Heart Health Archive

Some studies suggest a possible link. But don't switch to regular sugary sodas — try infused water instead.

For diet soda fans, recent news reports linking these popular drinks to a higher risk of stroke may have been alarming. A closer look at the study behind the headlines suggests there's no need to panic. But beverages naturally low in calories are probably a healthier option than artificially sweetened drinks.

For starters, observational studies like this one (see "Diet soda and the brain: The latest findings") cannot prove cause and effect. Also, only 97 people had strokes during the 10-year follow-up, which means only two or three of those strokes could possibly be attributed to drinking diet soda, says Dr. Kathryn Rexrode, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital who co-authored an earlier, larger study looking at soda consumption and stroke risk.

Ask the doctor

 Illustration by Scott Leighton

Q. I was recently admitted to the hospital with heart failure and received a heart ultrasound. The test report stated that my heart's pumping ability is normal. I don't understand. Was my diagnosis wrong, or is the test wrong?

A. If you were diagnosed with heart failure in the hospital, I'm presuming that you were admitted with symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty doing everyday activities. Other common symptoms include swelling in your legs and feet and trouble breathing at night.

After calling 911, do you know what to do if a person is unresponsive and not breathing?

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Each year, an estimated 600,000 Americans suffer a cardiac arrest, during which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. If someone nearby immediately begins cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the chest compressions can keep blood flowing to the person's brain and other vital organs — and more than double the odds of survival.

"About 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home. If this happened to your spouse or loved one, wouldn't it be awful if you didn't know what to do?" says Dr. Charles Pozner, associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. But only 18% of adults in the United States have been trained in CPR within the past two years, according to a recent nationwide survey of 9,022 people, published in the May 24, 2017, Journal of the American Heart Association.

Are you exercising enough to prevent heart disease?

It can help you lose weight; decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar; and reduce your stress. But wait, there's more: it also lowers your odds of a heart attack or other cardiovascular event and may even extend your life.

This wonder drug isn't a drug at all, of course — it's exercise. Yet only about half of all American adults do enough physical activity to benefit their health. And exercise is especially vital for people who are at risk for heart disease or already have it.

Research we're watching

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Heart attack risk may rise within a week of taking daily high doses of certain over-the-counter pain relievers, according to a new study.

Previous research has linked the use of pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to a heightened risk of heart attack. The new report, published in the May 9, 2017, issue of The BMJ, analyzed data from nearly half a million people, of whom about 61,000 had heart attacks.

Research we're watching

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Conventional wisdom holds that a drink or two a day protects against heart disease. But this assumption may be wishful thinking, a new analysis suggests.

For the paper, researchers scrutinized findings from 45 studies that involved a total of nearly three million people. Current moderate drinkers (up to two drinks a day) were less likely than nondrinkers to die of heart disease. But studies that looked at drinking over the lifespan suggest a different conclusion. These studies, as well as those that accounted for people's baseline heart health, found no benefit from moderate drinking.

Research we're watching

About 8.5 million Americans have peripheral artery disease, or PAD, in which fatty plaque clogs arteries outside of the heart, most commonly in the legs. The hallmark symptom is calf or thigh pain while walking that goes away when you rest.

The safest, most effective treatment for PAD is supervised exercise training, in which you're monitored while walking on a treadmill. Few people participate, however, partly because of the expense of the regimen. It involves up to 36 sessions of 30 to 60 minutes each over a period of three months.

New guidelines suggest that people with no history of cardiovascular disease may not benefit from more aggressive treatment.

High blood pressure remains a strong indicator for heart attack or stroke risk. But how high is too high?

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recently released updated guidelines for treating hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults ages 60 and older.

In the journals

Adequate levels of vitamin D can help strengthen bones and lower the risk for diabetes and some cancers. But research published online April 5, 2017, by JAMA Cardiology found that high monthly doses of supplemental vitamin D did little to ward off cardiovascular disease.

The recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 600 international units (IU) for men ages 51 to 70 and 800 IU for men ages 71 and older. It is not yet clear how vitamin D may improve heart health, but studies have found a higher rate of cardiovascular disease among people with low levels of vitamin D.