The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Heart Attack
Brewing Heart Health: Caffeine from Coffee and Tea Reduces Risks
Can you sip your way to a healthier heart? Can caffeine from coffee and tea reduce your risk for heart attacks, strokes and type 2 diabetes?
Mediterranean Diet Saves Lives
A Mediterranean diet with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts cut deaths from heart attacks or strokes. Children also benefit from this diet.
Why Haven’t Statins Stopped Heart Disease?
Over 50 million Americans swallow statins daily, but heart disease remains our #1 killer. Why haven't statins stopped most heart attacks?
Drugs That Are More Dangerous in Hot Weather
Can beta blockers and anti-platelet drugs like aspirin raise a risk for heart attacks in the heat? Are statins more dangerous in hot weather?
Low LDL Cholesterol Linked to Bleeding Strokes
Could "bad" cholesterol serve a function in the body? A meta-analysis finds low LDL cholesterol may increase the risk for bleeding strokes.
Sauna Bathing and Its Health Benefits
Regular sauna bathing lowers blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. It may also help prevent lung disease and dementia. Exercise plus sauna is synergistic.
Does Chocolate Really Help Your Heart?
A Danish study found that people who eat chocolate are less likely to have atrial fibrillation. Does chocolate really help prevent Afib?
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners a Healthy Choice?
Non-sugar sweeteners may not offer the expected health benefits. In fact, sugar substitutes may increase inflammation or blood clotting.
How to Stay Healthy with a Mediterranean Diet
Following a Mediterranean diet with lots of veggies, fruit and fish can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer.
Best Way to Take Aspirin for a Heart Attack
For quick emergency absorption in case of a suspected heart attack drink soluble aspirin or chew the aspirin tablet followed by water.
Which Diuretic is Best for Hypertension? HCTZ or Chlorthalidone?
Diuretics such as HCTZ or chlorthalidone are frequently prescribed for high blood pressure. Which drug performed better after heart attacks?
Overdosing on Vegetable Oil Could Be Deadly
Studies demonstrate that people consuming more vegetable oil rich in omega 6 fats are more likely to die prematurely.
Will Boosting Your Step Count Save Your Life?
A study of American adults shows that people who manage a step count of at least 8,000 a day have a lower chance of dying in the next decade.
Why Would the FDA Approve Ineffective Drugs?
Many doctors believe that FDA's standards for approving new drugs are very high. How come there are many ineffective drugs on the market?
Should You Restrict the Number of Eggs You Eat?
If you have been told to restrict the number of eggs you eat, you may want to check again. It may be safe to consume an egg a day.
If You Are on Medicare & Overweight You May be Eligible for Wegovy
Medicare Part D will now pay for Wegovy (semaglutide) to help millions of overweight people reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Sitting Sabotages Good Health
People who spend much of their day sitting put themselves in harm's way with cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
How Helpful Are Beta Blockers After Heart Attacks?
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine throws shade on beta blockers after heart attacks. Read about the pros and cons of such drugs.
How Does Red Yeast Rice Compare to Statins?
Red yeast rice (aka RYR) is a very popular dietary supplement. How does it compare to simvastatin? What about RYR side effects? Is RYR safer than statins?
The Never-Ending Egg Dispute Continues
The egg dispute goes on and on in the pages of medical journals. How risky is it to eat an egg or two for breakfast?
Will Vitamin Supplements Prevent Heart Problems?
A recent study was wrongly interpreted to mean food should not be fortified with B vitamins, especially niacin.
FDA Approves Heart Benefits for Wegovy Weight Loss Drug
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) is one of the hottest drugs in the world because of weight loss. What about the heart benefits for Wegovy?
Daily Exercise Boosts Lifespan
Daily exercise including muscle strengthening and aerobic activity reduces the risk of premature death from a wide range of conditions.
Are Full-Fat Milk and Cheese Really Risky?
Studies do not show that people who consume full-fat milk and cheese have higher cholesterol or die younger from heart disease.
Is Lp(a) the Best Kept Secret in Heart Disease?
Doctors rarely test for Lp(a), but 1 out of 5 people have high levels. Statins raise Lp(a) but a low-carb diet lowers this key risk factor.
Mediterranean Diet vs Metabolic Syndrome
The Mediterranean diet is not the only one that can reduce the likelihood of metabolic syndrome. The Atlantic diet can, too.
What Should You Eat for a Healthy Heart?
When you choose what to eat for a healthy heart, pick vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and avoid highly processed fried foods and sugar.
Can Stopping Aspirin or Eliquis Suddenly Lead to Deadly Blood Clots?
Is aspirin a wonder drug or has it been overhyped? Does stopping aspirin suddenly increase the risk for blood clots? What about Eliquis?
You Have Likely Been the Victim of Diagnostic Mistakes
Diagnostic mistakes are common, often leading to permanent disability and death. A study says nearly 1 out of 5 patients are misdiagnosed.
Why Didn’t Statins Protect Dad from Clogged Coronary Arteries?
Doctors believe statins prevent clogged coronary arteries. How good are statins at preventing heart attacks? What about a healthy diet?
Healthy Eating Can Help Prevent Heart Disease
Adopting a healthy eating pattern over the years reduces your chance of a heart attack or stroke by about 20 percent.
Should Everyone Over 65 Take a Statin to Prevent a Heart Attack?
A new study suggests that not enough people are taking a statin to prevent a heart attack! It should be 150 million Americans. Really? Yikes!
Is Cooked Oatmeal Better for You Than Instant Oatmeal?
Instant oatmeal raises blood sugar more quickly than cooked oatmeal. As a result, people eating it may get hungry sooner.
