Focusing on healthful eating that incorporates choices such as fruits, vegetables and fish is one of five ways to reduce heart attack risk, according to Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, chair of the Division of Preventive Cardiology at Mayo Clinic. Lopez-Jimenez also recommends fitting in 30 minutes of moderately intense activity weekly, stopping smoking, getting a handle on stress, and tracking health metrics such as cholesterol and blood pressure.
An analysis published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that higher omega-3 levels were associated with longer lives and lower rates of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. "Besides showing that higher DHA levels were strongly and dose-dependently associated with lower risk for death (in all four categories), this paper also added these new data from the UKBB to our previous FORCE study on the same topic, strengthening the findings of the latter, making it crystal clear that people with higher omega-3 levels were 'destined' to live longer than those with lower levels," said William Harris, lead author and president of the Fatty Acid Research Institute.
Research presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session associated short sleep with a higher risk of hypertension, with women at greater risk than men. The association was stronger for people who slept fewer than five hours each night.
More than a quarter of patients who sought care for atrial fibrillation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the past decade were younger than 65, and younger individuals with AFib had increased odds of mortality or being admitted with heart attack, heart failure or stroke. The rate of AFib was more than 10 times higher than the estimated rate for people younger than 65, according to the study published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
More than 131 million people in the US are exposed to ozone and fine particulate pollution on a regular basis, raising their risks for cardiopulmonary and respiratory diseases, according to a report from the American Lung Association. Although combined emissions of six air pollutants have declined by 78% since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, pollution from recent wildfires has worsened air quality.
Studies on weight loss and diabetes drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide, or GLP-1 agonists, are increasingly pointing to their benefits for treating other conditions, such as heart and liver disease, Parkinson's disease, mental disorders and addiction. The FDA allowed cardiovascular benefits to be added to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy label in March, and a recently published study connected Eli Lilly and Co.'s Zepbound to improved sleep apnea symptoms.
Guideline-directed medical therapy uptake improved within 30 days of starting a telemedicine-based outreach program for Navajo Nation members in Arizona and New Mexico who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, researchers reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. Patients received blood pressure cuffs for use at home and remote access to primary care providers who spoke Navajo.
A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that among adults with obesity, including those with type 2 diabetes, engaging in moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity in the evening was associated with the lowest risk for mortality, cardiovascular disease and microvascular disease. The findings underscore the importance of timing in physical activity, particularly in the evening, for reducing health risks.
The ParkRx program through the National Park Service's Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative, which encourages physicians to prescribe time in nature to their patients, delivers physical and mental health benefits and is now used by physicians nationwide. Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist, says the cortisol reduction gleaned from time outside is beneficial for blood pressure and heart rate, in addition to being good for mental health.
Our brand new Heart Failure interactive guide is an easy-to-use online tool for your patients. Share this educational resource to help your heart failure patients navigate this often overwhelming and confusing diagnosis.
This mobile-first online resource provides patients with the critical information they need in a modular, patient-friendly approach. Topics covered include diagnosis, treatments, emotions, exercising, and sodium. Learn more.
Research shows that encouraging people to embrace healthy eating habits and reduce the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods will improve cardiovascular health and help to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
This article explores what food "processing" actually means and looks into the effects food processing has on caloric intake and the microbiome. Learn more.
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