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
![Doctor checking blood pressure](/images/health-topics/heart-disease/doctor-checking-blood-pressure-of-african-american-patient-280x150.jpg)
Four Health Numbers You Should Know
The four numbers that reveal crucial information about your health, and what you can do to improve them.
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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.
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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 mom had a stroke about seven months ago. Although she is slowly recovering from it, she seems depressed to me. Is this just part of the recovery, or should I talk to her about it so that she can get some sort of treatment?
Depression is a common occurrence after stroke, and can occur in approximately 20-60 percent of stroke patients, depending on which research study you look at. The depressive symptoms may be in addition to the ... continue reading about My mom had a stroke about seven months ago. Although she is slowly recovering from it, she seems depressed to me. Is this just part of the recovery, or should I talk to her about it so that she can get some sort of treatment?
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?
Nobl Barazangi, M.D., Ph.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
What are the effects of hormone replacement therapy on a person who has a history of lacunar stroke?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown to increase the risk of ischemic stroke (lacunar stroke is a subtype of ischemic stroke). Although the absolute risk of complications such as stroke is relativel... continue reading about What are the effects of hormone replacement therapy on a person who has a history of lacunar stroke?
Toni J. Brayer, M.D.
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
How do I know if my heart is healthy enough for sex?
This is a common question from anyone who has had a heart attack or has been diagnosed with a heart problem. The Scientific Journal, Circulation, reported on thousands of patients with coronary artery disease w... continue reading about How do I know if my heart is healthy enough for sex?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
How does the sac that surrounds the heart become infected?
The “sac that surrounds the heart” is called the pericardium. The pericardium is a fibroelastic sac that contains 15 to 50 cc of fluid and surrounds and protects the heart. Pericarditis, or an infla... continue reading about How does the sac that surrounds the heart become infected?
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?
Powell O. Jose, M.D., FACC
Sutter Medical Foundation
My 86-year-old mom just passed away from aortic valve stenosis. Should I contact my doctor and have my heart checked out? I've heard that most heart exams are geared for men more so than women. What should I do?
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Aortic valve stenosis is a narrowing of one of your heart's valves that prevents it from opening fully. This can obstruct blood flow in your heart from going onward to t... continue reading about My 86-year-old mom just passed away from aortic valve stenosis. Should I contact my doctor and have my heart checked out? I've heard that most heart exams are geared for men more so than women. What should I do?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
If you have been diagnosed with a coronary blockage, what treatment options are available?
There are always things that the doctor and patient can do to improve symptoms when one has a coronary blockage, or a narrowed artery to the heart. I can't emphasize enough the importance of both the health car... continue reading about If you have been diagnosed with a coronary blockage, what treatment options are available?
Gary F. Milechman, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
When is blood pressure too low? Also what are the signs of low blood pressure, and should it be treated?
Blood pressure refers to the pressure inside the major arteries of the body. The left ventricle of the heart contracts and pumps the blood out of the aorta, which delivers blood to the brain, arms, legs, organs... continue reading about When is blood pressure too low? Also what are the signs of low blood pressure, and should it be treated?
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