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Heart Health

You can lower your risk of heart disease by making some easy lifestyle changes. Plus, learn what numbers you need to watch.

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

    Doctor checking blood pressure

    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.

    Tomatoes

    How to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

    By changing a few daily habits, you may be able to control your blood pressure without medication.

    View All Heart Health Articles

    Heart Health Resources

    English

    Understanding Heart Failure (PDF)

    How to Monitor Weight, Blood Pressure and Heart Rate (PDF)

    Heart Failure and Exercise (PDF)

    Heart Failure Medication (PDF)

    Healthy Habits to Improve Sleep (PDF)

    Lower your Sodium (PDF)

    How to Choose Low Sodium Foods (PDF)

    Stress Management (PDF)

    Monitoring Heart Failure at Home (Tool)

    Managing Swelling and Fluid Retention (Tool)

    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)

    Manejo del estres (PDF)

    Controlar la insuficiencia cardiaca en casa (tool)

    Manejar la hinchazon y la sobrecarga de liquidos (tool)

    See how our services can help you prevent heart disease.

    Ask an Expert

    Richard H. Hongo

    Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC

    Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

    I'm a woman (52) who's had heart palpitations for 20 years. Now they happen more often. I get 10 - 50/day where I feel my heart skip around. I've been to cardiologists and they find nothing wrong and say it's just PVCs and PACs. Should I worry?

    In general, premature atrial complexes (PACs) and premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) are not harmful. This holds especially true if there is nothing else wrong with the heart. When someone presents with both... continue reading  about  I'm a woman (52) who's had heart palpitations for 20 years. Now they happen more often. I get 10 - 50/day where I feel my heart skip around. I've been to cardiologists and they find nothing wrong and say it's just PVCs and PACs. Should I worry?

    Junaid H. Khan

    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

    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?

    Nobl Barazangi

    Nobl Barazangi, M.D., Ph.D.

    Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

    What is a mini stroke? Are there any warning signs before it happens?

    "Mini-stroke" is a term that commonly refers to the medical condition transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA refers to loss of neurologic function that is transient (less than 24 hours). These occur due to blocka... continue reading  about  What is a mini stroke? Are there any warning signs before it happens?

    Richard H. Hongo

    Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC

    Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

    My heart has been skipping and I'm feeling dizzy. I went in for testing and was diagnosed with second degree heart block. The doctor said that if it goes to third degree, he might suggest a pacemaker. What can I do to avoid moving to third degree?

    When the heart beat starts to slow down, or when the conduction starts to block every so often, sometimes it is because a medication is stressing the heart's electrical system. If there are no medications to ac... continue reading  about  My heart has been skipping and I'm feeling dizzy. I went in for testing and was diagnosed with second degree heart block. The doctor said that if it goes to third degree, he might suggest a pacemaker. What can I do to avoid moving to third degree?

    Astrin Damayanti

    Astrin Damayanti, R.D.

    Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

    I'm a woman (51) who has diabetes. I read recently that women with diabetes have a much greater risk of developing heart disease than those who don't have it. Why is this, and what can I do to protect myself from heart problems?

    Statistics have shown that the leading causes of death among people with diabetes are heart disease and stroke. That is because people with diabetes often times have hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and they... continue reading  about  I'm a woman (51) who has diabetes. I read recently that women with diabetes have a much greater risk of developing heart disease than those who don't have it. Why is this, and what can I do to protect myself from heart problems?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    How much does alcohol contribute to high cholesterol, and can I drink while taking Lipitor?

    Moderation is the key, as in many areas of health. In general, moderate alcohol consumption, medically defined as up to two drinks per day for men and one per day for women (different metabolism), has been show... continue reading  about  How much does alcohol contribute to high cholesterol, and can I drink while taking Lipitor?

    Steven C. Hao

    Steven C. Hao, M.D., FACC

    Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

    If you are a cardiac patient, what does it mean when your ankles are swollen? How much is too much, and for how long? Could this be diet, meds or both?

    Ankle swelling can be due to a number of issues, with cardiac issues likely to be the most concerning. Other causes include, but are not limited to, venous insufficiency (incompetent valves), venous thrombosis ... continue reading  about  If you are a cardiac patient, what does it mean when your ankles are swollen? How much is too much, and for how long? Could this be diet, meds or both?

    Nobl Barazangi

    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?

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