Harvard Health Content API

Short-duration high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to have similar—and possibly better—health benefits than longer, lower-intensity exercise. HIIT workouts consist of quick spurts of draining physical effort, followed by rest, repeated multiple times, and usually last from 15 to 30 minutes. Research has found it’s possible to shrink HIIT workouts to five to 10 minutes—known as low-volume HIIT—and still receive benefits. Consistent intensity and attention to form and execution are needed to be effective.

Getting the recommended amount of physical activity appears to lower the risk of atrial fibrillation (afib), a heart rhythm disorder that raises the risk of stroke.

For older people, taking cholesterol-lower statins does not appear to affect their risk of developing cognitive problems or dementia.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern doesn’t just lower blood pressure. It may also reduce inflammation, heart injury, and heart strain.

Unpeeled apples are good sources of both fiber and compounds called polyphenols that benefit heart health. Eating apples often may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation.

Older, frail people with a history of heart problems may benefit from sessions with a physical therapy. Gentle, personalized exercise to improve strength and balance can help them avoid falls and preserve their independence. Falls are especially dangerous for people taking anti-clotting medications (which are prescribed for many heart problems) because these drugs increase the risk of bleeding. Physical therapists can check a person’s heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation at rest and then after a short period of exercise to make sure they’re exercising at an appropriate level.

Heart imaging tests sometimes reveal potentially worrisome abnormalities in or near the heart that are unrelated to the original reason for the test. These “incidentalomas” are usually harmless, but not always. Before undergoing heart imaging tests, people should understand how the results may change their treatment and if they are willing to receive that therapy. If a test reveals an incidentaloma, a second opinion from a highly experienced cardiologist or radiologist may help patients feel more confident that a concerning finding is treated appropriately.

People with a family history of premature or early coronary artery disease (defined as a heart attack that occurs before age 55 in a man or before age 65 in a woman) face a higher risk of heart disease than people without that family history. Some of this elevated risk comes from genetic factors linked to higher cholesterol and blood pressure values. But unhealthy habits—such as smoking and poor eating and exercise habits—also tend to run in families and may contribute as well.

Meatless burgers, which contain protein from plant sources such as peas, mung beans, and soy, may be better for cardiovascular health than regular hamburgers, especially if eaten with sides and drinks that are healthier than typical fast-food fare. Plant-based burgers are highly processed and contain more sodium than regular hamburgers. But blood levels of factors linked to heart disease, such as TMAO and LDL, may decrease when people eat plant-based meat instead of red meat.