Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Articles categorized as Heart Failure

Article imageJoe Graedon - November 20, 2024
Article imageTerry Graedon - November 11, 2024
Article imageTerry Graedon - November 25, 2024 - 37 comments

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!

Terry Graedon - June 12, 2024

Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners a Healthy Choice?

Terry Graedon - March 18, 2024

Will Vitamin Supplements Prevent Heart Problems?

Terry Graedon - March 13, 2024

Daily Exercise Boosts Lifespan

Terry Graedon - February 21, 2024

Will Exercise Prevent Heart Failure?

Terry Graedon - January 18, 2024

What Should You Eat for a Healthy Heart?

Article image
Terry Graedon - December 4, 2023

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - November 16, 2023

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 16, 2023

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - October 23, 2023

Hawthorn

Extract of hawthorn flowers, berries or leaves help blood vessels dilate and may be useful in cases of mild heart failure.

Article image
Joe Graedon - August 28, 2023

Is a Low Salt Diet Dangerous for Your Health?

You have been told that salt is your enemy. But is a low salt diet dangerous for some people? Can too little sodium be life threatening?

Article image
Joe Graedon - June 1, 2023

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - May 18, 2023

Show 1341: Lessons Learned from Long Illness

Millions of Americans suffer with long illness. Conventional medicine doesn't always have treatments for these conditions.

Article image
Terry Graedon - March 27, 2023

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - February 2, 2023

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 21, 2022

CoQ10 Has Heart Benefits

Readers' reports that the dietary supplement CoQ10 has heart benefits are supported by scientific studies.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 5, 2022

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 8, 2022

Could Step Counters Help Us Ward Off Dementia?

In studies that coupled step counters with coaching by health professionals, volunteers increased their physical activity.

Article image
Joe Graedon - September 1, 2022

Could Your Pain Reliever Hurt Your Heart?

Regular use of NSAIDs like diclofenac or ibuprofen might hurt your heart and result in heart failure. Those with type 2 diabetes are at risk!

Article image
Terry Graedon - August 25, 2022

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - July 28, 2022

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - April 11, 2022

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 25, 2021

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 24, 2021

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - October 18, 2021

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - October 4, 2021

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 2, 2021

Getting Systolic Blood Pressure Under 130 Makes a Difference

Studies demonstrate that lowering systolic blood pressure under 130 mm mercury can reduce cardiovascular complications.

Article image
Terry Graedon - August 16, 2021

Why Don’t Weights on Doctors’ Scales Agree?

A 5-pound difference among weights measured on doctors' scales in the office suggests a lack of attention to detail and accuracy.

Article image
Joe Graedon - August 5, 2021

The FDA Fails on Ventilators, CPAP Machines & Heart Pumps

Seriously ill COVID patients depend on ventilators. Others require defibrillators or CPAPs. The FDA fails us on oversight of medical devices.

Article image
Terry Graedon - July 15, 2021

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - March 11, 2021

People with Cardiovascular Disease Do Better Eating Fish

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 3, 2020

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - October 31, 2019

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?

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 26, 2019

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 19, 2019

Home Blood Pressure May Be Better Than Clinic

Home blood pressure measurement predicts complications of hypertension more accurately than clinic measurements.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 5, 2019

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 4, 2019

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - August 21, 2019

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - May 16, 2019

Will Eating Your Vegetables Ward Off Heart Failure?

Just one cup of green veggies daily can help. People whose diets most closely approximate the DASH diet guidelines are better able to ward off heart failure as they age.

Article image
Terry Graedon - April 11, 2019

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - March 14, 2019

Physicians Finally Fed Up With the FDA and ARB Recalls!

The ARB recalls have generated surprisingly little outrage from physicians and pharmacists. But a perspective in the NEJM reveals that some docs are upset!

Article image
Joe Graedon - January 3, 2019

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?

Article image
Joe Graedon - January 3, 2019

Unbelievable! Yet Another Drug Recall | Amlodipine Plus Valsartan

The FDA has issued yet another drug recall because of contamination with a probable cancer causing chemical. It involves amlodipine plus valsartan. Enough!

Article image
Terry Graedon - October 25, 2018

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - October 18, 2018

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 13, 2018

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - September 10, 2018

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - September 5, 2018

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?

Article image
Terry Graedon - August 23, 2018

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - June 21, 2018

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - May 31, 2018

High Protein Diet Is Linked to Heart Failure Risk

Finnish men who ate a lot of animal protein had a slightly higher heart failure risk than those who followed low-protein diets.

