heart-letter
Exercise isn’t all about weight loss. Researchers studying the effects of exercise find that it affects the body down to the subcellular level.
More testing doesn’t always mean better care. Special tests such as nuclear imaging or cardiac ultrasound may be a good idea for people with certain worrisome symptoms or conditions.
Harvard researchers led by Harvard Heart Letter Co-editor in Chief Dr. Richard Lee have found a naturally occurring substance in the blood of young mice that rejuvenates the hearts of old mice.
When a medication receives negative press, asking whether the drug caused the side effect, how many people it affected, and whether the side effect was worse than the disease the drug treats can help you weigh the drug’s benefits against its risks.
A tear in the aorta produces a sudden, sharp, extraordinary pain with a ripping sensation between the shoulder blades and down the back or in the front of the chest.
Gaining weight after quitting smoking does not negate the benefits of quitting. One study showed a 50% drop in risk of fatal or non-fatal heart attack and stroke six years after quitting, regardless of weight gain.
Many heart medications interact with certain foods, beverages, vitamins, dietary supplements, over-the-counter drugs, and other prescription medications, causing the heart drug to be more powerful or less effective.
Blood pressure can rise when activity levels drop. If your blood pressure was controlled until your activity level changed, increasing your activity may prevent the need for additional medication.
Faithfully taking blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart medications as prescribed can reduce the risk of developing heart disease or its consequences. Taking these medications sporadically can increase the risk of heart attack or death.
Chest pain caused by a heart attack is often described as a squeezing type of pressure that emerges slowly, rather than a sharp, quick pain. A heart attack may cause shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness.