Category: heart-letter

My doctor told me I have pericardial effusion. I know it has something to do with fluid in the heart. Can you tell me more?

Brief reports on hypertension statistics, a theory about why some people show more of an HDL cholesterol benefit from exercise than others, and more about the connection between depression and heart disease.

Eating a Mediterranean-style diet can help with a number of health issues.

Care at a specialized center may provide a better chance of surviving a stroke, even if it requires extra travel time to reach.

My doctors recommended I get a defibrillator as “insurance,” but I have had it for eight years and it has never gone off. My doctor wants to put in a new battery. At age 86 I’d rather not. Could I just leave the device in place or have it taken out?

I am 92 and have atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure, both controlled by medication. Every so often when I am relaxing after dinner, my heart feels like it stops and then starts up again with a jerk. Is this something I should worry about?

Thousands of people receive implantable cardioverter-defibrillators each year, but not everyone who receives the device really needs it, and some people would be better off pursuing other treatment avenues.

Brief reports on temporary heart damage caused by running marathons, the effect of kidney disease on the necessary dose of warfarin, and a possible increased risk of heart trouble for women taking a breast cancer drug.

I read that angiotensin-receptor blockers cause cancer. I take one (Diovan) for my blood pressure. Should I stop?

The FDA has approved the sale of a generic version of the angiotensin-receptor blocker medication losartan, and generic versions of two other ARBs may soon follow.