Category: heart-letter

Brief reports on an interaction between warfarin and a particular antibiotic prescribed for urinary tract infections, and outdoor exercise as a mood booster.

In diastolic heart failure, the left ventricle becomes thick and stiff. The symptoms are the same as those for systolic heart failure, but researchers are still searching for the best treatment strategies.

Among the side effects of steroid use, one serious consequence is a weakening of the heart’s left ventricle.

Getting a stent implanted within six weeks before having another, noncardiac surgery carries a much higher risk of having a heart attack or dying.

Eating moderate amounts of nuts and chocolate may being heart-protective benefits in the form of lower LDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure, respectively.

Eating red meat regularly may not be as bad for us as was once believed, but frequent consumption of processed meats like hot dogs, cold cuts, and bacon is still unhealthy.

People with diabetes who take blood sugar readings at home now have a way to convert that information into a hemoglobin A1c value, which indicates a person’s average daily blood sugar.

Hot, humid weather can overwork the heart, which can pose risks for people with certain conditions, or those who take beta blockers or diuretics.

The average person consumes more salt each day than the body requires, most of it from “hidden” salt in prepared and packaged foods. The FDA may ask food companies to voluntarily reduce the salt content of their products over the coming decade.

If the mitral valve in the heart becomes damaged it can leak, causing blood to flow backward and overwork the heart. A leaky valve can be surgically replaced, but in some situations repairing the valve is more effective than surgery.