heart-letter
Splitting statin pills saves money without risk to cholesterol control. Treating or preventing heart disease lowers the risk of memory loss. Tests of coenzyme Q10’s effectiveness are inconclusive.
Hormones produced by the ovaries are beneficial, but taking a hormone medication increases certain health risks.
I had a mechanical valve put in to replace a stiff aortic valve. But it hasn’t made a big difference in how I feel. I still get short of breath when I try to walk fast. Could it be the wrong size, or not working properly?
The recommendation to take beta blockers before noncardiac surgery is now tempered by the information that the drug should be started a few days prior to surgery.
A clinical trial measuring the effectiveness of maintaining tight control of blood sugar in diabetics was ended early due to a higher than expected number of deaths, but keeping blood sugar below a certain level is still important for those with diabetes.
A CT scan for calcium buildup in arteries near the heart can help predict the likelihood of an attack, but its cost outweighs its usefulness in people with low risk of heart disease.
The steps that should be taken to prevent dementia are also likely to help protect the heart and the rest of the body.
Fish oil contains beneficial omega-3 fats, but people with heart failure, angina, or an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) should minimize their consumption of fish, and should not take fish oil capsules.
Our bodies need protein, carbohydrates, and fat, but some kinds are better for us than others. It’s important to eat the right kinds and quantities of these components in order to receive the most benefit from them.
There is plenty of information available online to help you learn about cardiovascular health, but not all of it is unbiased or accurate.