AHA News: At 17, He Received a New Heart. By 23, He Began Transitioning.

• American Heart Association News
• June 18, 2021
• Full Page

For most transgender people, starting hormone therapy requires a therapist's approval. As the recipient of a new heart, Maddox Jones also needed his transplant team's OK.

"It was a long and difficult process, because they weren't necessarily educated, nor do I think they...

AHA News: Preterm Babies May Have Higher Stroke Risk as Young Adults

• American Heart Association News
• June 17, 2021
• Full Page

Babies born prematurely may have significantly higher risk of stroke as young adults – and the earlier the birth, the greater the risk, suggests an extensive new study.

Although people born prematurely have been shown to have higher risk of high blood pressure and oth...

AHA News: At 27, She Collapsed in the Shower From a Stroke

• American Heart Association News
• June 16, 2021
• Full Page

Veronica Cardello hopped in the shower on a Tuesday morning, her thoughts drifting to the full slate of meetings awaiting her at work. Picking up her shampoo bottle, it slipped through her fingers.

"Every time I went to grab for it, I just dropped it," said Veronica, who...

AHA News: Misguided Masculinity Keeps Many Men From Visiting the Doctor

• American Heart Association News
• June 15, 2021
• Full Page

It's a cliché that men don't like to visit the doctor. But unlike tropes about refusing to ask for directions or put away their laundry, this one has serious health ramifications.

It's a fact that men are less likely than women to get preventive screenings, seek timely ...

Odds for Death, Hospital Care Rise When Statins Are Stopped

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• June 14, 2021
• Full Page

Living longer often means living with multiple health problems and numerous medications to manage them. Understandably, many doctors and their patients wonder if any of these drugs can be discontinued safely.

A new study from Italy suggests statins should not be culled f...

AHA News: U.S. Appears to Lose Ground in Controlling High Blood Pressure

• American Heart Association News
• June 14, 2021
• Full Page

After years of improvement, high blood pressure control in the U.S. dropped regardless of age, race or ethnicity, according to new research.

Previous studies found Americans with high blood pressure were better managing the condition in the early years of the 21st centur...

AHA News: Video Gaming Helps Heart Defect Survivor Connect With Others in the LGBTQ Community and Beyond

• American Heart Association News
• June 11, 2021
• Full Page

Mike Lane's heart journey began as a newborn - when his skin turned blue.

He was 2 days old when a cardiologist realized the reason. He was born with several congenital heart defects, including a missing ventricular septum, a narrowing of the pulmonary artery called sten...

Old Age No Bar to Successful Heart Transplant, Study Finds

• Robert Preidt
• June 11, 2021
• Full Page

People over 70 are far less likely to be considered for or to receive a new heart -- even though new research suggests their survival rates after transplant are similar to those of younger patients.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data on more than 57,000 adults ...

AHA News: Why Everyone Should Care About Health Disparities - And What to Do About Them

• American Heart Association News
• June 10, 2021
• Full Page

The coronavirus pandemic and the equity movement have shined a spotlight on longstanding systemic problems that contribute to health disparities linked with factors such as race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status and sexual identity.

But health disparities don't only af...

'Plant-Based' or Low-Fat Diet: Which Is Better for Your Heart?

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• June 9, 2021
• Full Page

Hoping to eat your way to a healthier heart?

Diets rich in plant foods may beat low-fat eating regimens for cutting the risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study finds.

Saturated fat, the kind largely found in animal products, has long been viewed as the enemy ...

AHA News: Overcoming Midlife Barriers to Exercise and Better Health

• American Heart Association News
• June 9, 2021
• Full Page

It can literally be as easy as a walk in the park.

Just 30 minutes of movement - anything that gets your heart beating faster - five times a week is all it takes to meet federal guidelines for physical activity. In fact, the goal is 150 minutes a week, whether it's split...

Many Heart Disease Patients Keep Smoking, Despite Knowing Risks

• Cara Murez
• June 9, 2021
• Full Page

Smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products increases heart risks, but that doesn't stop some Americans with a history of heart problems, new research finds.

Many continue to smoke after having a heart attack, heart failure or stroke even though they are aware of ...

Death Rates Are Rising Across Rural America

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

In rural America, more people die from chronic health conditions and substance abuse than in suburbs and cities, and the gap is widening.

Researchers report in a new study that the difference in rural and urban death rates tripled over the past 20 years mostly due to dea...

AHA News: His Grandpa and Mom Died of the Same Heart Condition He Has

• American Heart Association News
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

Running late after a hectic day, Jimmy Fremgen sprinted up a flight of stairs to his apartment. His hands shook so wildly he had trouble fitting the key into the lock.