Show 1365: Revealing the Secrets of Sudden Cardiac Death
What causes sudden cardiac death? What can be done to prevent it? Our guest, Dr. Zian Tseng, is an expert on this mysterious disorder.
Why You Should Eat the Mediterranean Way
People who eat the Mediterranean way are less likely to die prematurely, have heart attacks or develop diabetes. Vegetables, fish and olive oil are good for you.
Wegovy or Ozempic: Semaglutide to Prevent Heart Attacks?
One of the hottest drugs in the world now is semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic). Get the skinny on semaglutide to prevent heart attacks.
Does Loneliness Raise Your Risk for Parkinson Disease?
A multi-year study of nearly 500,000 individuals shows that loneliness increases the risk of Parkinson disease significantly.
Is Vazalore Safer for the Stomach Than Regular Aspirin?
If enteric-coated aspirin doesn't protect your digestive tract from adverse reactions, what about Vazalore? Will it protect your GI tract?
FDA Review of Ancient Drug (Colchicine) Spikes Price
Inflammation is more important in heart disease than people realize. Could colchicine, a VERY old drug, prevent heart attacks and strokes?
Do Statins Save Lives? Doctors Don’t Agree!
How good are statins for preventing heart attacks in primary prevention? More important, do statins save lives? Read surprising new results.
Is Aspirin a Miracle or a Menace?
Aspirin, and its kissing cousin salsalate, can lower blood sugar as well as ease inflammation. Is aspirin a miracle or a menace? New data!
Will Fish Oil Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease?
British data suggest that fish oil reduces your risk of heart disease modestly. These supplements have other health benefits as well.
Home Remedies or Drugs? A Surprising Smackdown!
Health care is as divided and polarized as politics. For many people it's herbs and home remedies or drugs. Why not both...when appropriate?
How to Help Your Heart with a Mediterranean-Style Diet
Following a Mediterranean-style diet with lots of vegetables, fruit and fish can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke or death.
Show 1353: Cutting Edge Cardiology from a Top Heart Doctor
In this episode, learn about cutting edge cardiology and drugs in addition to statins that can lower your chances of a heart attack.
Is Aspirin Underutilized for Preventing Second Heart Attacks?
Guidelines recommend regular aspirin use to prevent second heart attacks. In the poorest countries, though, this cheap drug is underutilized.
Alcohol for Longer Life? How Much Is Enough and How Much Is Too Much?
Is alcohol for longer life real or a myth? How many drinks count as moderate alcohol consumption? Does stress reduction increase longevity?
Has the Flip-Flop on Saturated Fat Made Your Head Spin?
Cholesterol and saturated fat are bad for your heart, right? How do you handle the flip-flop on saturated fat and dietary cholesterol?
What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee and Chocolate?
Learn about the health benefits of coffee and chocolate as well as tea. You don't have to feel guilty about your beverage!
Amazing Benefits from Half a Tablespoon of Olive Oil
The evidence keeps accumulating that as little as half a tablespoon of olive oil a day can have huge health benefits. Are you getting enough?
Nexletol Side Effects vs. Statin Side Effects? Which Wins?
Some people cannot stand statins. A recent research report puts the numbers between 7-29 percent. How do Nexletol side effects compare?
Researchers Wonder If Alcohol or Wine Is Good for Your Heart
Are you confused about alcoholic beverages? There is contradictory advice. A meta-analysis of 25 studies suggests wine is good for the heart.
How Do You Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Aspirin?
Before starting a daily regimen, carefully consider the benefits and risks of aspirin. Will you be helped or harmed by this amazing drug?
The Cardiac Effects of COVID-19 Are Really Scary!
Most people think of the coronavirus as a respiratory illness, but the cardiac effects of COVID-19 are also very worrisome.
Dog Owners Get Survival Benefit
A Swedish study demonstrates that dog owners are less likely to die soon after a heart attack or a stroke. A meta-analysis reinforces that conclusion.
Study of Vitamin D Supplements Results in Disappointment
A study of vitamin D supplements demonstrated that these pills do not protect people from heart disease or cancer.
Does CRP Inflammation Trump LDL-C for Heart Disease?
How does LDL cholesterol compare to CRP inflammation when it comes to predicting heart attacks in high-risk patients? New data are intriguing!
How to Improve Cholesterol and Triglycerides with Krill Oil
Taking omega-3 fats from krill oil helped a reader reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure and stabilize an irregular heartbeat.
Statins and Muscle Pain: What Else Can He Do To Lower LDL?
Many physicians are adamant that statins rarely cause any side effects. And yet readers continue to report a connection between statins and muscle pain.
Do Nutrition Scientists Have a Bias Against Ice Cream?
In studies, people who eat ice cream are less prone to type 2 diabetes, but you haven't heard this. Is there a bias against ice cream?
Show 1307: Cocoa Compounds and the COSMOS Trial (Archive)
A rigorously conducted, multi-year experiment with cocoa compounds vs placebo showed that they may reduce cardiovascular mortality.
How Well Do CAC Scores Predict Heart Attack Risk?
MDs use coronary artery calcification, CAC scores, to determine heart disease risk. Does the CAC predict heart attacks? Do statins raise CAC?
Is It Unhealthy to Drink Unfiltered Coffee?
Unfiltered coffee prepared by boiling or French press methods can raise cholesterol. Filtered coffee has numerous health benefits.
Will Nexletol (Bempedoic Acid) Replace Statins?
Is the cholesterol-lowering drug Nexletol (bempedoic acid) a breakthrough vs cholesterol? What are the side effects? Will it replace statins?
Does Insomnia Raise Your Risk for Heart Trouble?
