Heart Health

While the term “heart health” may seem self-explanatory, it actually encompasses a lot. From reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke to preventing high blood pressure and diabetes, heart health is about your overall well-being. The term “heart health” is often used interchangeably with the term “cardiovascular health,” which also refers to the health of your heart and blood vessels.

Despite the name, though, your heart health has very little to do with your actual heart. Instead, it’s about your blood vessels and the blood flowing through them. High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and low HDL cholesterol all pose significant risks to your cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in every four deaths. It is also the leading cause of disability. Cardiovascular disease includes conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes, as well as conditions like obesity, metabolic syndrome, and smoking. The best way to reduce your risk of heart disease is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, and manage any chronic conditions you have, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. You can also consider taking supplements, such as fish oil, to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Oxytocin Regenerates Heart Muscle After Injury Study
| | |

Oxytocin Regenerates Heart Muscle After Injury Study

Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered something remarkable: Oxytocin, the hormone released during bonding, childbirth, and intimacy, can trigger heart muscle regeneration after injury. Published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, this groundbreaking research demonstrates that oxytocin stimulates the migration of stem cells in the heart’s outer layer, enabling them to develop into…

Heart Health Breakthrough: Newly Discovered Enzyme Could Be the Key to Lowering Cholesterol Naturally
|

Heart Health Breakthrough: Newly Discovered Enzyme Could Be the Key to Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

When we talk about cholesterol and heart disease, we often point the finger at diet, genetics, and lifestyle. But a newly identified culprit may have been hiding in plain sight: an enzyme called IDO1. According to a groundbreaking study from the University of Texas at Arlington, this enzyme doesn’t just show up during inflammation—it actively…

Owning a Cat Could Help You Avoid a Heart Attack, According to Research
| | | |

Owning a Cat Could Help You Avoid a Heart Attack, According to Research

Scientists have discovered an unexpected guardian angel living in millions of homes across America, silently protecting human hearts in ways that would surprise even the most devoted pet lovers. While medical researchers typically focus on diet, exercise, and medications for cardiovascular protection, groundbreaking findings suggest something far simpler might be providing life-saving benefits.  A decade-long…

Heart Attack and Stroke Rates Fell After COVID Vaccination: What the Data Shows
| | |

Heart Attack and Stroke Rates Fell After COVID Vaccination: What the Data Shows

What if the shot you took to protect your lungs also ended up protecting your heart? For years, COVID-19 vaccines have been under the microscope—praised, politicized, and scrutinized from every angle. While debates raged on about side effects and mandates, something quieter but far more consequential was happening in the background: heart attacks and strokes…

No Wires, No Surgery: Tiny Rice-Sized Pacemaker Melts Away After Healing Your Heart
|

No Wires, No Surgery: Tiny Rice-Sized Pacemaker Melts Away After Healing Your Heart

What if healing a heart didn’t leave a scar? No wires, no incisions, no machines taped to your chest. Just support when you need it, and nothing left behind when you don’t. That’s not a futuristic fantasy. It’s the reality behind a pacemaker smaller than a grain of rice, recently unveiled by scientists at Northwestern…

How Moderate Coffee and Caffeine Consumption Can Lower Cardiometabolic Disease Risks
| |

How Moderate Coffee and Caffeine Consumption Can Lower Cardiometabolic Disease Risks

In recent research, moderate coffee and caffeine consumption have been linked to a lower risk of developing various cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. This emerging evidence suggests that incorporating coffee into our daily routine might offer significant protective benefits for our cardiometabolic health.  The prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases…

Navigating Cholesterol Treatment: Should You Say Yes to Statins?
|

Navigating Cholesterol Treatment: Should You Say Yes to Statins?

Navigating the world of cholesterol management can often lead to a discussion about statins—a common and effective treatment prescribed by doctors to combat high cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. However, the conversation about statins doesn’t stop at their benefits. Like any medication, statins come with potential side effects and concerns that might…

New Study Reveals Intermittent Fasting May Increase Risk of Heart Disease Mortality
| | | |

New Study Reveals Intermittent Fasting May Increase Risk of Heart Disease Mortality

Intermittent fasting (IF) has surged in popularity as a seemingly simple yet effective method for weight loss and health enhancement. By cycling between periods of eating and fasting, often with popular methods like the 16:8 regimen, this dietary strategy promises significant health benefits without the complexity of calorie counting.  However, recent research casts a shadow…

Beware the Kissing Bug: Heart Failure Risk Increases with New Sightings in NJ
| |

Beware the Kissing Bug: Heart Failure Risk Increases with New Sightings in NJ

Despite its endearing name, the “kissing bug” is far from a creature you’d want to encounter. Contrary to what the name might suggest, this bug isn’t as innocuous as a ladybug or as gentle as a butterfly. In reality, the kissing bug is a serious threat to public health, known for spreading Chagas disease —…