Heart Health : 481 Articles

Many of the risk factors for heart disease are modifiable, meaning you have some control over them and can take steps to help prevent heart disease. See this section for the latest research, tips and things you can do today to help keep your heart healthy.

Fruits, veggies guard against heart disease, not cancer

Consuming a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables seems to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes, but not cancer, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer…

Coffee tied to inflammation, perhaps heart disease

Consuming moderate-to-high amounts of coffee is associated with increased levels of several inflammatory markers, a finding that could help explain previous reports linking the beverage to…

High folate intake lowers blood pressure

Upping the daily intake of the B vitamin folate has been widely promoted in recent years to reduce women's risk of having a baby with spina bifida, but it also seems to have another…

Low fitness may outweigh obesity as risk for heart disease

Staying fit may be more important than staying trim for a woman's risk of heart disease - but the opposite appears true when it comes to diabetes, according to two studies released this…

Healthy diet plus reduced salt lowers blood pressure

A new report provides more evidence that a low-fat diet full of fruits and vegetables, but little salt, can lead to a significant drop in blood pressure. The findings underscore the role that…

Antioxidants don't protect heart of male smokers

Neither vitamin E nor beta-carotene supplements protect male smokers against heart disease. In fact, the antioxidants may actually be harmful, cardiologists report in the European Heart…

Get antioxidants from food, not pills

Despite some reports that antioxidant vitamins offer heart benefits, a panel of experts at the American Heart Association (AHA) has concluded that there is too little evidence to recommend…

Vitamin E doesn't prevent heart attack, stroke

Findings from a new study suggest that vitamin E is not useful in preventing heart attack or stroke. The findings, which appear in the Archives of Internal Medicine, are based on an analysis…

Low-carb diet can improve blood fats

A carbohydrate-restricted diet may be more effective than one emphasizing reduced fat intake in modestly improving triglyceride and HDL (good)cholesterol levels, according to reports in the…

Fast food breakfast may inflame blood vessels

Downing a big fast-food breakfast may spur a temporary but large inflammatory response in the blood vessels, a small study suggests. Researchers say that while an occasional indulgence in such…

Low-fat diet may not be best for heart

A relatively high amount of fat in the diet may help keep a person's cholesterol levels in check, a small study suggests. And limiting fat intake too much could have the opposite effect.…

Blood pressure higher in caffeine-drinking teens

Teens who habitually drink lots of caffeine 1 mainly from soft drinks 1 tend to have higher blood pressure than other teens, researchers from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta report.…

Summer brings lower cholesterol levels

Blood cholesterol levels peak during autumn and winter but decline in spring and summer, perhaps because warm weather and more activity add volume to the blood, say researchers from the…

Packages of walnuts can carry health claim (U.S.)

There is limited evidence that walnuts can reduce the risk of heart disease - but there is enough information for food companies to say so on their packages, U.S. regulators said this month.…

"Designer" orange juice may lower cholesterol

People with mildly high cholesterol may be able to drink their way to lower levels, if research findings on a souped-up brand of orange juice are correct. Researchers from the University of…

Fibre from fruit and cereal protects the heart

All forms of fibre may not offer equal protection from heart disease, new research released this week suggests. Investigators from the Harvard School of Public Health found that only dietary…

"Moderate fat" may be better than "low fat" for heart

A low-fat diet can help dieters lose weight, but a moderate-fat diet that contains plenty of healthy, plant-based fats may be a better choice for boosting cardiovascular health while shedding…

Moderate salt diet won't affect cholesterol levels

The amount of salt in your diet, within a moderate range, doesn't seem to have any effect on cholesterol levels. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland gave…

Folate reduces stroke risk in men

Men who consume relatively large amounts of the B vitamin called folic acid (folate), are at significantly lower risk of the most common type of stroke, new research from Northwestern…

Reusing cooking oil raises blood pressure

Experts say that different types of cooking oils are better for you than others, and a new study suggests that the number of times you reuse cooking oils can also affect your health. Spanish…