Heart Health Archive

A number of physiological changes driven by the body’s internal clock help explain why heart attacks are more common in the morning. These changes include factors involved in blood pressure, blood clot formation, and inflammation.

About 70% of the sodium in the American diet comes from processed, packaged, and restaurant foods. Checking labels and making smart swaps when shopping and dining out can help people consume less sodium and, perhaps, prevent cardiovascular disease and related deaths.

Sleeping 11 additional minutes, doing an extra five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and eating just a quarter-cup more of vegetables each day was linked to a 10% reduction in heart attacks, strokes, and other serious heart problems, according to a 2026 study.

All adults should get a lipoprotein(a) blood test at least once in their lifetime, according to the 2026 cholesterol guidelines. Also known as Lp(a), these fatty particles are similar to LDL (bad) cholesterol but more dangerous.

Women who experience premature menopause (when menstrual periods end before age 40) have a 40% higher risk of heart attacks than women who experience menopause after age 40, according to a 2026 study.

People who maintain or improve their heart-related risks over time are less likely to develop calcification of the aortic valve, which may lead to aortic stenosis.

People with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were less likely to develop depression and dementia than those with low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, according to a 2026 research review.

When it comes to under-the-radar health conditions, deep-vein thrombosis is at the top of the list. Most of my patients have never heard of this common problem. Yet deep-vein thrombosis puts more than one-quarter million Americans in the hospital each year, and complications from it are responsible for upwards of 100,000 deaths.

Five numbers give a thumbnail assessment of overall heart health and what factors people might need to address to lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke. These numbers offer ideal goals for most people, although targets vary for individuals based on age or other health conditions.

Blood pressure is the push of blood through the body, like water through a hose. Pressure depends on how hard the heart pumps, how much blood there is, and how tight small vessels are, all influenced by hormones, salt, fluids, and stress.