year at age 52.

For Harper, the culprit apparently was an abnormally high level of lipoprotein(a). Also known as Lp(a), it's a variant of the familiar "bad" LDL cholesterol (see "Cholesterol 101: Lipoprotein basics"). Lp(a) particles are LDL with an extra protein attached.

Several sex-specific issues may foretell a higher risk of cardiovascular problems in women and men.

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You probably know the key health indicators that pose a danger to your heart, such as high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. But many people are not aware of the sex-specific conditions that may serve as early warning signals for heart disease.

For women, these include problems that sometimes occur during pregnancy, as well as other diseases that are more prevalent in females (see "Female-focused cardiac risks"). For men, it's a relatively common problem that's less commonly discussed: erectile dysfunction.

Known as orthostatic hypotension, this condition can leave people dizzy and lightheaded. For some, it may also be a harbinger of heart disease.

Have you ever felt a bit woozy just after standing up? When you transition from sitting to standing, gravity causes blood to pool in your legs. Sometimes — especially if you're dehydrated or overheated — it takes your body a moment to push blood upward, causing a brief delay in blood flow to the brain.

For most people, this phenomenon occurs just once in a while and usually isn't a serious problem. But age, some medications, and certain medical conditions can interfere with the body's normal mechanism for regulating blood pressure (see "Responding to pressure: The role of baroreceptors"). If that happens, your blood pressure may drop dramatically when you stand up. Known as orthostatic hypotension (OH), the problem affects about 5% of people younger than 50. But up to 20% of people ages 70 and older may have OH.