Middle-aged men who often feel worried or anxious may be more prone to problems that raise heart disease risk as they age compared with their less-worried peers.
If most middle-aged and older American adults added just 10 to 20 minutes of moderate exercise to their normal daily activities, it could prevent an estimated 110,000 to 209,000 premature deaths each year.
A plant-based Mediterranean meal featuring vegetables, mushrooms, beans, and whole grains prepared with olive oil is a heart-friendly dinner option.
Up to 10% of people with high blood pressure have secondary hypertension, which is caused by another condition or disease. The most common of these involve problems with the adrenal glands (hyperaldosteronism), or the arteries supplying the kidneys (renal artery stenosis). People most likely to have secondary hypertension include those with resistant hypertension who use three or more medications to manage their blood pressure, and people who develop hypertension before age 30.
Someone who has a transient ischemic attack (TIA, or ministroke) needs prompt testing to look for the underlying cause. A 2022 study shows that people can safely get that evaluation at a specialized outpatient clinic rather than having to be admitted to the hospital. The testing usually includes a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram), cardiac monitoring, and imaging tests. The results guide targeted stroke-prevention treatments, which can reduce the risk of a future stroke by as much as 80%.
The most common cause of a stiff, narrowed aortic valve (aortic stenosis) is a buildup of scar tissue and calcium on the valve. Factors that contribute to narrowing of this valve include age, an inborn valve defect, and various diseases such as kidney disease. Aortic stenosis can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and lightheadedness, especially during physical activity.
Experts suggest people replace their walking shoes every 300 to 500 miles. For the best selection and advice, people should consider shopping at a specialty running store that also sells walking shoes. Other tips for choosing comfortable, supportive shoes include looking for low-heeled shoes that bend easily at the ball of the foot and have wiggle room at the toes.
A regular yoga practice may help lower blood pressure. But people with this condition should be cautious about certain poses that place the heart higher than the head (known as inversions).
Full-fat dairy products such as yogurt and cheese can be part of a heart-healthy diet. Compared with nonfat or low-fat products, full-fat dairy products tend to be tastier and more filling. But because they contain more calories and saturated fat, it’s best to limit full-fat dairy products to one serving a day and combine them with healthy foods, such as fruit, whole grains, and salads. Cheese is often eaten with less-healthy foods such as refined grains and meat, including pizza, burgers, mac and cheese, and Mexican food.
Many conditions of the gastrointestinal tract are easy to diagnose using standard testing. But some such diseases can impact the GI tract without a clear test finding. Disorders of gut-brain interaction are so called because they involve impaired communication between the gut and brain via the nervous system.