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.
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
Nobl Barazangi, M.D., Ph.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
My dad had a stroke about a year ago and is doing better now, but it made me wonder - is there any way to prevent another one from happening (like a better diet, exercise)?
There are several things that a patient can do to prevent another stroke or TIA. First and foremost, the patient should make sure that they are following up with their primary doctor or neurologist, to ensure t... continue reading about My dad had a stroke about a year ago and is doing better now, but it made me wonder - is there any way to prevent another one from happening (like a better diet, exercise)?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
Recently I was having pressure in my chest and pain in my neck and arms. I thought I was having a heart attack. The ER doctor said I have angina. How is angina different from a heart attack?
Angina (also called angina pectoris) is defined as: “a condition marked by severe pain in the chest, often also spreading to the shoulders, arms, and neck, owing to an inadequate blood supply to the heart... continue reading about Recently I was having pressure in my chest and pain in my neck and arms. I thought I was having a heart attack. The ER doctor said I have angina. How is angina different from a heart attack?
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've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?
I am sorry for your losses.Cardiomyopathy can be a serious condition. In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, patients can have dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, edema, and in some cases hepatic or kidne... continue reading about I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again?
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia a few years ago. I can usually keep it under control, except when I over exercise or if I've been stressed. Then my heart rate goes really up. Is there anything I can do to keep this from happening?
Control of ventricular tachycardia depends a lot on the type of tachycardia that you have. Based on the fact you have had this for several years and have been controlling it without medications, you most likely... continue reading about I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia a few years ago. I can usually keep it under control, except when I over exercise or if I've been stressed. Then my heart rate goes really up. Is there anything I can do to keep this from happening?
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
I have occasional rapid heartbeats, which my doctor recently diagnosed as PSVD. But I have no other heart conditions. So he did not suggest any type of treatment except to avoid certain things like alcohol. Is there anything else I should be doing?
PSVTs, or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias, are generally quite bothersome, but almost never life-threatening. The only time when PSVTs can pose serious danger is in the rare setting of Wolff-Parkinson-... continue reading about I have occasional rapid heartbeats, which my doctor recently diagnosed as PSVD. But I have no other heart conditions. So he did not suggest any type of treatment except to avoid certain things like alcohol. Is there anything else I should be doing?
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?
Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
I've been on medication for atrial fibrillation for a number of years. Would it ever be okay to discontinue the medication to see if my arrhythmia is no longer there?
Generally, it is not a good idea to suddenly stop a medication that has been taken for years to manage atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is typically a progressive and chronic condition that, without an intervention... continue reading about I've been on medication for atrial fibrillation for a number of years. Would it ever be okay to discontinue the medication to see if my arrhythmia is no longer there?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Eden Medical Center
What are the most ignored signs of heart disease?
Excellent question.When it comes to heart disease or heart attacks, minutes could be the difference between life and death. Most people are familiar with the TV version of a heart attack, with a man clutching h... continue reading about What are the most ignored signs of heart disease?