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Most Recent Articles
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- Getting To The Heart Of The Matter On Health
Here's some news you can take to heart: Experts say more than 70 million Americans currently live with a cardiovascular disease. And coronary heart disease is a leading cause of premature, permanent disability in the U.S. workforce.
Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to reduce the health threat posed by heart disease. - Improving Blood Flow During Cardiac Arrest
New American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines urge emergency personnel to change the way they treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The new guidelines, designed to help improve CPR performance, resulted from studies showing that "blood circulation increases with each chest compression in a series." Furthermore, it "must be built back up after interruptions." This calls for faster, deeper, uninterrupted chest compressions. - Community Groups Aid Fight Against Heart Disease
An initiative against heart disease has called upon a higher power. An education program designed to improve heart health in the African-American community is involving a variety of faith-based and other community groups.
The American Heart Association is helping African Americans fight heart disease and stroke through a community-based health program called Search Your Heart. - Expert Outlines Five-step Approach To Optimal Heart Health
Alan Flood, 58, has a good reason to be concerned about his heart. A few years ago, poor lifestyle choices and diet contributed to major heart problems. Flood knew he needed to make changes to improve his health.
For many, this can seem like a daunting task. However, nutrition expert Lynn Laboranti, M.S., R.D., maintains that it's never too late to strive for optimal heart health. She offers the following five-step approach to help get your ticker in tip-top shape: - Tips To Help You Be A Smarter Snacker
Here's some good news to chew on: If you make a few simple changes in your daily routine, you can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Take snacking, for example. You don't have to pit tasty treats against good health. Try these tips from the American Heart Association to help you select healthier snacks:
Reduce the "bad" fat. Eating food high in saturated fat, trans fat or dietary cholesterol-the "bad" fats-raises your blood cholesterol level, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Read the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods to find out how much "bad" fat is in the product. - New Technology Offers Hope To Stroke Patients
There may be good news for stroke patients and their caregivers. A new device has been created that is said to offer those who have had a stroke new hope of regaining significant muscle movement, and with it, increased mobility and independence.
Stroke is the third-leading cause of death after heart attacks and cancer in the U.S., affecting some 700,000 Americans each year. Those fortunate enough to survive often face a number of challenges. While strokes cost the U.S. economy $56 billion a year, no price tag can accurately portray the psychological cost to the stroke patient-or to his or her loved ones and caregivers-when the patient is left wholly or partially paralyzed, and possibly also unable to communicate. - A Three-dimensional Image Of Heart Health
A technology known for providing images of babies before they are born-an ultrasound-is also making a contribution to heart health.
Even though over 20 million heart ultrasounds are performed annually in the U.S., some people are still unaware of the benefits the technology can offer. - Test Measures New Heart Disease And Stroke Risk Factor
Doctors have an important new test in the battle against heart attack and stroke. The PLAC test is a simple blood test that measures Lp-PLA2, a marker of inflammation in blood vessels that can lead to these cardiovascular diseases. The clinically proven test helps doctors identify high-risk patients and prescribe preventive therapies that include diet, exercise and medication.
America's Top Killers - Heart Attacks Top Critical Illness Insurance Claims
Critical illness insurance is getting to the heart of the matter for many people these days--quite literally. According to a review by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, heart attacks are by far the top reason for claims on critical illness policies.
Of all the critical illness claims Colonial paid in an 18-month period from Jan. 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, 40 percent were for a heart illness categorized as a heart attack. Critical illnesses resulting in a paid claim include: - Cardiac Care May Be Coming To Your Living Room
As baby boomers approach their 60s, many report that their health-particularly their heart health-is becoming a priority. Soon this group, which has already brought color television and home videos into their living rooms, may usher another high-tech innovation into their homes: remote cardiac care.
More than 70 million Americans currently live with a cardiovascular disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts say soon it will be possible for cardiac patients to be monitored within the comfort of their own homes, communicating with their doctors using a TV-based interactive health care platform. - Increasing Good Cholesterol Reduces Cardiovascular Risk
It's common knowledge that high cholesterol increases the risk of heart attack and strokes.
What's less well known is that statins, the drugs most often prescribed to lower cholesterol, may cause side effects that can even lead to heart disease. - Are You At Risk For A Heart Attack?
When you hear about a loved one or friend having a fatal heart attack, you may ask yourself, "How could this have happened? Isn't there anything that could have been done to prevent this tragedy?" The answer very well may be "yes."
One of the best-kept secrets in America is that doctors around the country who are practicing aggressive prevention are seeing heart attacks disappear from their practices. Yet, heart disease is still the number-one killer in the U.S. - Know The Facts About The Risk Of Heart Disease In Women
Although most women do not consider themselves at risk for heart disease, the reality is that almost eight times more women die of heart disease than breast cancer, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
While results from a recent American Heart Association survey show that awareness of heart disease as women's number-one killer is at an all-time high (from 34 percent in 2000 to 55 percent in 2005), statistics reveal that most women still fail to make the connection between the risk factors and developing heart disease. - Latest Trend In Heart Smart Lifestyle-slash The Sodium
When you think about a heart-healthy diet, fat and cholesterol are probably the first things that come to mind. For instance, cutting back on high-cholesterol foods, swapping good fats for artery-clogging saturated and trans fats, choosing lean meats, changing to lower-fat dairy products and eating more good carbs are all recommended for living a healthy lifestyle. However, perhaps the most overlooked, and most challenging, heart-smart tactic is slashing sodium from the diet.
