Heart

Health Tip: Are You at Greater Risk for Pneumonia?

-- Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a bacterium, virus or fungus. Often, the lungs' air sacs fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe.The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says risk factors for pneumonia in...

Stents Overused in Stable Heart Patients

Study Finds No Benefit of Stents Over Using Medications First By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Feb. 27, 2012 -- As many as 2 out of 3 elective heart angioplasty procedures performed in the U.S. on patients with stable...

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Brain Age Better

Diet Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Memory Problems, Slow Effects of Aging in the Brain By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Feb. 27, 2012 -- Forget the fish and your brain might become forgetful.A new...

Irregular Heart Rhythm Linked to Mental Problems

Some People With Atrial Fibrillation May Be at Risk for Memory Problems, Dementia By Denise MannWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 27, 2012 -- Atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heart rhythm, is known to increase a person...

Faster Walkers Have Lower Odds of Memory Problems

Walking Speed, Strength of Hand Grip May Help Predict Future Risk of Memory Loss and Stroke, Study Finds By Cari NierenbergWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 15, 2012 -- How fast you can walk and the strength of your hand grip ...

Millions of Women Are Unaware They Have Arterial Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease in Women Underdiagnosed and Understudied By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 15, 2012 -- Between 4 million and 5 million women in the United States have peripheral artery disease, or P...

Quit-Smoking Drug May Also Curb Drinking

Study Finds Chantix Makes Drinking Alcohol Less Enjoyable By Brenda Goodman, MAWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Feb. 15, 2012 -- A drug that helps people stop smoking may also cut alcohol cravings, a new study shows.The drug Chanti...

Even a Little Air Pollution Raises Heart Attack Risk

A Week Spent in Polluted Air Can Increase Risk; Potentially Large Impact on Public Health By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 14, 2012 -- A new study shows that as little as a week in a place with high levels o...

Scarred Hearts Healed After Heart Attack

Heart-Attack Damage Heals After Stem Cell Treatment By Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 13, 2012 -- A new stem cell treatment resurrects dead, scarred heart muscle damaged by a recent heart attack.The finding,...

Anemia May Boost Death Risk After Stroke

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- Anemia more than triples a man's risk of death after suffering a stroke, a new study suggests."Severe anemia among stroke survivors increases their chance of dying throughout the first year after their stroke," sa...

New Anti-Clotting Drug May Cut Brain Bleeding Risk: Study

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- A new medication that helps prevent strokes in people with the abnormal heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation poses less risk of bleeding in the brain than a commonly used drug, research comparing riv...

Mouse Study Suggests Alzheimer's Spreads Through Brain Like an Infection

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- Alzheimer's disease appears to spread through the brain, traveling from neuron to neuron in much the same way that an infection or cancer moves through the body, new research with mice suggests. Scientists reporte...

Some Stroke Survivors Can't Recognize Fear, Anger in Others

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- Damage in some areas of the forebrain may prevent some stroke survivors from being able to recognize anger, disgust and fear, emotions that are related to assessing threats, a small study indicates.It included 23 ...

Married Men Seek Help for Stroke Sooner Than Their Wives

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- Married men with stroke symptoms are quicker to call for emergency help than married women, a new study finds.Researchers reviewed data from 91 patients with stroke symptoms who were brought by emergency medical s...

Being Fit Before Stroke May Aid Recovery

THURSDAY, Feb. 2 -- Doctors have long known that regular exercise can help lower the risk of stroke, but a new study suggests that people who are physically fit also have better odds of recovery if they do suffer a stroke.Researchers...

1 in 2 Stroke Survivors Has High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure a Major Risk Factor for Stroke By Charlene LainoWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 2, 2012 -- A disturbing 47% of people who have had a stroke have poorly controlled high blood pressure, researchers say."Hig...

Heartburn Drugs Linked to Hip Fractures in Women

Study Helps Clarify Who Is at Risk for Fractures With Long-Term PPI Use By Denise Mann Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 31, 2012 -- Postmenopausal women with a history of smoking who tak...

Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke May Be Underestimated

Study: Someone at Low Risk for Heart Disease in the Short-Term May Be at High Risk Later in Life, if They Have Just One or Two Risk Factors By Cari NierenbergWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Jan. 25, 2012 -- The method doctors use to...

Drinking Black Tea May Lower Blood Pressure

Study: Drinking at Least 3 Cups of Black Tea a Day Lowered Blood Pressure By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Jan. 24, 2012 -- Lowering your blood pressure may a major factor behind the many health benefits of tea. A n...

Sex OK for Many Heart Patients, Docs Say

THURSDAY, Jan. 19 -- Sexual activity generally isn't hazardous for people with cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association says in a new statement.But patients should get checked by a doctor beforehand and be aware that he...

'Exoskeleton' Helps Paralyzed Stand, Take Steps

THURSDAY, Jan. 12 -- Veteran ski patrol member Mike Rhode was speeding down a snowy slope at Hunter Mountain in New York state when his ski unexpectedly popped off.Rhode, then a member of the ski patrol for 13 years, wasn't able to r...

Aspirin Therapy for Heart Disease, Stroke Prevention Not for Everyone

Benefits and Risks of Aspirin Therapy Determined on Case-by-Case Basis By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 12, 2012 -- Many people who have never had a heart attack or stroke take an aspirin every day to lower th...

FDA Panel Backs New Device for Chronic Heartburn

LINX Would Be Used in Patients With GERD That Doesn’t Respond to Drugs By Rita Rubin Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 12, 2012 -- An implantable device to treat chronic, severe acid re...

Cardiac Arrest Risk Low in Marathons, Study Finds

Most Cases of Heart Stopping Linked to Pre-existing Conditions By Kathleen DohenyWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 11, 2012 -- When a runner dies during a marathon because their heart stops, it's big news -- and can be scary t...

Health Tip: Spot the Symptoms of Heart Attack

-- Women may not initially suspect that they're having a heart attack -- especially if they don't have the obvious chest pain.The Womenshealth.gov website mentions these common symptoms of heart attack:An uncomfortable feeling or pai...

Car, TV Ownership Tied to Higher Risk for Heart Attack

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11 -- People who own a car and a television tend to be at increased risk for heart attack, a new study finds.On the other hand, people in developed and developing countries who are physically active during work and le...

U.S. Heart Attack Patients Readmitted Most Often: Study

TUESDAY, Jan. 3 -- People who have heart attacks in the United States are far more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days than people in 16 other countries, a new study indicates.Researchers suspect that the average l...

Weight Loss Surgery May Prevent Heart-Related Deaths

Study: Surgery Protects Against Heart Attack, Stroke By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by LLaura J. Martin, MD Jan. 3, 2012 -- Weight loss surgery lowers the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and the risk of death from these and ...

Doubt Cast on Use of Genetic Test Before Plavix

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28 -- A new review of existing research suggests that, despite a federal recommendation, genetic testing won't help physicians determine which heart patients should get Plavix, a blood-thinning drug used to treat cert...

Sensitive Blood Test Rules Out Heart Attack

Test Measures Very Low Levels of Heart Protein, Troponin I By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Dec. 27, 2011 -- When someone is having chest pain or other heart symptoms, it's not always easy to tell whether they've suff...