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
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
What is the difference between a pacemaker and a defibrillator? How reliable are they?
A pacemaker is an implanted device that is designed to keep your heart rate from getting too slow. It is given to patients who have too slow a heart rate that makes them feel weak, short of breath, or dizzy. Th... continue reading about What is the difference between a pacemaker and a defibrillator? How reliable are they?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
I take medication for high blood pressure. My current numbers are 138/87 to 140/94. Is that okay or should my medication be changed? It's been over a year since I started taking the medication.
The American Heart Association lists 120/80 and lower as normal blood pressure. The numbers you list would qualify as hypertension requiring treatment. It looks like your physician has appropiately started you ... continue reading about I take medication for high blood pressure. My current numbers are 138/87 to 140/94. Is that okay or should my medication be changed? It's been over a year since I started taking the medication.
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?
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 food supplement called red rice yeast, used in traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown by reasonable scientific studies to lower cholesterol as well as bad cardiovascular events by 15-30%. The suggested ... 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’m a 42-year-old woman. I run three to four times a week. My blood pressure is around 115/74. But I have horrifying heart palpitations at night. I’m exhausted. I did a 24-hour Holter monitor and am waiting for an event monitor. What’s happening?
Feeling your heart beat at night can be very scary. It sounds like you are pretty fit and healthy. It would be very rare, indeed, for palpitations at night to turn out to be something dangerous or worrisome. Sy... continue reading about I’m a 42-year-old woman. I run three to four times a week. My blood pressure is around 115/74. But I have horrifying heart palpitations at night. I’m exhausted. I did a 24-hour Holter monitor and am waiting for an event monitor. What’s happening?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Are symptoms of coronary artery disease the same in women and men?
This is a great question, as too often women are unaware that coronary artery disease is a serious health risk. Therefore, they don't get evaluated for heart disease, even though it could save their lives.Chest... continue reading about Are symptoms of coronary artery disease the same in women and men?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
Awhile ago my husband complained of a pounding heart. He said it felt like it was thumping against his chest. Tests showed that he was fine and it was probably caused by stress. How can we tell the difference between severe anxiety and a heart attack?
It is often very difficult to differentiate the symptoms of a heart attack from other causes. Even in the Emergency Department, with access to X-rays, EKG's, and fancy lab work, we sometimes cannot be 100 perce... continue reading about Awhile ago my husband complained of a pounding heart. He said it felt like it was thumping against his chest. Tests showed that he was fine and it was probably caused by stress. How can we tell the difference between severe anxiety and a heart attack?
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?
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