Researchers seeking to discover could insomnia raise your risk for problems found an association with atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
Dairy Fat and Olive Oil Are Friends, Not Foes
Do you avoid saturated fat? The AHA tells you to shun dairy fat! Olive oil contains 14% sat-fat. Why are dairy fat and olive oil good for you?
Is Coffee Really Bad for You?
Studies show that coffee drinkers are less likely to get heart failure or die of heart disease. Unfiltered coffee, though, is bad for you.
Show 1325: Recognizing the Ravages of Silent Inflammation
Silent inflammation lies at the root of many chronic conditions. In the interview, learn how to identify and avoid it.
Walnuts are Good for Heart Health!
Many physicians prescribe drugs to lower LDL cholesterol and inflammation. Walnuts are also good at lowering cholesterol and inflammation.
CoQ10 Has Heart Benefits
Readers' reports that the dietary supplement CoQ10 has heart benefits are supported by scientific studies.
Science Supports Supplements for Heart Health
There is a concerted effort to prove dietary supplements for heart health are worthless. What does the science actually reveal? Dig deeper!
Are You Wasting Money On Supplements Against Heart Disease?
A new study suggests that Americans are wasting money on supplements to fight heart disease. How compelling are the data? Get the inside scoop
Will Adequate Magnesium Keep Your Heart Healthy?
A long-term study of atherosclerosis revealed that adequate magnesium is critical for good heart health. A supplement could help.
What Are the Health Benefits of Cocoa Flavanols?
Our underwriter, CocoaVia, offers a 15% discount with the coupon PEOPLES15. Take advantage of it today.
Could Step Counters Help Us Ward Off Dementia?
In studies that coupled step counters with coaching by health professionals, volunteers increased their physical activity.
People with Heart Failure Suffer on Low Sodium Diet
Studies suggest that heart failure patients following a low sodium diet are more likely to die or be hospitalized than those on regular fare.
Gout Attacks Increase the Risk for Heart Attacks and Strokes
Gout attacks can be excruciatingly painful. Researchers suggest that gout flares raise the risk for heart attacks and strokes after an attack.
Is It Really Risky to Eat Red Meat?
An analysis of six studies suggests that if you eat red meat you may run a higher risk of heart problems. Are gut microbes responsible?
Is Napping Good for Your Health or Bad for Your Health?
Are you a snoozer? Do you worry about the health consequences of napping during the day? Worry no more. The latest research suggests it may be good for you.
The Salt Wars Rage On | How Do You Cope with the Low-Salt Confusion?
The FDA wants food companies to cut back on salt. AHA guidelines are much stricter. Are the low-salt targets practical? Are they healthy?
Show 1306: The Best-Kept Secret in Heart Disease
In our Saturday broadcast, Dr. Tsimikas explains why lipoprotein a is the best-kept secret in heart disease. What can we do about Lp(a)?
Are Calcium Pills Hardening Your Heart Arteries?
Millions of women routinely pop calcium pills to build strong bones. Instead, they may be creating calcified coronary arteries. What to do?
How Not to Die of a Heart Attack
Even with low cholesterol, you still could die of a heart attack; learn what risk factors are relevant for you and bring them under control.
Show 1300: How Vitamin D and Omega-3s Help Your Health
In this week's interview, a high-powered study called VITAL revealed that vitamin D and omega-3s can reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases.
Will You Live Longer If You Sip Green Tea?
A large study in China monitored people's tea-drinking habits and their health. Those who sip green tea several times a week seem to live longer.
Should You Take Aspirin for your Heart? Does Your Doctor Know for Sure?
Is it worthwhile to take aspirin for your heart? The experts weigh in with new recommendations. How will you make the right decision?
Show 1249: How Near Death Experiences Transform People’s Lives (Archive)
People who report near death experiences often find that their lives have changed permanently, with new values and no fear of death.
Why Grandma Was Right About Vegetables
People who consume the most vegetables, apples, tea and cocoa tend to have lower blood pressure and less atherosclerosis.
How to Boost Your Cardiovascular Health with Cocoa Compounds
Cocoa compounds can increase blood vessel flexibility and help them relax. That lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health.
What Is the Best Diet to Lower Cholesterol?
If you focus on vegetables, fruits and whole grains and avoid processed foods, you're on a good diet to lower cholesterol.
What Is the Evidence That Cocoa Flavanols Improve Health?
The COSMOS trial and other studies lead to the conclusion that cocoa flavanols improve health.
Active Seniors Have Fewer Heart Attacks and Strokes
Staying active, even by simply walking farther or faster, helps older adults avoid heart attacks and strokes.
Will Certo and Grape Juice Help Your Sore Knees?
Drinking a concoction of the liquid pectin Certo and grape juice appears to ease knee, shoulder or hip pain for many people. Will it help you?
How Dangerous Is It to Stop Taking Aspirin?
The US Preventive Services Task Force says millions of people should stop taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack. Better be careful!
Just How Scary Is Saturated Fat?
Is your doctor's nutrition advice outmoded? Many physicians still warn against saturated fat, though they need a more nuanced message.
Intermittent Fasting for Better Heart Health
People who practice intermittent fasting even once a month have better heart health. They are less likely to develop heart failure or die prematurely.
What Is the Best Time to Go to Sleep?
A big study in the UK found that people who go to sleep between 10 and 11 pm have the lowest likelihood of cardiovascular problems.
If Statins Cause Diabetes, Why Should ALL Diabetics Take a Statin?
Evidence from many studies indicates that statins cause diabetes. People who are at risk for this metabolic disorder should be wary.
What Is the Story on Nuts and Health?
Scientists suspect there is a connection between nuts and health. Many studies show nut eaters have less heart disease, strokes or cancer.
