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High blood levels of "free" fatty acids may be associated with abnormal heartbeats that can lead to sudden death in middle-aged men.

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Why does heart disease seem to run in families? A new study examined families who developed early heart disease to determine if it was due to shared environmental factors -- fatty foods, smoking -- or if it was related to a "bad heart" gene.

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Adding to a growing number of disappointing turns, a new study shows that antioxidant vitamin supplements might nullify a key beneficial effect of the cholesterol-lowering drugs niacin and simvastatin.

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Individuals whose arteries open spontaneously before angioplasty -- a technique to treat blocked coronary arteries -- are more likely to survive, suggesting that drugs that help speed this along may be useful in combination with angioplasty after all.

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Cooling the brain after an ischemic stroke may limit both initial tissue damage caused by a stroke as well as subsequent damage resulting from the restoration of blood flow after using clot-busting drugs.

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Strokes among hypertensive men who became flustered by a hectic test was nearly double compared to men who were unruffled by the stressful situation.

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A risk index can predict the extent of pregnancy complications in women who have heart conditions, which means those at high risk can be directed to specialized treatment facilities.

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The American Heart Association advised physicians against prescribing hormone replacement therapy for the sole purpose of preventing heart attacks and strokes in women who already have cardiovascular disease.

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Undergoing coronary bypass surgery soon after having severe chest pain or a heart attack may increase the risk of stroke, according to the largest study of its kind, reported in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

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French fries might be healthier if cooked in saturated fat instead of the hydrogenated vegetable oils that are typically used.

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Variations in a blood clotting gene may explain why some individuals have stickier platelets, which can increase the risk for clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke.

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A new study finds a strong link between drinking black tea and healthy arteries in individuals who have heart disease.

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1) Acetaminophen reduces body temperature after ischemic stroke, 2) Negative attitude hastens death of stroke survivors, 3) Vitamin D crucial to avoiding hip fracture after stroke

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The effects of a stroke are all in the family, according to a study that indicates spouses suffer psychological ill-effects immediately after their mate has a stroke.

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To recognize and honor the career achievements of journalists who have documented the considerable progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke. This career achievement award was created in memory of Howard L. Lewis, who led the Association's national science and media relation's staff for two decades.

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Using gene therapy to spur new blood vessel growth and improve blood flow is a promising treatment for clogged arteries leading to the heart or legs. However, the technique, called angiogenesis, should be pursued with caution.

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The American Heart Association honored two volunteers with its Gold Heart Award for their accomplishments and many years of service. The awards were presented during the organization's annual Delegate Assembly in June.

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The American Heart Association honored four volunteers with Awards of Meritorious Achievement during its annual Delegate Assembly in June.

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The American Heart Association presented its Louis B. Russell Jr. Memorial Award to Richard Allen Williams, M.D., Encino, Calif., for his work with underserved populations. The award was presented during the organization's annual Delegate Assembly in June.

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The American Heart Association presented William B. Blanchard, M.D., with the esteemed Physician of the Year Award during the association's annual Delegate Assembly in June.

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American Heart Association officers William J. Bryant, Esq., Rose Marie Robertson, M.D., and John E.Warfel, CPCU, were honored for their dedicated service and leadership during the 2000-2001 fiscal year.

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A routine test can measure levels of a protein in urine samples and may reveal early, symptomless cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women, researchers report.

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A simple lung function test may help identify which individuals with irregular heartbeats are at increased risk of heart attack, researchers report.

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The American Heart Association announces its new leadership for the 2001-2002 fiscal year beginning July 1. The new officers will take office during the association's annual delegate assembly on June 22 and 23.

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Lutein, a yellow pigment found in dark green leafy vegetables and egg yolks, may help prevent clogging of neck arteries.

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The pressure of blood flow through moderately clogged arteries, rather than the amount of blockage, may be more indicative of which individuals need balloon angioplasty.

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Researchers who previously reported that marijuana is a trigger for heart a attack are now warning that the drug may play a more pivotal role as some users enter middle age -- a time when their risk for heart disease is already increasing.

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As few as two hours after being inhaled, tiny, invisible air pollutants can penetrate the lungs' natural defenses and may trigger a heart attack.

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Researchers have identified reduced blood levels of available nitric oxide as a cause of preeclampsia -- a life-threatening condition that causes, among other things, high blood pressure during pregnancy.

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An electronic stethoscope and a personal computer were used to distinguish innocent heart murmurs from those that may indicate a serious problem, and may help doctors render better medical decisions.

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Mexican Americans are less likely to recognize the risk factors of stroke, to call 9-1-1 for stroke, or know that effective stroke therapy exists -- significant barriers to both stroke treatment and prevention.

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For the first time, stress has been linked to increased stroke risk in a population study of middle-aged white men.

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A 53-year-old German man became the first person to undergo a new, non-surgical technique that turned one of his coronary veins into a coronary artery to bypass a blockage.

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A new therapy using the anti-clotting drug heparin and 10-minute spurts of exercise grew new blood vessels and widened blocked arteries in children with Kawasaki disease.

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An automated external defibrillator -- an electronic device that recognizes and restores normal heartbeat rhythm through electric shock -- is as accurate in recognizing rhythm abnormalities in children as in adults.

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Heart disease is the leading complication and cause of death among diabetes patients, yet many of them do not understand the risk or its cause.

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The updated recommendations from the Adult Treatment Panel III include an important new assessment scale and strategies to control elevated cholesterol and other major cardiovascular disease risk factors.

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More women today are aware that heart disease is their major killer than three years ago, however the number is still low -- 34 percent, according to findings from an American Heart Association survey announced today.

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Elderly women -- those older than 75 -- were half as likely as elderly men to receive the drug warfarin, which treats irregular heartbeats that can increase stroke risk, researchers report.

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During the last two decades, the number of children dying from congenital heart defects has decreased dramatically, according to a report in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

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The discovery that a rare genetic condition speeds the development of heart disease may open the door to new understanding of the link between heart disease and insulin resistance, a problem of blood sugar metabolism.

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Whites are five times more likely than blacks to receive emergency clot-dissolving therapy for stroke, according to a review of records at 42 U.S. academic medical centers.

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A woman's cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure readings before menopause are a more accurate predictor of whether she will develop heart disease or stroke after menopause.

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Women are more likely to develop a stroke after cardiac surgery than men, and their strokes are more likely to be fatal.

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Mountain climbers who develop high altitude sickness -- with symptoms that include extreme listlessness and coughing up blood -- may now have an explanation for what causes the condition.

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A gene involved in blood clotting is linked to a six-fold increase in risk for heart disease in African-Americans, according to the first prospective study to examine the gene as it relates to heart disease.

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Doctors need to re-think their approach to dealing with high blood pressure, a prominent hypertension specialist asserts in an editorial.

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Controlling blood pressure may be the key factor in preventing cardiovascular disease in people who have diabetes, and ACE inhibitors appear the best means to that end.

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New research shows that three major statin drugs have similar anti-inflammatory effects, a key factor in atherosclerosis.

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In the first study of its kind, researchers have found that blood levels of the oxidized form of low density lipoprotein are directly related to the severity of heart disease.