Heart Attack Archive

A 2022 study found that egg consumption equal to about one per day and greater dietary cholesterol intake were linked to a slightly higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

A 2022 study suggests that using a smartwatch capable of estimating blood oxygen levels and recording an electrocardiogram could be an effective way to remotely monitor people at home following a minimally invasive heart valve replacement.

Emotionally stressful events that affect large numbers of people have been linked to an increase in heart attack rates. A 2022 study found the same correlation with a contentious political election.

Low-value care (tests or procedures that offer no clear benefit) is a particular problem for people with cardiovascular disease. Low-value care may happen because certain tests are widely available and may provide financial benefit to the health care center. But for patients, these tests may be a waste of time and money and lead to anxiety and risky complications. Up to half of all exercise stress tests and 15% of stent placements done in the United States may be inappropriate.

COVID survivors—even those with mild infections—appear to face a higher risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart failure, heart attack, and stroke for up to one year after their initial infection. People who were hospitalized (especially those who ended up in the intensive care unit) may have the highest risk. The virus that causes COVID can injure blood vessels and triggers an immune response that promotes the formation of blood clots in arteries and veins throughout the body and brain.

Regular walking—for at least 30 minutes a day, three days per week—is the best treatment for peripheral artery disease. This condition is characterized by fatty deposits that accumulate in arteries outside the heart and brain (usually the legs). Walking encourages blood flow in the leg's smaller arteries and also creates new channels that move blood around the blocked areas, which eventually helps ease the pain.

The long-held assumption that light to moderate drinking is good for a person's heart is likely inaccurate. A new study using sophisticated genetic tools suggests that the risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease rise for any quantity of alcohol consumption. The added risk is low when people consume up to a single drink per day but rises exponentially at levels above seven drinks per week. This added risk applies to a first-time diagnosis of heart disease and not to people already diagnosed with a heart problem (who might well face even greater risk).

High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and plays a role in cognitive decline. Simple lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, and losing weight can lower blood pressure.

In a study published online Feb. 14, 2022, by the journal Heart, people ages 65 or older who exercised at least 20 minutes per day—especially men ages 70 to 75—had fewer heart attacks and a lower risk of premature death, compared with people who didn't exercise.

Physical activity monitors, such as smart watches and fitness trackers, may help people get more exercise, such as extra daily steps and more moderate-to-vigorous activity per week. But the long-term durability of this behavior change is unknown. Using a fitness tracker requires more than just moving more; people also have to remember to keep the tracker charged, wear it consistently, and check their data. But for some people, the day-to-day feedback on their progress may help keep them engaged.