What's Your Heart Disease Risk? Ask Mom |
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You may already know that your risk for some diseases goes up if a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, or child) has had the condition. We know, for example, that your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) goes up significantly if a first-degree male relative developed it before age 55 or a first-degree female relative developed it before age 65. This is known as premature or early coronary heart disease. I had considered early CHD in either parent as having the same risk, but several recent studies report that premature CHD is a greater risk when it occurs in a mother than in a father. For example, in a study from Sweden the risk of developing CHD was raised by 55 percent...more |
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Steroids Could Harm Heart's Pumping Ability |
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Long-term use of anabolic steroids weakens the heart more than had been thought, a new study of weight lifters shows.
The study provides what might be the first clear evidence that these muscle-building drugs, used widely by bodybuilders and athletes, can damage heart function, said Dr. Aaron L. Baggish, an assistant in medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and lead author of a report on the study published online April 27 in Circulation: Heart Failure. "There have been mixed assumptions but very little direct scientific study of what happens to the heart when...more |
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Heart Failure: Exercise for a Healthy Heart |
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A sedentary (inactive) lifestyle is one of the top risk factors for heart disease. Fortunately, it's a risk factor that you can do something about. Regular exercise, especially aerobic exercise, has many benefits. It can:
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Keeping Your Heart Healthy |
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There's lots you can do to keep your heart healthy - whatever your age. Taking enough exercise, eating a healthy diet, encouraging children to be heart healthy and being aware of dangers such as smoking, drinking, high blood pressure and stress. Prevention is better than cure, and by making small changes to your lifestyle you can reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease. Even if you’ve had a heart attack, or been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, you can help your heart to stay healthy and reduce your risk of further problems. Learn more about blood pressure, cholesterol and how reducing your weight and quitting smoking could save...more |
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What Is a Heart Attack? |
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A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die. Heart attack is a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. But fortunately, today there are excellent treatments for heart attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. If you think you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack, call 9–1–1 right away. OverviewHeart...more |
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Heart disease Prevention |
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Certain types of heart disease, such as heart defects, can't be prevented. However, you can help prevent many other types of heart disease by making the same lifestyle changes that can improve your heart disease, such as by:
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12 Possible Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore |
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Don't miss these 12 possible warning signs that something is amiss with your heart.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of U.S. men and women, accounting for 40% of all U.S. deaths. That's more than all forms of cancer combined. Why is heart disease so deadly? One reason is that many people are slow to seek help when symptoms arise. Yes, someone gripped by sudden chest pain probably knows to call 911. But heart symptoms aren't always intense or obvious, and they vary from person to person and according to gender. Because it can be hard to make sense of heart symptoms, doctors warn against ignoring possible...more |
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Living With Heart Failure |
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By making lifestyle changes, you can take an active role in treating your heart failure while maintaining a productive life. This article addresses many lifestyle questions you may have and offers tips that should make performing daily activities easier. When Can I Return to Regular Activities?You can resume your regular activities as soon as you feel better, but follow your doctor's guidelines. Increase your activities slowly and always listen to your body so you know when it's time to take a rest break. When Can I Return to Work?If you have been in the hospital for your heart failure, your doctor will tell you how soon you can return to work after...more |
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Women and Heart Disease |
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The risk of heart disease in women increases with age. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40 years old, especially after menopause. Every year, more than 400,000 U.S. women die of heart disease. This translates to approximately one death every minute. Why Does a Woman's Risk of Heart Disease Rise With Age?Menopause is a normal stage in a woman's life; it comprises any of the changes a woman experiences either before or after she stops menstruating. As menopause nears, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen (a female hormone), causing changes in the menstrual cycle and other physical changes. The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes,...more |
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Smoking and Heart Disease |
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Most people associate cigarette smoking with breathing problems and lung cancer. But did you know that smoking is also a major cause of heart disease for men and women? About 20% of all deaths from heart disease in the U.S. are directly related to cigarette smoking. That's because smoking is a major cause of coronary artery disease. A person's risk of heart disease and heart attack greatly increases with the number of cigarettes he or she smokes. Smokers continue to increase their risk of heart attack the longer they smoke. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than nonsmokers. Women who smoke and also take birth control pills...more |
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Heart Failure |
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What is heart failure?Heart failure means your heart muscle does not pump as much blood as your body needs. Failure does not mean that your heart has stopped. It means that your heart is not pumping as well as it should. Because your heart cannot pump well, your body tries to make up for it. To do this:
Your body has an amazing ability to make up for heart failure. It may do such a good job that you don't know you have a disease. But at some point, your body...more |
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Glossary Terms for Heart Disease |
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Whether you're newly diagnosed with heart disease or have been living with the problem for some time, the array of medical terms associated with this disease can be daunting. Here is the list of terms associated with this disease.* ablation * aneurysm * angioplasty * antiarrhythmic * antihypertensive * aortic insufficiency * aortic valve * arrhythmia * atrial fibrillation * atrial flutter * beta-blocker * bradycardia * bundle-branch block * calcium channel blocker * cardiac arrest * cardiac output * cardiomyopathy * cardioversion * catheter * cholesterol |
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