OTC Statins? Crestor or Lipitor Without an Rx?
Many cardiologists think that more people should be taking statins to lower cholesterol. Should OTC statins like Crestor get FDA approval?
Do You Really Have High Blood Pressure?
People who have high blood pressure in the doctor's office may need to confirm that it is sustained throughout the day with home blood pressure measurement.
Which Is Better for Blood Lipids–Low-Carb or Low-Fat?
A randomized controlled trial found that people have better blood fat profiles and less insulin resistance on a low-carb diet.
How to Make Your Blood Fats Healthier
Regular exercise and a Mediterranean-style diet can change blood fats so that they are less likely to increase the risk for heart disease.
Will Prescription EPA Prevent Heart Attacks?
Researchers report that a prescription EPA (purified omega-3 fat from fish oil) can reduce the risk of heart attacks, but not the chance of dying.
Getting Systolic Blood Pressure Under 130 Makes a Difference
Studies demonstrate that lowering systolic blood pressure under 130 mm mercury can reduce cardiovascular complications.
You Are What You Eat: Is Your Diet Killing You?
To sidestep a diet killing you, eat your vegetables and fruits, choose fish instead of processed meats and shun sugar-sweetened beverages.
Is Inexpensive Food Undermining Public Health?
Agricultural subsidies of crops like wheat and corn make processed foods affordable, but they may be undermining public health.
Why Should You Eat Colorful Veggies?
People who consume a flavonoid-rich diet full of colorful veggies and berries are less likely to die prematurely of heart disease or cancer.
Are Pecans Good for Your Heart?
Nuts, including pecans, can be a healthful addition to the diet. People who eat a few handfuls a week have lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
Is There a Link Between Statin Drugs and Gingivitis?
No one knows if statin drugs to lower cholesterol increase the likelihood of inflamed gums and gingivitis. Dentists must study this.
Bicycle Your Way to Avoid Heart Disease
In Denmark, middle-aged people who travel by bicycle are less likely to have heart attacks. People with diabetes live longer if they cycle.
Will Your Eyedrops Affect Your Heart Rate?
Beta blocker eyedrops like timolol for glaucoma can also lower heart rate and blood pressure. Patients may not be warned of interactions.
How to Choose Whole Grains for a Longer Life
Analyses of many long-term studies shows that eating whole grains for a longer life works best when people get at least three servings a day.
Tai Chi Can Help Control Waist Size
Practicing tai chi can help reduce the waistline, control body weight and raise good HDL cholesterol. It also helps improve balance and sleep.
Do People Who Eat Nuts Live Longer?
A study of older Americans show that people who eat nuts live longer. However, peanut butter eaters get no advantage.
What Is the Best Breakfast to Lower Cholesterol?
One reader discovered that adding walnuts, blueberries, flaxseed and cinnamon made Cheerios the best breakfast to lower cholesterol.
Can You Use Dark Cocoa to Overcome Constipation?
One reader found that drinking dark cocoa eased post-operative constipation. Scientists agree that cocoa compounds can improve bowel habits.
Show 1243: Why We Fall for Medical Myths
Some shreds of truth lend medical myths credibility, and couching them in stories helps make them memorable. How can we tell what to trust?
Show 1242: How the Dental Diet Can Lead to Better Health
The dental diet based on whole foods can improve health not only in the mouth but throughout the entire body. What does it include?
Is a Green Mediterranean Diet Healthy for Your Heart?
A green Mediterranean diet relying on plant protein instead of meat or fish lowers LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin resistance.
Show 1234: How Microbes Evolve to Become Enemies or Allies
Dr. Paul Ewald describes how microbes evolve and interact with our immune systems to become more or less virulent.
Can Good HDL Cholesterol Go Too High?
We have been told to get our LDL cholesterol down and our HDL choleserol up. Is there evidence that good HDL is bad if it gets too high?
Show 1232: What Should People Do to Protect Their Hearts?
People can use sensible approaches to protect their hearts, such as a Mediterranean diet and exercise. What risk factors matter?
Big Pharma’s Secret Strategy to Fool You
Do you have any idea how effective your medicine really is? Drug companies have a secret strategy: misleading drug stats can confuse doctors.
Will Olive Oil Raise Your Good HDL Cholesterol?
Using virgin olive oil in your diet can increase your good HDL cholesterol and possibly lower your risk of heart problems.
Colchicine from Crocus Helps Protect Heart
Low doses of an old gout medicine, colchicine from crocus, reduces inflammation and helps people with chronic heart disease.
Could Your Smartwatch Diagnose a Heart Problem?
A watch that can record ECG tracings from different parts of the body provides enough information for a specialist to spot a heart problem.
Why Doesn’t Lowering LDL Cholesterol Save More Lives?
Many health care providers believe that lowering LDL cholesterol with drugs will prevent heart attacks and prolong life. What about the data?
Avoiding Hospitals If You Have Chest Pain Is Deadly!
Have you postponed medical care during the pandemic? A Kaiser survey suggests that 48% have. If you experience chest pain, get to the ER immediately!
Can You Change Your Microbiota With Diet?
A gold-standard randomized controlled trial of diet found it is very difficult to change your microbiota long-term.
Why Healthy People Shouldn’t Take Aspirin for Their Hearts
People who take aspirin are less likely to have blood clots that cause heart attacks or strokes. On the other hand, they are more prone to severe bleeding.
Show 1213: How Does COVID-19 Affect Your Heart?
Learn how COVID-19 affects your heart and what you should do to keep your heart as healthy as possible during the pandemic and afterwards.
Do Soy Products Protect the Heart?
An enormous study of health care professionals finds that tofu but not most other common soy products protect the heart. Premenopausal women benefit most.