Everyone needs sodium, but most people consume far too much. Sodium causes the body to retain water, which increases the pressure inside blood vessels. Having high blood pressure damages blood vessels, increases the heart's workload and sharply raises the risk for heart ailments. Eating a healthy diet that is low in sodium can help keep blood pressure in check. - A Daily Dose Of Love, Along With Diet And Exercise, Is What The Doctor Ordered For Heart Health
Research shows that people who feel loved have substantially less blockage in their coronary arteries. But unfortunately, love doesn't conquer all when it comes to living a longer, healthier life. Experts agree that a diet rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables, tomatoes and lean fish, along with regular exercise, is necessary to maintain a healthy heart.
According to Dean Ornish, M.D., Founder and Director of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, "Studies show that eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean protein can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In addition, the omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water, deep-water fish such as tuna have been shown to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death by as much as 50-80 percent." - New Form Of Treatment For Heart Failure
There's encouraging news for the millions of Americans who at some point may be affected by life-threatening heart failure: A new type of cardiac support system is expected to significantly improve the treatment of the condition.
Heart failure is a progressive condition that involves the heart reshaping, or "remodeling," into a less effective blood pump. This occurs after the heart has been damaged by any disease or condition that puts extra stress on the heart's muscle or deprives it of blood. High blood pressure, coronary artery disease and heart attacks are typical causes. - Exploring Treatment Options For Heart Disease
Heart disease-which includes heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke-now accounts for more than one of every three deaths in America, according to the American Heart Association.
While many believe only baby boomers have to worry about heart problems, the National Institutes of Health reports that more than 25 percent of heart failure cases involve people under 60 years old, and heart-related problems are expected to increase. - Protect Your Life-and Finances-from Heart Disease
There's good news about coronary heart disease: Thanks to increased heart health awareness, the death rate from heart disease is dropping in the U.S. According to a 2007 report from the American Heart Association, the death rate from coronary artery disease declined 33 percent from 1994 to 2004. This means that there have been big improvements in our ability to prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease.
Coronary heart disease is caused when plaque or fatty substances build up in the walls of the heart's small blood vessels, reducing the flow of nutrient-rich blood to the heart. This reduced blood flow can cause permanent damage to the heart and even lead to a heart attack. - How Good Oral Health May Help Your Heart
People with healthy mouths may have another reason to smile: Their pearly whites could be linked to healthy hearts.
The American Academy of Periodontology states that bacteria from your mouth not only cause bad breath but could also contribute to the development of heart disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. - Get Smart About Protecting Your Heart
More women are learning about heart disease-the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S.-and learning how to reduce their risk.
"When women realize that cardiovascular disease kills an estimated 461,000 women each year and that the average number of years lost to heart attack is 15, they sit up and take notice," said Dr. Annabelle Volgman, a cardiologist at Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center. - New Ways To Fight Second Heart Attacks
Each year, nearly 6 million Americans are hospitalized with heart disease. In fact, every 29 seconds, an American suffers a coronary event such as heart attack, heart surgery, stroke or chest pain. Many of those coronary events can be attributed to high levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol.
Cutting levels of bad cholesterol can reduce the chances of heart disease and major coronary events. But until recently, the world's most prescribed cholesterol-lowering therapy-Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium)-was approved to treat only those patients without pre-existing heart disease. - New Ways To Fight Second Heart Attacks
Each year, nearly 6 million Americans are hospitalized with heart disease. In fact, every 29 seconds, an American suffers a coronary event such as heart attack, heart surgery, stroke or chest pain. Many of those coronary events can be attributed to high levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol.
Cutting levels of bad cholesterol can reduce the chances of heart disease and major coronary events. But until recently, the world's most prescribed cholesterol-lowering therapy-Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium)-was approved to treat only those patients without pre-existing heart disease. - How To Have A Good Heart
Here's heartening news: You can help yourself to a healthier heart. That is, you can recover and gain emotional well-being following a diagnosis of heart disease, a heart attack or a cardiac procedure or surgery, which may reduce your risk of a second cardiac event.
A free Web site has been created to help you: - Stroke: Act Fast
Each year, many of the more than 600,000 Americans who suffer the most common type of stroke, known as an ischemic stroke, receive the only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication known to improve their chances of recovery with little or no disability. More should be getting the drug.
Ischemic stroke occurs when an obstruction, such as a blood clot, blocks blood flow to the brain. When this happens, part of the brain becomes deprived of the blood and oxygen it needs and nerve cells in the affected area die within minutes. Stroke is the leading cause of disability, and third-leading cause of death in the United States. - A Lifesaving Machine
For sudden cardiac arrest, new technology may be better than humans at delivering needed treatment.
An automated CPR machine doesn't get tired. CPR needs to be repeated consistently and accurately. According to the American Heart Association, interruptions to chest compressions should be no more than five seconds and compressions need to be given at a rate of 100 per minute.
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