Feature Channels: Heart Disease

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Millions of Americans have arrhythmia, most of which are harmless, but certain types of arrhythmia can be life threatening, especially in combination with other heart disease.

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The Fab Four are back, and they're heading straight for the hearts of millions. This Fab Four is a combination of four kinds of medicines that can protect the heart "” and maybe save the life "” of almost anyone who has ever had a heart attack or chest pain.

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A diverse group of international cardiologists and cardiovascular researchers has sent a formal request to former President Bill Clinton inviting him to help in the campaign for heart attack eradication.

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Each year, about 1.2 million Americans suffer a heart attack, and of these about 500, 000 have already had at least one heart attack. Adopting and following new heart-healthy habits is important for people who have had a heart attack and want to avoid another cardiac event.

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In diabetics, heart attacks and strokes are four times more common, occur earlier in life, and are more likely to be deadly than in people without diabetes. However, surveys show that few people, including few doctors, know that diabetes and heart disease go hand in hand.

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Unhealthy eating habits, coupled with the rising rate of obesity among America's children, have lead experts to come together to teach students a very important lesson: how to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle to reduce their future risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

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A new device that temporarily assists a weakened heart can be threaded into position through blood vessels. The procedure is a potential lifesaver for patients who arrive in the emergency room after experiencing damaging heart attacks and those whose hearts are too frail to undergo major procedures without temporary support.

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Beyond making you drowsy, not getting enough sleep night after night can contribute to a variety of health problems. The August issue of the Harvard Heart Letter examines the connection between sleep and disease and offers practical tips to achieving a good night's rest.

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What's your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years?

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We now know that women 60 and older should not start taking hormone therapy, as they did in the WHI, to prevent heart disease. But what if a woman were to begin therapy earlier? Would the risks be the same? The July issue asks these and other questions about this once widely-accepted treatment.

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The UK's FSA has today issued new advice on eating oily fish and, for the first time, is able to recommend maximum levels at which the health benefits of preventing heart disease clearly outweigh the possible risks from dioxins.

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Cholesterol gets lots of bad press, and for good reason. An estimated 24 million women and 18 million men have total cholesterol levels of 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher increasing their risk of heart attack and stroke.

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What women don't know about heart disease can have life-threatening consequences. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women.

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Researchers are finding that vitamin D plays a significant role in the prevention of heart disease and the function of other critical body systems. And getting enough vitamin D in your system is as easy as soaking up the sun.

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Modern medical devices such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have demonstrated a tremendous ability to prevent sudden death in patients with diseases such as congestive heart failure.

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NYU Medical Center has begun enrolling patients in the first large-scale clinical trial of chelation therapy, a controversial treatment for heart disease widely practiced by complementary and alternative medicine physicians.

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In the last two decades the number of overweight and obese children has more than doubled, putting them at risk to become overweight or obese adults with serious problems such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease. Fortunately, parents can take steps now to prevent this.

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The rise in obesity, now at epidemic levels in the United States, has been matched by a rise in diabetes, a deadly combination that increases heart disease risk by two to five times.

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A break from work or the routine of daily life can refresh the spirit and recharge the body. Taking vacations on a regular basis has been proven to increase life expectancy and decrease the risk of developing heart disease. However, they may be hard on hearts that are not in tip-top shape.

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Includes: 1) The ABC's and 1-2-3's of Heart Attack; 2) Androgen Excess Study; 3) Laparoscopy to Help Infertile Women Avoid Months of Unnecessary Treatments; 4) Tips to Help Kids Play Safely; 5) Gene Identified That Causes Insulin Resistance in Mexican Americans...

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The Pollypill, a medication that may have long-term benefits for those at risk for heart disease and stroke, is not yet on the market, but clinical trials show this drug may reduce the risk of these illnesses by more than 80 percent and possibly add 11 years of life to those who take it.

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While most people know that heart disease and heart attacks are the number one killer of both men and women in America, many don't know how to recognize the signs of a heart attack.

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It's no secret that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in America. Yet, when a heart attack strikes, most people don't know what to do, resulting in the loss of vitally important time "“ time during which the heart becomes increasingly damaged.

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With shortness of breath and sharp chest pain, you call 911, worried about a possible heart attack. It may be a pulmonary embolism, meaning one or more blood clots are lodged in the lung arteries and are cutting off blood flow to lung tissue. Like a heart attack, prompt treatment is vital to saving your life.