Up to an Egg a Day Is Fine, Scientists Say
Another study–one with 5.5 million person-years of data–shows that eating an egg a day won't increase your chance of a heart attack.
Does Cooking With Olive Oil Ruin Its Health Benefits?
Scientists have found that cooking with olive oil reduces its polyphenol content. There is still plenty to spare, though, making olive oil heart-healthy.
Show 1200: Making Sense of Changing Nutritional Guidelines
Is fish oil helpful or useless? Does eating red meat make any difference for heart health? Can you keep up with changing nutritional guidelines?
Can You Reduce the Deadly Impact of Bereavement?
Australian scientists have found two inexpensive drugs can lower the risk of heart problems early in bereavement, although nothing eases the pain of grief.
Avoiding Insecticides That Could Harm the Heart
Pyrethroid pesticides may increase cardiovascular risk, although these compounds work to repel ticks. People want help on avoiding insecticides.
Are Insecticides Bad for Your Heart?
Greater exposure to pyrethroid insecticides was linked to higher mortality from heart disease in a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Should You Take Aspirin or Shun the Wonder Drug?
It's surprising to learn that even after a century aspirin remains highly controversial. Should people take aspirin to prevent heart attacks and cancer?
Will Chile Peppers Extend Your Life? Hot Peppers vs. Heart Disease!
People all over the world love hot peppers. New research suggests that chile peppers can help you live longer and reduce the risk of a heart attack.
Beware Routine Stents or Bypass Surgery for Stable Heart Disease
Heart patients have been told for years that stents or bypass surgery prevent heart attacks and prolong life. A $100 million study contradicts that belief.
Will Taking Fish Oil Protect You from Heart Disease?
New data suggests that taking fish oil can protect people from heart attacks, heart failure, stroke and premature death without boosting prostate cancer.
Who Benefits by Taking Repatha for High Cholesterol?
A reader wonders whether the benefits of Repatha for high cholesterol outweigh the risks. This is a decision that should be made on an individual basis.
Show 1187: Are Supplements Really a Waste of Time?
Many people take supplements. A major review last summer concluded, though, that they are a waste of time for heart disease. Is that really true?
Could Pomegranate Juice React Badly with Crestor?
You might worry about whether pomegranate juice will react badly with your medication, but it should not create problems with rosuvastatin (Crestor).
Show 1186: What Happens When Doctors Make Diagnostic Errors?
No one knows quite how many diagnostic errors doctors make each year, but the number is high. Some have serious or deadly consequences.
Will Eating Seaweed Protect Your Heart?
Epidemiologists in Japan have found that eating seaweed reduces the risk of heart disease.
Can Men Get an Extra Benefit from a Statin?
While doctors argue about how well a statin prevents heart disease in healthy people, researchers have found an unexpected benefit from a statin for men.
Flip Flops on Fish Oil: Omega 3 Fats Now Have Heart Benefits
Studies of supplements rich in omega 3 fats have reached conflicting conclusions. The latest analysis concludes that they reduce the risk of heart disease.
Is Meat OK to Eat Now? Do Food Flip-Flops Make You Mad?
Public health experts have told us for decades that red meat causes heart attacks and cancer. But new studies question that dogma. Is meat OK after all?
Fish Oil for the Heart? Is It Good After All?
Fish oil for the heart has been on a roller coaster. It has been good for the heart, ineffective for the heart and now, once again, very good for the heart!
Are Optimists Protected from Heart Attacks?
A meta-analysis of 15 studies finds that optimists are less likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes. They are also less likely to die prematurely.
Show 1182: How You Can Use Exercise as Medicine
Doctors who use exercise as medicine offer personalized prescriptions for activity. This can be as powerful as medications for promoting health.
Does Green Tea Interact with Heart Drugs?
How does green tea interact with nadolol? Green tea compounds can lower blood levels of this heart drug, but does not seem to affect metoprolol.
Could Soft Drinks Be Killing You?
A large European study found that people who usually had two soft drinks a day were more likely to die prematurely than those who had less than one a month.
Is Your Diet Putting You at Risk for Heart Disease?
Vegetarians have a lower risk for heart disease than meat eaters. However, they have a slightly higher chance of suffering a stroke.
Is It Better to Get Protein from Plants or Animals?
People getting most of their protein from plants and consuming a healthful plant-based diet are more likely to live longer and less likely to get diabetes.
How Soon Do Smokers Benefit from Quitting?
A careful study shows that smokers benefit from quitting. It may be more than a decade, though, before their risk of heart attacks drops to normal.
For Seniors, More Blood Pressure Medication Is Not Better
Increasing blood pressure medication at hospital discharge might do more harm than good for older people without heart disease.
People Who Have Sex More Often Live Longer
Israeli heart attack survivors who said they had sex more often lived longer (and possibly happier) than those who had sex infrequently or not at all.
Are Diets and Supplements Useless for Your Heart?
An analysis of more than 200 trials concluded that diets and supplements won't protect you from heart attacks. But this conclusion might not apply to you.
Forget Vitamin D Supplements for Heart Disease
A meta-analysis in JAMA Cardiology shows no benefit from vitamin D supplements for heart disease. This is the latest in a series of such disappointments.
Show 1168: What Should You Know About Women’s Heart Health?
We often assume that women's heart health is the same as men's, but there are some subtle and significant differences. What should you know?
Is White Meat Better for Your Heart Than Red Meat?
Should you choose white meat such as chicken instead of red meat like beef or pork? To lower cholesterol, pick plant protein in a low sat fat diet.
Baby Aspirin for a Heart Attack
Long-standing advice to call the ambulance and then chew a baby aspirin for a heart attack is still good. Most people no longer should take aspirin daily.