Article image
Terry Graedon - April 23, 2018

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 16, 2017

Coffee Drinkers Lower Their Chances of Heart Failure

Coffee drinkers had lower chances of heart failure or stroke with every cup they drank during the week.

Article image
Terry Graedon - October 16, 2017

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - October 4, 2017

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - July 6, 2017

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?

Article image
Terry Graedon - June 15, 2017

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.

Article image
Joe Graedon - May 11, 2017

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!

Article image
Terry Graedon - March 16, 2017

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.

Article image
Terry Graedon - January 5, 2017

Why Is a Magnesium-Rich Diet So Good for You?

Eating magnesium-rich foods like nuts and dark green leafy vegetables can cut your chance of heart failure, diabetes or stroke.

Article image
Joe Graedon - December 5, 2016

High Prescription Drug Prices: Bargaining for your Life?

Have you checked prescription drug prices lately? They are skyrocketing! Insurance companies often force you to buy generics. How can you get a better deal?

Article image
Joe Graedon - November 14, 2016

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?

Article image
Joe Graedon - August 8, 2016

What Vitamins and Minerals are in the Cardio Formula?

Here are the vitamins and minerals that make up the ingredients in our supplement formula designed for people concerned about heart health.

Article image
Joe Graedon - June 6, 2016

Should the “Salt Is Safe” Heretics Be Burned at the Stake?

Salt is safe and saturated fat won't kill you. Such heretical messages contradict decades of public health dogma. What does the latest research have to say?

Article image
Terry Graedon - April 7, 2016

How Vitamin D Could Help Heart Failure

A preliminary study shows that a vitamin D supplement can help heart failure by improving how much blood is pumped.

Article image
Terry Graedon - February 18, 2016

Could Digoxin Protect Your Heart Two Ways?

Research in mice shows that digoxin, a drug derived from foxglove, lowers cholesterol and eases inflammation to reduce plaque in arteries.

Article image
Terry Graedon - January 18, 2016

What Is the Downside of a Low-Sodium Diet?

Following a low-sodium diet too rigorously can put vulnerable older people at risk of confusion and other complications of hyponatremia.

Article image
Terry Graedon - December 31, 2015

Do Bad Bacteria in the Intestines Harm the Heart?

When bad bacteria outnumber the beneficial ones in our intestines, there may be serious consequences for people with heart failure.

Article image
Terry Graedon - December 3, 2015

Patients Want Doctors to Look at Them, Not the Computer Screen

To communicate well with patients, doctors need to be wary of spending much of an office visit looking at a computer screen instead of at the patient.

Article image
Joe Graedon - November 23, 2015

Doctors Despise EDTA Chelation But Science Supports Its Use

Many MDs embrace data from drug trials but reject data from a government-supervised clinical trial of EDTA chelation. Check out the evidence for yourself.

Article image
Terry Graedon - November 5, 2015

Soft Drinks Linked to Heart Failure in Swedish Men

Men who regularly consumed about two soft drinks a day were more likely to develop heart failure during this decade-plus cohort study.

Article image
Joe Graedon - September 24, 2015

Beet Juice Strengthens People with Heart Failure

The nitrate content of beet juice has been shown to boost endurance in athletes; a new study shows that people with heart failure also benefit.

Article image
Joe Graedon - September 10, 2015

HIIT Undid Heart Damage from Diabetes

Three months of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) was able to improve heart function in men with type 2 diabetes.

Article image
Joe Graedon - April 30, 2015

Could Gratitude Help the Heart Grow Stronger?

In one study, people with heart failure who reported more feelings of gratitude had better health than those who rarely experienced gratitude.

Article image
Article image
Terry Graedon - April 18, 2013

Rapid Pulse May Wear Heart Out Sooner

Article image
Joe Graedon - December 20, 2012

CoEnzyme Q10 Fights Heart Failure

Article image
Terry Graedon - May 3, 2012

Aspirin vs. Warfarin for Heart Failure

Article image
Terry Graedon - April 19, 2012

Hormone for Heart Failure

Article image
Joe Graedon - July 23, 2009

Healthy Lifestyle Wards Off Heart Failure

Article image
Terry Graedon - January 9, 2006

Erectile Dysfunction Signals Possible Heart Disease

Article image
Joe Graedon - September 8, 2003

Heart Failure Is A Confusing Killer