heart-letter
When I am under great stress, my blood pressure sometimes shoots up to 200/120 but then quickly goes down to 120/80 or lower and stays there. One doctor told me that spikes like these are normal. Another told me this isn’t healthy. Who is right?
My doctor started me on a calcium-channel blocker for high blood pressure. I also take a daily calcium supplement for my bones. Will that counteract the drug’s effect?
A friend told me that if you get a stent you can’t have bypass surgery later on. Is that right? And what about the opposite – getting a stent after having bypass surgery?
A test showed that I have calcium in my aorta. My doctor said it isn’t serious, and that, as a 79-year-old, I will have to “live with it.” Can you tell me more about this condition?
Fruits and vegetables provide a foundation for healthy eating.
Blood pressure gets so much attention because uncontrolled hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
After a heart attack six years ago, I went on Lipitor because my doctor said it was proven to reduce the risk of a second heart attack. Three years ago, I switched to a generic to save money. Now that Lipitor is going generic, should I switch back?
Smoking just a few cigarettes a day carries as much heart disease risk as smoking a pack a day, and secondhand smoke exposes nonsmokers to risk as well.
For people who have had a heart attack or are at risk of having one, a daily aspirin can be an effective prevention measure.
Changes in health care laws and policies are aimed at helping people make choices that can improve their health.