Is Juice as Bad for Your Health as Soda?
Fruit juice seems like a healthful choice, but it is high in fructose. People who drink a lot of juice are at risk of premature death.
For Blocked Arteries, Is Surgery More Effective Than Stents?
A comparison of stents to CABG results shows that surgery is more effective than stents when people have more than one blocked coronary artery.
Eat Breakfast – Live Longer! Skip Breakfast – Die Faster
Does it matter whether you eat breakfast or run out the door on an empty stomach? A new study suggests that breakfast eaters have less heart disease. Why?
How Can You Overcome the Harms of Sitting Too Much?
How much time do you spend sitting on average? Chances are it's way too much and it's surprisingly bad for your health. How can you counteract the harm?
What Is the Story on Grapefruit Juice and Meds?
The story on grapefruit juice and medicines can be confusing. The interaction is fairly long-lasting, but only certain drugs interact with grapefruit.
Show 1160: How Good Is the Evidence for Cutting Salt?
Cutting salt from our diets has been dogma for many years. Yet there is not very much evidence to support the extreme efforts some people make.
Will Kiwifruit Raise Your Good HDL Cholesterol?
A reader found that eating two kiwifruit daily for many months raised beneficial HDL cholesterol into the desirable range.
What Is the Best Way to Store Extra-Virgin Olive Oil?
Extra-virgin olive oil boosts the power of HDL. To preserve its benefits, store it in dark glass, not plastic, away from light and heat.
Will Drinking Diet Soda Raise Your Risk of Stroke?
Data from the Women's Health Initiative suggests that heavy diet soda consumers are more likely to suffer strokes and heart attacks.
Do High Triglycerides Pose a Risk for Your Heart?
People with high triglycerides are more likely to develop heart disease. What can you do to lower this blood fat?
Show 1147: How Do You Control Your Cholesterol?
To prevent heart disease, you need to control your cholesterol. Do you do that with diet, supplements and exercise, or do you also take medication?
The Law of Unintended Consequences Strikes Hospital Patients
The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was supposed to save lives. But the law of unintended consequences struck. Why are patients dying faster?
Can Fish Oil Really Help Your Heart?
Fish oil supplements prevent fatal heart attacks, especially for people who don't eat much fish. However, they can also increase AFib.
Vitamin D Strikes Out Against Heart Attacks and Cancer
In the VITAL trial, vitamin D strikes out for preventing heart disease and cancer. Are such supplements completely useless?
Is Fish Oil to Prevent Heart Attacks a Dud?
The VITAL study looked at fish oil to prevent heart attacks. The results were mostly disappointing, but fewer people taking fish oil died of heart attacks.
Will Alirocumab Save You from a Heart Attack?
A new study shows that alirocumab added to statins can help some people at very high risk of a heart attack. How high is your risk?
Why You Can Die of a Broken Heart
People experiencing severe grief or depression because of bereavement have elevated levels of inflammation. This could contribute to broken heart syndrome.
Do People Who Eat Fish Grow Old More Healthfully?
A long-running study suggests that people who eat fish and shellfish regularly are less prone to chronic disease as they age.
Can You Stop Aspirin Suddenly Without Risking a Blood Clot?
Can you stop aspirin suddenly? That is probably a question most health professionals have not asked themselves. Researchers report that sudden discontinuation of aspirin can have serious consequences.
Will Statins Help or Harm 76-Year-Old Father?
Doctors have been uncertain whether statins help or harm their oldest patients. A big new study suggests that the benefit from statins fades with age.
Is Whole Fat Dairy (Milk, Cheese and Yogurt) Good for the Heart?
Do you buy low-fat or no-fat yogurt? Why? Do you like the taste or do you fear the saturated fat in whole fat dairy products? A new study says dairy products are good for the cardiovascular system.
Statins Fail to Help Healthy Older People
A study in older Spanish people found that statins fail to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people over 75 unless they have type 2 diabetes.
Was Aspirin to Blame for Leaky Heart Valve?
A leaky heart valve is a mechanical problem. Nonetheless, it makes sense to let your health care providers if you are taking aspirin or any other OTC drug on a regular basis.
The Dangers of Diclofenac and Other NSAID Pain Relievers
A Danish study reviews the dangers of diclofenac and finds that it can harm the heart and digestive tract. Are topical NSAIDs like Voltaren Gel any safer?
Aspirin Strikes Out for Preventing Heart Attacks
Aspirin can work for preventing heart attacks, but it can also cause excessive bleeding. People need to weigh the benefits and risks before taking it long-term.
Helping Your Heart Means Boosting Your Brain
A study of French senior citizens shows that if you do a good job of helping your heart with diet and exercise, you also dramatically lower your likelihood of dementia.
When Is High LDL Cholesterol a Problem?
A study of low-risk individuals that ran for more than a quarter of a century found that even in these people, high LDL cholesterol can shorten life expectancy.
Are High Carb Diets Better Than Low Carb Diets?
In a long-running cohort study, people getting about half their calories from carbohydrates had a better chance of long life than those eating either low carb or high carb diets.
Should You Stop Taking Aspirin Before a Biopsy?
Aspirin prevents clots but it also increases the chance of bleeding. So deciding whether to stop taking aspirin before a procedure is a tough call.
Does Work Email Bother You at Home?
Expecting employees to respond to work email 24/7 and on weekends and holidays increases job stress and its health risks.
Can an Antidepressant Help after a Cardiac Event?
Counteracting depression with an antidepressant medication after a cardiac event appears to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular complications later.
Rosuvastatin Linked to High Blood Sugar
A reader wonders whether rosuvastatin contributed to his new diabetes diagnosis. Statin drugs do lower cholesterol, but they can also raise blood sugar and make it more difficult to control.
