Tips to Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease
No matter your age, gender or family history, these five simple things can help lower your risk for heart disease.
Cooking for Heart Health
Try these tasty tips to make heart-healthier meals at home.
Carb-Free Isn't Healthy
Find out how carbohydrates can help your heart health.
Do You Know the Signs of Heart Attack?
Learn which subtle symptoms may signal a heart attack and should not be ignored.
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.
Ask an Expert
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
I read recently that a vitamin D deficiency may be linked to increased heart disease. Should I be tested for this deficiency, and if I'm low, would a supplement take care of this increased risk?
Your question is an excellent one, and a hot topic in the world of cardiology and preventive medicine.Vitamin D is not a true vitamin since we can manufacture it in our bodies, through the action of UVB rays th... continue reading about I read recently that a vitamin D deficiency may be linked to increased heart disease. Should I be tested for this deficiency, and if I'm low, would a supplement take care of this increased risk?
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.
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I'm looking for a natural way to lower my cholesterol. Besides watching what I eat and exercising, is there anything else, like dietary supplements, that would work?
A Chinese food supplement called Red Rice Yeast has been shown by reasonable scientific studies to lower cholesterol as well as bad cardiovascular events by 15-30 percent. Suggested dose is one to four of the 6... continue reading about I'm looking for a natural way to lower my cholesterol. Besides watching what I eat and exercising, is there anything else, like dietary supplements, that would work?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
I have high cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL and high triglycerides. I cannot take statins. What is the best course of action for me?
You are wise to be concerned about your cholesterol numbers. This constellation of lipid results commonly occurs with diabetes or in people with a tendency toward diabetes (insulin resistance). It is associated... continue reading about I have high cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL and high triglycerides. I cannot take statins. What is the best course of action for me?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
I'm a healthy male (52) who had a normal stress echocardiogram. However it showed mild mitral regurgitation and trace tricuspid regurgitation. I do have chronic gingivitis and my mom died following a mitral valve replacement. Should I see a cardiologist?
I'm glad your stress echo was normal. It is a good, non-invasive test that lets you know you do not have any significant coronary blockage. It doesn't mean that you no cholesterol build-up in your vessels, so y... continue reading about I'm a healthy male (52) who had a normal stress echocardiogram. However it showed mild mitral regurgitation and trace tricuspid regurgitation. I do have chronic gingivitis and my mom died following a mitral valve replacement. Should I see a cardiologist?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I recently read that hearing loss is more common in people with heart disease or those who've had a heart attack. Why would this be?
Many articles have been written about the connection between decreased blood flow from cardiovascular disease and hearing loss. The inner ear is very small, and changes in blood flow in the body can cause the r... continue reading about I recently read that hearing loss is more common in people with heart disease or those who've had a heart attack. Why would this be?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Eden Medical Center
I'm a woman who gets frequent kidney stones. I was concerned to hear that this raises the risk of heart disease. Why would this be? Is it also true for men? Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk?
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, investigators were suprised to find an association between the presence of kidney stones and coronary heart disease, heart attack or hear... continue reading about I'm a woman who gets frequent kidney stones. I was concerned to hear that this raises the risk of heart disease. Why would this be? Is it also true for men? Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I have pains in my chest when I exercise. Is this a warning symptom of some blockage in my arteries? Are there other symptoms?
Chest pain while exercising can be a classic symptom of heart problems – indicating some degree of blockage of the arteries to the heart. This symptom should not be ignored. Anyone with chest pain on exer... continue reading about I have pains in my chest when I exercise. Is this a warning symptom of some blockage in my arteries? Are there other symptoms?
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
My son, 20, is leaving for boot camp soon. He's developed a rapid heartbeat during his work outs and sudden spikes in blood pressure. He had an EKG and all was normal. They thought it was stress. What are the next steps?
There are a number of heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause a sudden rapid heartbeat during exercise. A normal evaluation in the emergency room typically will not reveal the rhythm problem because the evalu... continue reading about My son, 20, is leaving for boot camp soon. He's developed a rapid heartbeat during his work outs and sudden spikes in blood pressure. He had an EKG and all was normal. They thought it was stress. What are the next steps?
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