The gender line

Say what you will about Mars and Venus, but anatomically, male and female hearts look the same. When healthy, both should be about the...

Heart disease is a killer you can help to control

Cancer, diabetes, accidents — heart disease trumps them all, killing more people in the United States than any other condition.

Risk factors of sudden cardiac arrest look different by gender

The differences in men and women's hearts may not be limited to problems of the small and large arteries. Sudden cardiac arrest and how it's...

Demystifying the cardiac stress test

Dr. Marc Wallack routinely passed his cardiac exercise stress test with flying colors. He was, after all, a veteran marathon runner with...

Correcting blocked arteries in patients who may have a heart attack

The key to saving a heart attack victim's life is to resume the flow of oxygen-rich blood through the patient's heart by opening coronary...

Never mind the party, listen to your heart

I shouldn't have had a heart attack 11 days shy of my 55th birthday.

Her husband's heart quit on him, but she didn't

CPR kept her husband alive after suffering sudden cardiac arrest, but he hasn't been the same since.

Using CT scans to see plaque in coronary arteries

The test, called, coronary artery calcium scoring, is meant to reveal patients at risk for heart attack but may prompt some to get...

Blood pressure: the DASH diet

The effects of the DASH diet were comparable to the effects of a single blood-pressure-lowering drug and, if everyone ate that way, the...

Tracking a silent killer: Measure your own blood pressure

Diagnosed with hypertension nearly 40 years ago, Jerry Hartley knows the importance of tracking his blood pressure.

Eating the right foods can lower inflammation and risk of disease

If you want to live longer -- avoid heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and cancer -- then pick and choose your foods with care to quiet down...

Fish oil: low-key, but real

These supplements don't promise miracles, but they do help the heart, at least in those with cardiac disease.

Stay moving, not still

Exercise slows aging and makes us feel better. Scientific research proves it.

The best weight-loss strategy

As a nation, we are obviously getting fatter and fatter. Not only are we ever more confused about how to lose weight, we're particularly...

They've got the beat

Heart rate monitors can tell you when to push harder and when to back off -- but only when used properly.

Inhaling a heart attack

Research links smog to devastating effects not just on lungs but on hearts, brains and fetal development.

Wise at heart

Over 60 years, the Framingham Heart study has revolutionized knowledge of cardiovascular disease and its risks. No reason to stop now,...

Plaques that kill without warning

Heart disease time bombs are hard to spot. But doing so could save lives.

When a valve wears out

The heart valve is a gatekeeper that lets blood out, and it tends to wear out with age. The shortness of breath that Barbara Bush and Robins...

Statins for all?

They lower cholesterol and heart attack risk and may hold promise against other diseases, including cancer. Doctors consider broadening...

Link between diabetes and heart disease scrutinized

Figuring out precisely why diabetics are more prone to heart attacks and strokes has the potential to revolutionize treatment.

A heart-and-mind link

In cardiac cases, depression can hurt recovery. Now there's a push for screening.

Do you need more choline?

The supplement is touted as beneficial for mood, mental acuity and heart health. But many get enough in their diets.

Stress hurts

It damages the body, contributing to heart disease, diabetes and more. In these economic times, it's also a fact of life. Here's how to...

A handle on heart disease?

Some doctors stand by Vytorin after a surprising study; others question if cholesterol matters at all.

Pump the heart rate up, then down, up, down . . .

The words "interval training" can strike fear in the hearts of even the most athletic men and women. Alternating periods of high-intensity...