Healthy Heart

The same factors that raise the risk for heart disease also impact brain disease, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias. “Heart disease is...

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), commonly referred to as simply cardiovascular disease or heart disease, is a major cause of illness and death in the United States. Knowing your risk can help you and your healthcare provider determine the best ways to lower that risk and prevent ASCVD from occurring. What is ASCVD? ASCVD is characterized […]

Q: It seems like everybody in my family has high cholesterol. I try to eat well and exercise, but my numbers are still high. Could it be in my genes? A: José M. Ordovás, PhD, senior scientist and leader of the Nutrition and Genomics team at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on […]

It’s likely you’ve been told whether you have “high cholesterol.” Perhaps your healthcare provider has discussed your “LDL” or “HDL” levels with you. You also are probably aware that “high cholesterol” increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. But what is cholesterol—and why does it matter?  Like us, animals have cholesterol in their bodies. When we […]

Have High Blood Pressure? Healthy Lifestyle Choices Linked to Lower Risk of Death A study that followed over 14,000 individuals in China with hypertension (high blood pressure) for up to 10 years found that improvement in lifestyle after hypertension diagnosis was associated with significantly lower risk of death. Lifestyle factors included body mass index, smoking […]

Every year in the U.S., more than 356,000 people of all ages suffer sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work, or while otherwise going about their daily lives. That’s almost 1,000 people a day. Nearly 90 percent are fatal. What is Cardiac Arrest? Your heart runs on electrical signals. A small cluster of specialized cells […]

Less Sodium, More Potassium Associated with a Lower Heart Attack and Stroke Risk A study released at the end of 2021 found that higher intake of sodium was associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke over nearly nine years among more than 10,000 healthy participants. Higher intake of potassium was associated with lower […]

The American Heart Association released their 2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health. The new scientific statement emphasizes the importance of dietary patterns over...

Chances are you consume too much sodium, which can cause high blood pressure. Putting away the saltshaker is never a bad idea, but the...

A study of sedentary adults at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes found that spending more time standing, rather than sitting, may lower...