Multivitamins No Help Against Heart Disease
a meta-analysis of 18 large studies found multivitamins no help in preventing heart disease and other cardiovascular problems such as stroke.
Will Eating Walnuts Lower Your Cholesterol?
An analysis of data from previous studies shows that people eating walnuts have lower cholesterol and triglycerides. They don't gain weight or raise their blood pressure.
Better Diet for Poor Americans Is Not a SNAP
The last fifteen years have seen some increases in diet quality for most Americans, but not for poor people on SNAP assistance. Disparities in diet quality are increasing.
Make Sure Your Vegetarian Diet Is High Quality
Recent research suggests that people who follow a high-quality vegetarian diet rich in minimally-processed plant foods control their weight and their blood sugar better.
Risky Trans Fats in the Global Food Supply
WHO wants countries to ban risky trans fats from their foods. Such a move could save 500,000 lives or more a year worldwide.
Can People with Diabetes Really Eat Eggs?
People with type 2 diabetes have been told not to eat eggs–or at least not very many–because that will raise cholesterol and increase their cardiovascular risk. A new study shows that just isn't so.
Will a Sauna Bath a Day Keep Strokes and Heart Attacks Away?
Finnish researchers report that people who use a sauna bath nearly every day are much less susceptible to strokes, heart attacks and dementia.
No Study Support for Fish Oil Soothing Dry Eyes
Although fish oil has a reputation for soothing dry eyes, a recent randomized controlled trial found that placebo capsules of olive oil worked just as well.
Will Prediabetes Put Your Heart and Kidneys at Risk?
People with elevated blood sugar that doesn't reach the level of diabetes are nonetheless more likely to develop heart and kidneys complications.
How Can You Ease Arthritis Pain Safely?
With salsalate, you may be able to ease arthritis pain safely. It is far less likely to irritate the digestive tract or cause cardiovascular problems than most NSAID pain relievers.
Will Garlic Really Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Do you wonder whether garlic has earned its reputation as a heart-healthy flavor? Studies suggest that garlic may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, at least a bit.
Should You Worry About Calcium Side Effects Like Colon Polyps?
Do you take calcium to keep your bones strong? How good is the evidence that it works? Do you know about calcium side effects such as colon polyps? New data are worrisome.
Show 1111: What Should You Know About Controversies in Cardiology?
In this broadcast for Feb. 24, 2018, we discuss controversies in cardiology such as the re-definition of hypertension and the proper utilization of stents with two cardiologists.
Fish Oil Flops When It Comes to Heart Protection
A large meta-analysis of 10 studies found no heart protection from omega-3 supplements compared to placebo.
Will Aged Garlic Fight Heart Disease?
A randomized placebo-controlled trial of aged garlic extract demonstrated that it reduces inflammatory compounds and LDL cholesterol.
Atorvastatin Side Effects — Is Psoriasis One of Them?
It often takes many years to discover unusual or rare adverse drug reactions. Could psoriasis be one of the atorvastatin side effects? A mystery revealed!
How Can You Lower Your LDL Cholesterol with Snacks?
Research shows that eating a small amount of almonds and dark chocolate daily can improve LDL cholesterol, albeit modestly.
The Shocking Results of a Heart Stent Experiment
People who have chest pain after exercise often get an angiogram. If there is narrowing in an artery they may be told they need a heart stent. Is that true?
FDA Reverses Its Stand on Soy Health Claims
Soy protein products have long been allowed to make cardiovascular health claims. Now the FDA is re-evaluating whether the evidence supports such claims.
If You Stop Aspirin Suddenly Could You Trigger a Heart Attack?
If your doctor recommends low-dose aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke be very careful if you have to stop aspirin. It could lead bad complications.
Is It Safe to Use a Sauna If You Have High Blood Pressure?
People who frequently use a sauna bath have lower blood pressure, fewer colds or flu and a reduced likelihood of dementia.
How Potassium Rich Foods Help Your Heart Stay Healthy
A diet with plenty of potassium rich foods can help prevent hardening of the arteries. Potassium prevents calcium build-up in artery walls.
Will Stopping Aspirin Lead to A Heart Attack?
Low-dose aspirin is frequently prescribed to heart patients to prevent blood clots. Can stopping aspirin suddenly increase the risk for heart attacks?
Should You Add Meditation to Your Medication?
The American Heart Association has issued its first guidelines on meditation. Although the supporting data should be stronger, the practice is promising.
What Happens If You Eat Saturated Fat?
When people eat saturated fat, their risk of stroke drops. If they are also avoiding refined carbohydrates, their triglycerides also come down.
Show 1095: How Do You Cope with Changing Recommendations?
Do changing recommendations about what you should eat and which medications to take drive you crazy? We explore salt and a new way to treat heart disease.
Why You Should Get Up from Your Chair
People who get up and move around frequently are less likely to die early than those who simply sit for the entire time they are working.
Preventing Heart Attacks With a Unique Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Many people think that preventing heart attacks is as simple as lowering cholesterol. What if inflammation is a culprit? How can you reduce inflammation?
Is the Bread Worse for You Than the Butter?
A new study including more than 135,000 adults shows that a high-carb diet is linked to a higher risk of premature death–the bread IS worse than the butter.
Are New Cholesterol Drugs Way Too Pricey?
You can now lower your LDL cholesterol to unprecedented levels with new cholesterol drugs. Are Repatha and Praluent worth their hefty price tags?
Almonds Are Better Than Banana Muffins for HDL
A small handful of almonds can improve the function of HDL cholesterol when compared to a low-fat, high-carb banana muffin.
