Cholesterol plaques can be the cause of heart disease. Plaques begin in artery walls and grow for years, slowly blocking blood flow in the arteries. Worse, a cholesterol plaque can rupture. The sudden blood clot that forms over the rupture then causes a heart attack or stroke. Blocked arteries caused by plaque buildup and blood clots are the leading cause of death in the U.S. Reducing cholesterol and other risk factors can help prevent cholesterol plaques from forming. Occasi

It’s not uncommon to have a late-night dinner (or snack) right before hitting the hay. But according to a new study conducted by Northwestern University, cutting yourself off approximately three hours before bed can actually improve your cardiovascular health over time. “Among middle-aged and older adults who are at higher risk for cardiometabolic disease, extending the participants’ overnight fast by about two hours, dimming the lights, and not eating for three hours prior t

When it comes to controversial foods, dairy is often near the top of the list, especially with the specific recommendation of whole milk and other full-fat dairy products in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans . Full-fat dairy is a source of saturated fat, a nutrient known to have adverse effects on heart health when consumed in excess, so many people are confused by the new recommendations to prioritize it. 1. Your Blood Fats May Rise Research shows that foods hig

For the last century, heart disease has sat atop the list as the most common cause of death among U.S. adults. And symptoms often start with something other than the severe or sudden chest pain that signals a heart attack . “Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, yet many people either don’t recognize early warning signs or misinterpret them as something minor,” says Dr. Tina Shah, MD , a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. “The sooner symptoms are ident

Financial stress may damage your heart as much as well-known risk factors like high blood pressure and smoking, according to a recent study. People who face chronic financial strain often experience anxiety, loneliness, or depression, and this type of stress can accelerate cardiac aging and put their heart health at risk. How Financial Stress Affects Heart Health The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings , analyzed data from 280,323 adults. Researchers found that many s

Eat less, move more, don’t smoke. You know these heart-smart rules, well, by heart. Even so, cardiovascular disease remains America’s biggest killer, and the risk increases as you get older. But whatever your age, it’s never too late to protect your ticker. “80% of heart disease is actually preventable,” says Martha Gulati, M.D., former president of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology. The key? Taking action now. These simple tips will help you get started. Heart t

Exercise is famously good for the heart. But there’s another habit that has a similar effect and can complement your workouts. It’s fun and more active than meditation or relaxation exercises, but you can still do it while sitting in place. Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist at Penn Medicine and professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, actually prescribes this activity for his patients. Cardiologist Tip of the Day: Get Belly Laughs to Boost Heart Health He

You’d think we’d all understand cholesterol by now, because many foods we eat every day contain it. But doctors say that’s not the case. In fact, many dangerous myths about cholesterol persist.   Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that travels through your bloodstream. It’s also known as a blood fat. Your body needs some cholesterol for your overall health, but too much of it can put you at risk for heart disease and other illnesses.  If you’re 65 or older, your doctor ha

If you’re someone who thrives after dark, you might want to pay extra attention to your heart health. Night owls — those who naturally stay up late — may be more likely to develop heart disease, a new study has found. But experts say there are steps you can take to protect your health. Middle-aged and older adults, especially women, who are more active in the evenings may have worse heart health than those without a strong morning or evening preference, according to a study p

Deaths from heart attacks have gone down over the last 50 years, according to a new study. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that deaths from heart attacks have “declined by nearly 90%” over the last 50 years and that heart disease death rates have dropped by 66%, according to a press release. The study focused on people over the age of 25, between the years of 1970 to 2022. The study found that heart disease accounted for about 31% of

High cholesterol has no visible symptoms, but it can have a profound impact on your heart health . While cholesterol-lowering medication is vital for some people, almost everyone could benefit from incorporating more of the best foods to eat for cholesterol into their meals. Making smart choices in the kitchen can go far towards reducing levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and maintaining healthy levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Cholesterol is a substance that is naturally prod

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung condition that blocks the airways and makes it hard to breathe. More than 12 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with COPD. Millions more people may have it and just don’t know it yet. It’s common to think that the symptoms of COPD, like shortness of breath and fatigue, are normal signs of aging. Because of this, the disease may have grown serious by the time someone goes to a doctor to discuss their s

A recent study builds on existing evidence that sleeping in less than complete darkness can be detrimental to health, specifically damaging the cardiovascular system. Sleeping while exposed to higher levels of light was associated with stress-related brain activity known to cause arterial inflammation throughout the body. Such inflammation raises the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke. After 10 years, 17% of the study participants had developed major cardiovascular issu

