Category: heart-letter

I have heart disease but would like to donate blood. Is it safe?

I?ve been taking dabigatran (Pradaxa) for atrial fibrillation for a few years and haven?t had any problems. But I?ve seen ads on television suggesting that this drug and others like it aren?t safe. What?s your advice?

Sodas and other beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup may boost levels of harmful LDL cholesterol in the blood.

Chronic sleep deprivation strains the cardiovascular system, which may raise the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Common causes for a sleep shortfall include insomnia and sleep apnea, which causes loud snoring and frequent breathing lapses during sleep.

People with high blood pressure should be sure they’re getting enough of the B vitamin folate in their diets, which may lower the risk of a stroke.

Frequent nut eaters may be less likely to die of any cause-especially heart disease-than people who rarely eat nuts.

When someone develops a heart murmur as an adult, what are the possible causes?

Varicose veins occur when the veins fail to keep blood flowing upward. As a result, excess blood pools in the lower extremities causing varicose veins and swelling.

For older adults with high blood pressure, taking acetaminophen does not appear to elevate heart disease risk, even among those who take the popular painkiller frequently.

I just got diagnosed with diabetes and my doctor said I am at risk for heart disease. Why?