Exercise Hard During Free Time to Offset Workday Sitting
Workers who exercise hard during their time off are less likely to develop big bellies, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome despite sedentary jobs.
What Should Patients Do When Doctors Fight?
When there is a paradigm shift in medicine, it creates warring factions. Doctors fight over data. That's true of statins. It leaves many patients confused.
Will Stopping Statins Kill People?
The statin skirmishes of recent years have turned into bitter conflict. Dr. Nissen says stopping statins will lead to many deaths. What about side effects?
High Blood Level of Calcium Raises Heart Attack Risk
People with a genetic makeup that leads to a naturally high blood level of calcium are more vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes.
Shingles Linked to Risk of Heart Attack
People who suffer a shingles attack have a 59 percent higher risk of heart attack and a 35 percent higher risk of stroke.
Show 1085: The Statin Standoff and New Drugs for the Heart
Cardiologists don't agree on how well statin cholesterol-lowering drugs work to prevent heart disease. What do you know about the statin standoff?
Is There a Link Between Poverty and Heart Disease?
A study of 17,000 American adults shows that heart disease rates have dropped significantly only for the affluent, not for people living in poverty.
The Unexpected Risks of French Fries
In an eight-year-long study of older Americans, those who ate French fries more than once a week were twice as likely to die than those who rarely ate them.
What Bread Is Best for Your Microbiome?
What bread is best, white bread or sourdough? The balance of microbes in your digestive tract determines which bread raises blood sugar more quickly.
Is Lowering Cholesterol with Saturated Fats a Paradox?
Sugar might be more dangerous than saturated fats in the diet as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. One reader lowered blood lipids with sat fats.
Are Olive Oil and Wine Really Good for You?
Olive oil and wine both contain hydroxytyrosol. When it is metabolized, this seems to protect people from heart disease and strokes.
How Will Beetroot Juice Help Your Heart?
When study volunteers drank beetroot juice, it calmed their sympathetic nervous systems and lowered blood pressure and heart rate.
Really Bad News About Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Other NSAIDs
People in pain do NOT want to hear bad news about ibuprofen, naproxen or other NSAIDs. To take such drugs safely, people must know the risks!
Where Is the Synergy Against Heart Disease?
Vitamin D and exercise act together with synergy against heart disease, according to results from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
Is It Risky to Reduce Salt in Your Diet?
How much should you reduce salt in your diet? One study shows that people who kept their sodium intake low for years ended up with high blood pressure.
Should a Flip Flop on Saturated Fat Freak You Out?
Dietary guidelines have been controversial for decades but one restriction remains: AVOID SATURATED FAT! Now 3 prominent cardiologists challenge that dogma.
How to Ease Statin-Induced Muscle Pain
The anti-inflammatory component of turmeric, curcumin, may have the power to alleviate statin-induced muscle pain so people can stay on a statin.
Why Do Heart Attack Patients Stop Taking Statins?
Studies show that heart attack patients benefit from high-intensity statin drugs, but many stop taking these medications within a few years.
Will Vitamin D Protect Your Heart?
People with higher levels of vitamin D are less likely to die from heart attacks or strokes, but no one knows if supplements will protect your heart.
Can You Afford Repatha to Crush Your Cholesterol?
A new type of medication, the PCSK9 inhibitor, has a dramatic effect on lowering cholesterol. But can you afford Repatha to get your LDL cholesterol so low?
People Who Exercise Boost Their Chances of Surviving a Heart Attack
People who exercise in their leisure time may be less likely to have a heart attack and are significantly less likely to die immediately if they do.
Does the New Cholesterol Drug Repatha Save Lives?
Is evolocumab (Repatha) a breakthrough for treating high cholesterol? Or is it an expensive drug that won't save any lives?
Absorbable Stent Is Worse, Not Better, for Preventing Heart Attacks
Two years of evidence show that the new absorbable stent is linked to more heart attacks rather than fewer compared to conventional stents.
Should You Take Fish Oil to Protect Your Heart?
If you have heart failure or coronary heart disease, the American Heart Association recommends that you take fish oil to protect your heart.
Is Coconut Oil Good or Bad for Your Health?
Is coconut oil good? The answer appears to be that it is not harmful. It could have a role in a healthy diet along with vegetable oils.
Does Testosterone Really Boost the Risk of Heart Attacks?
Men using testosterone replacement therapy had a lower risk of heart attacks, even though testosterone treatment is linked to more coronary plaque.
Why Smoking Just a Little Is Still Bad for You
Even people smoking only a few cigarettes a day are putting themselves at risk of dying prematurely.
How Bad Is It to Eat Saturated Fat?
Many of us worry that consuming saturated fat will boost our chance of a heart attack. A study from Norway suggests we should worry about processed food.
Is There a Link Between NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and Heart Attack?
Millions of people take ibuprofen and naproxen every day to ease aches and pains. Is there any possibility of a danger of ibuprofen and heart attack?
Is a Bit of Beer Better for Heart Health?
Middle-aged Chinese people didn't lose as much of their heart-healthy HDL cholesterol levels if they enjoyed a bit of beer every so often.
Are ALL Arthritis Drugs Including Celebrex Risky for the Heart?
Tens of millions of people take NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen every day to ease pain. Is celecoxib (Celebrex) safer or just as bad for the heart?
Exertion and Anger Can Lead to Heart Attacks
People who indulge a sudden burst of extreme activity or experience anger raise their chance of a heart attack. Emotion and exertion together are riskiest.
Listen to Dr. DuBroff Discuss the Cholesterol Hypothesis
Dr. Robert DuBroff, cardiologist and lipidologist, tells why he thinks we need to look again at the cholesterol hypothesis and re-evaluate statins.