Heart Health Center

News and Features Related to Heart Health

221. Gene Discovery Could Lead to New Stroke Treatments
     

     Aug. 4, 2011 -- Plaque buildup in the arteries is a major risk factor for strokes and heart attack, but some plaques are far more dangerous than others. The problem is there is no good way to distinguish relatively benign plaque on artery walls from plaque that will break off and cause harm, but tha

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222. Heart Testing Overused, Report Finds
     

     Aug. 2, 2011 -- Far too many healthy Americans are undergoing heart screening tests, which can lead to unnecessary and potentially dangerous treatments. That’s according to an investigation appearing in next month’s Consumer Reports. In a survey of more than 8,000 subscribers, nearly half (44%) of t

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223. Little Exercise Beats None
     

     Aug. 1, 2011 -- Even a little physical activity performed on a regular basis may reduce the risk of heart disease. And the more exercise people do, the more benefit in reducing risk, a new study finds. Among key findings of the study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health: As little a

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224. Family History's Role in Heart Attack and Stroke
     

     July 26, 2011 -- A family history of heart attack boosts the risk of having a heart attack much more than a family history of stroke increases the risk of having a stroke, new research suggests. "We teased out the relative effects of family history of stroke and family history of heart attack in the

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225. Heart Disease Prevention Saves Lives and Money
     

     July 25, 2011 -- Preventing heart disease may be critical to the health of the nation's economy as well as its population, according to a new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA). Researchers say the annual direct and indirect costs of heart disease topped $450 billion last year and a

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226. FDA Warning on Atrial Fibrillation Drug Multaq
     

     July 22, 2011 -- If you're taking the atrial fibrillation drug Multaq, the FDA wants you to call your doctor right away. Don't stop taking the drug -- that could be dangerous. But the FDA wants patients to be aware that a clinical trial of Multaq, called PALLAS, was halted when the drug doubled the

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227. Stopping Daily Aspirin Risky for Some
     

     July 20, 2011 -- For patients with a history of heart disease, stopping aspirin can increase the risk of having a heart attack, according to a new study. Patients with a history of heart disease who stopped taking a low-dose daily aspirin had a 60% increased risk of having a heart attack over the th

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228. FDA Approves Brilinta Blood Thinner
     

     July 20, 2011 -- The FDA has approved AstraZeneca's Brilinta blood thinner for patients with acute coronary syndrome -- conditions, such as heart attack and angina, that reduce blood flow to the heart. Brilinta wears off faster than Plavix and Effient, which are approved for treating the same condit

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229. Simple Sugar May Speed Heart Attack Recovery
     

     July 19, 2011 -- Ribose, a simple form of sugar, may help the heart recover faster after heart attack or heart surgery, a study suggests. During heart surgery, blood flow to the heart is stopped temporarily, and after a heart attack, blood flow is slowed. In both these cases, the heart becomes stres

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230. Soy, Low-Fat Dairy May Reduce Blood Pressure
     

     July 18, 2011 -- Looking to lower your blood pressure? You might want to add more soy or low-fat dairy to your diet. A new study offers some of the strongest evidence yet that replacing carbohydrates with protein from low-fat dairy and soy can help reduce blood pressure. The study is the first to di

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