Heart Health Archive

Certain diuretics flush out both water and potassium, but not everyone needs extra. Your doctor will consider blood test results and which other medications you're taking to determine the safest approach.

After a heart attack, a cardiac rehab program comprised of supervised exercise, lifestyle coaching, and emotional support can reshape daily habits and lower the odds of future trouble.

If you have high triglycerides, fruit sugar is only part of the story. Carbs, alcohol, weight, exercise, and healthy fats all influence this number.

An unusually low LDL result on a screening exam can be puzzling. Learn when small numbers reflect benefit and when they might signal a hidden problem.

Electrical cardioversion is generally a safe, painless procedure used to convert a rapid or irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation) back to a normal rhythm. It’s done under sedation and takes only a few minutes.

Long QT syndrome is a disorder of the heart’s electrical system that can be either acquired (for example, due to a medication) or congenital. Although usually people have no symptoms, it can cause a fast, erratic heartbeat that may lead to shortness of breath, fainting, and sometimes death.

A 2025 study found that people who had received a shingles vaccination had lower risks for stroke and various types of heart disease, including heart failure and heart attacks, compared with people who didn't receive a shingles vaccine.

Meatless burgers-which include plant-based meat alternatives like Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger and veggie burgers-are healthy replacements for traditional hamburgers. Those with the lowest amounts of saturated fat and sodium are the best options.

People with very high calcium scores (over 1,000) have a risk of heart attack or stroke similar to those who have already had a heart attack. They should take cholesterol-lowering drugs to bring down LDL levels and possibly undergo additional testing.

Smart watches can monitor different parameters simply by measuring a person's pulse and body movements. Potentially helpful features include those to detect very low or high heart rates, irregular heart rhythms, and breathing disruptions during sleep.