How to Prevent Heart Disease
Get trusted guidance on what you can do to take care of your heart.
Early Heart Attack Signs
Early heart attack signs can be subtle — especially in women.
5 Ways to Reduce Your Heart Disease Risk
Keep your heart healthy, no matter your age or family history.
Cooking for Heart Health
Try these tasty tips to make heart-healthier meals at home.
Featured Articles
Four Health Numbers You Should Know
The four numbers that reveal crucial information about your health, and what you can do to improve them.
Early Signs of a Heart Attack
Some symptoms occur months before a heart attack; some are quite mild. Learn about the warning signs to watch.
How to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally
By changing a few daily habits, you may be able to control your blood pressure without medication.
Heart Health Resources
Spanish
Vivir con insuficiencia cardiaca (PDF)
Monitorear su peso, presion arterial y frecuencia cardiaca (PDF)
Actividad y ejercicio diarios (PDF)
Medicamentos para la insuficiencia cardiaca (PDF)
Habitos saludables para dormir mejor (PDF)
Reduzca el consumo de sodio para tener una mejor salud (PDF)
Opciones de alimentos con bajo contenido de sodio (PDF)
Ask an Expert
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
We hear about high cholesterol, but can someone have cholesterol numbers that are too low?
That's a good question, as we usually are focused on cholesterol levels that are too high. Our cells and body depend upon cholesterol for healthy functioning. There are genetic, metabolic and dietary factors th... continue reading about We hear about high cholesterol, but can someone have cholesterol numbers that are too low?
Nobl Barazangi, M.D., Ph.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
Migraine and stroke symptoms seem to overlap. How do I know I'm just having a migraine and not a stroke?
Some migraines can be associated with neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, tingling, vision and speech changes, and some strokes can be associated with headaches. Therefore, sometimes it is difficu... continue reading about Migraine and stroke symptoms seem to overlap. How do I know I'm just having a migraine and not a stroke?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Eden Medical Center
My husband has heart disease. I heard that someone with this condition needs to be careful in the cold weather. We'll be vacationing in Lake Tahoe soon, so I'd like to know how cold weather affects the heart. Should we cancel the trip?
Great question. Here are a few additional thoughts about your particular situation: You mentioned a trip to Lake Tahoe, so keep in mind that altitude by itself, even without the cold weather, is a special consi... continue reading about My husband has heart disease. I heard that someone with this condition needs to be careful in the cold weather. We'll be vacationing in Lake Tahoe soon, so I'd like to know how cold weather affects the heart. Should we cancel the trip?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I’ve been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and my doctor says I will need to get a valve replacement. Can heart valves be replaced without open heart surgery?
Yes, there’s a minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter -- TAVR -- that may be a better choice for some people who are at moderate to high risk of complications from open heart surgery. TAVR... continue reading about I’ve been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and my doctor says I will need to get a valve replacement. Can heart valves be replaced without open heart surgery?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
I recently read a scary statistic that said two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease report no previous symptoms (as compared with half of men.) So if there are no symptoms – how would we know if a heart attack is coming on?
I am not familiar with this particular statistic, but let me answer by explaining the differences between sudden cardiac death and a heart attack - and the warnings we get with each.Heart attacks occur when a c... continue reading about I recently read a scary statistic that said two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease report no previous symptoms (as compared with half of men.) So if there are no symptoms – how would we know if a heart attack is coming on?
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
I had a pacemaker inserted a year ago. It keeps dropping down and looks like the wires are about to pop out. I've asked my cardiologist about it several times and he said it's fine and should not drop anymore. I exercise 5x/week. Is that too much?
The position of the pacemaker can shift over time. After about a year, however, a strong capsule has formed around the device and it should not move any further. Because the device and the leads are very secure... continue reading about I had a pacemaker inserted a year ago. It keeps dropping down and looks like the wires are about to pop out. I've asked my cardiologist about it several times and he said it's fine and should not drop anymore. I exercise 5x/week. Is that too much?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I'm a healthy female (34) with mitral valve prolapse and mild/trace regurgitation. What are the recommendations on checking this condition? I'm told it's a benign condition but my cardiologist checks on it biannually.
My cardiologist mentor, Dr. Lon Keith, use to correlate mitral valve prolapse with being bald. He'd remark that some men are bald, some are not - some people have mitral valve prolapse, some don't. When it beco... continue reading about I'm a healthy female (34) with mitral valve prolapse and mild/trace regurgitation. What are the recommendations on checking this condition? I'm told it's a benign condition but my cardiologist checks on it biannually.
Powell O. Jose, M.D., FACC
Sutter Medical Foundation
What is statin therapy and what are the side effects of this drug?
Statins are a class of medications used to lower cholesterol. They work by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which is important for cholesterol production in the liver. Statins are very commonly us... continue reading about What is statin therapy and what are the side effects of this drug?
Modern Weng, DO
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I am being treated with Xarelto. What else can I do to promote healing during next six months of treatment? I'm physically active and I wear a compression stocking on the leg with DVT.
I'm sorry to hear that you recently suffered from a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but I'm glad to you have been treated with anti-coagulation medications and are recovering nicely. There is a condition called p... continue reading about I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I am being treated with Xarelto. What else can I do to promote healing during next six months of treatment? I'm physically active and I wear a compression stocking on the leg with DVT.
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