Creatine is an amino acid (a building block of protein) that your body produces in small amounts, with an additional supply coming from diet. For optimal health, it's recommended to get 3 to 5 grams (g) of creatine from food daily, with typical sources being red meat, poultry, and seafood. 1. Beef Creatine: 0.5 g per 4 ounces Beef is a red meat considered one of the most complete sources of protein. Other types of red meat are pork and lamb. The exact creatine content will va

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your circulatory system. And when everything is working properly, you don’t need to. Blood flows freely and efficiently throughout your body, carrying oxygen as well as infection-fighting white blood cells, nutrients, and hormones. But when you have poor circulation, it’s a different story. Circulation issues—in this case, we’re talking specifically about when blood flow is restricted—can cause a host of problems. The most

Did you know that someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States? It’s true—and the risk gets higher with age. The average heart attack age for men is 65, and 72 is the average age for women. Of course, you’ve probably heard advice before for how to prevent a heart attack. And it probably goes something like this: Be active, give up hamburgers and fries, and stop smoking if you smoke. “Those are the three mainstays,” says Nick Ruthmann, M.D., a cardiologist

Even an occasional cigarette can endanger a person’s health and increase their risk of cardiovascular disease , according to a new study. Researchers report that people who smoke as few as two cigarettes per day have a 57% higher risk of heart failure and a 60% higher risk of death from any cause. They add that a person’s health risks decline significantly in the decade after quitting smoking. However, the researchers note that a former smoker can still have increased health

Cardiac arrhythmias can produce a range of symptoms—from very mild, like lightheadedness, to life-threatening, including cardiac arrest. These can be divided into a “classic” group of symptoms that are highly (though not exclusively) indicative of cardiac arrhythmia and an “other” group of symptoms that are just as likely to be caused by an arrhythmia as something else. But many times, much to patients' surprise, cardiac arrhythmias may not produce any symptoms at all. This i

High cholesterol can raise blood pressure because it contributes to plaque build-up in your arteries (atherosclerosis). High blood pressure can occur as a result of your heart having to work harder to pump blood. How High Cholesterol Influences High Blood Pressure High cholesterol influences blood pressure by causing changes in your arteries. When LDL (bad cholesterol) builds up in your bloodstream, it forms into plaque that thickens the inner vessel walls, causing your arter

For as long as the human race has lived on this planet, meat has been a part of our diets . And although there are more vegetarians and vegans nowadays, Americans continue to consume high volumes of meat. As Ipsos reported in 2021, 89% of Americans include meat as part of their diets. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) said in 2021 that between 63% and 74% of people eat red or processed meat every day. And interestingly, just 12% of Americans eat half the nation’s b

Have you ever heard someone say that they like long walks on the beach? If so, they might have already uncovered one of the many secrets to longevity. Adults who walk for longer periods, which researchers defined as longer than 10 minutes, had substantially lower risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death when compared to those participants who walk for shorter periods, according to a study published Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. “Most studies fo

Long-term use of melatonin supplements may be linked with a higher risk of heart failure, according to new research — but does that mean people taking it as a sleep aid should stop using it now? In a review of electronic medical records, thousands of adults who had chronic insomnia and took melatonin for a year or longer had a 90% higher chance of heart failure over the next five years, compared with participants who had the same health factors but didn’t take melatonin. Mela

Feeling breathless — a tightness in the chest or having trouble getting enough air — is called dyspnea. Although it’s common as you age, having trouble breathing shouldn’t be dismissed as just part of getting older. Shortness of breath isn’t a disease itself, but a symptom of other health conditions. How your heart and lungs function contribute to shortness of breath. Both organs work together to move oxygen and remove carbon dioxide all throughout your body. If either one ca

Nuts have long been linked to heart health, and new research continues to explore how they might help protect against heart disease. Researchers wanted to know how regular nut consumption affects heart health over time. Their new study offers a clearer look than earlier research thanks to a larger, more diverse group of participants and a longer follow-up period. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Ischemic heart disease—a type caused by nar

Did you know that someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States? It’s true—and the risk gets higher with age. The average heart attack age for men is 65, and 72 is the average age for women. Of course, you’ve probably heard advice before for how to prevent a heart attack. And it probably goes something like this: Be active, give up hamburgers and fries, and stop smoking if you smoke. “Those are the three mainstays,” says Nick Ruthmann, M.D., a cardiologist

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