Category: heart-letter

People with rheumatoid arthritis may be more likely to develop heart problems.

The practice of routinely giving blood transfusions to patients during and after heart surgery is being challenged by research findings.

At 80 I am in relatively good health. During a period of extreme heat this summer, my ankles were more swollen than usual, and my weight jumped three pounds in just two days. Was that because of the heat, or did salt have something to do with it?

I needed angioplasty in 2007 and had a stent implanted during the procedure. Due to another health problem, my doctor now wants me to have an MRI. Could this cause any problem with the stent?

What amount of psyllium should I take each day to lower cholesterol?

Magnesium is essential to the body’s proper functioning, but most people don’t get enough of it. A healthy diet and a vitamin-mineral supplement should provide the necessary amount.

A small Swiss study found that daily use of acetaminophen can cause an increase in blood pressure, which is of concern to people with cardiovascular disease.

People who take the blood thinner warfarin have a new option, Pradaxa, which is not affected by diet and does not require its dosage to be fine-tuned.

Chronic shortness of breath is a common adjunct to heart disease. Researchers have formulated new guidelines to identify and treat this condition in those who suffer from it.

I recently had a pacemaker implanted. While the process was going on, I felt a pulsation. I still feel it months later. My primary care doctor thinks that my vagus nerve could have been damaged when the pacemaker was implanted. Is that possible?