Once inside, his heart pounded so rapidly he couldn't count the beats. And as someone born with a heart...

AHA News: Asian and Pacific Islander Women May Be at Greatest Risk for Preeclampsia Complications

• American Heart Association News
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

Black women are most likely to develop a severe form of high blood pressure during pregnancy called preeclampsia, a new study shows. But Asian and Pacific Islander women may have the highest risk for developing cardiovascular complications from the condition.

The study, ...

Fewer Than 1 in 10 American Adults Get Enough Dietary Fiber

• Cara Murez
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, June 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) - If you're like most American adults, it might be time to reach for a piece of fruit, a plate of vegetables or a bowl of whole grains.

Only 7% of adults get enough fiber, a type of carbohydrate that passes through the body undigest...

AHA News: As the Pandemic Wanes, Get Kids on the Road to Good Health This Summer

• American Heart Association News
• June 7, 2021
• Full Page

Nice weather and a receding pandemic should make for a joyous, memorable summer, especially after a year of lockdowns, frustration and discouraging news. For kids, and their parents, it's also a chance to get back on the road to normal after a long COVID-19 detour.

"I'm ...

AHA News: Legally Blind Photographer Overcomes Heart Surgery During the Pandemic

• American Heart Association News
• June 4, 2021
• Full Page

When Arthur Castro was born, doctors could immediately tell something was wrong. The color of his skin belied trouble with his heart that hadn't been picked up on several ultrasounds typical of a routine pregnancy.

"His oxygen was very low. He was very purple and blue, a...

ER Visits for Heart Attacks Rebounded After Pandemic Decline

• Robert Preidt
• June 4, 2021
• Full Page

Emergency care for heart attacks and strokes rebounded in Northern California after initially plummeting in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers say.

That's good news, suggesting that public health campaigns urging people to seek care if they had signs...

Strokes Hitting COVID Patients Are More Severe: Study

• Robert Preidt
• June 3, 2021
• Full Page

COVID-19 patients are at increased risk for severe strokes, according to a new study that also found that the overall risk of stroke is higher in younger patients.

Researchers analyzed data from 432 COVID-19 patients in 17 countries who suffered strokes and found they we...

AHA News: As the Mercury Rises, Follow These 5 Summer Survival Tips

• American Heart Association News
• June 3, 2021
• Full Page

As the days get longer and the temperature rises, summer is an ideal time to enjoy outdoor activities. Following some simple advice can increase the odds you'll surf through the season without so much as a sunburn.

Mind the latest pandemic rules

Th...

AHA News: Menopause Before 40 Tied to Higher Stroke Risk

• American Heart Association News
• June 3, 2021
• Full Page

Early menopause could mean an increased risk of stroke caused by blocked blood vessels, according to a new study. Yet for each year of menopause delay, stroke risk fell by 2%.

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, and women have a 4% higher lifetime stro...

AHA News: Is Mango the Luscious Superhero of Fruit?

• American Heart Association News
• June 2, 2021
• Full Page

If mangoes could be any more of a nutritional hero, they might need to wear capes.

The luscious, sweet tropical fruits are packed with so many vitamins and minerals they are great for our hearts, skin, eyes, and digestive and immune systems.

Packing more than 20 vi...

Aortic Tears Are Even More Deadly for Women, Study Finds

• Robert Preidt
• June 2, 2021
• Full Page

Women may have different symptoms and are more likely to die after acute aortic dissection than men, a new study finds.

Up to 40% of patients die instantly from this spontaneous tear in one of the body's main arteries, and the risk of death increases about 1% for every h...

Mom's Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Could Affect Child's Stroke Risk Decades Later

• Robert Preidt
• June 1, 2021
• Full Page

Expectant mothers' high blood pressure heightens kids' risk of stroke later in life, a Swedish study finds.

"Our findings indicate that hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are associated with increased risks of stroke and potentially heart disease in offspring up to ...

AHA News: CPR, Defibrillator Save Man's Life After He Collapses Playing Rec Basketball

• American Heart Association News
• June 1, 2021
• Full Page

Kevin Marcus Miller joined a rec basketball league in Seattle to get more exercise, meet new people and balance out a life that had become too dominated by work.

Minutes into his second game, the 25-year-old was dribbling up the court when he went down on one knee.

Amazon Tribe Could Hold Key to Health of Aging Brains

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• May 28, 2021
• Full Page

A native South American population that lives a pre-industrial lifestyle may have a slower rate of brain aging than the typical Westerner, a new study finds.

The study focused on the Tsimane population, whose roughly 16,000 members dwell in a remote part of the Bolivian ...

Having OCD May Triple a Person's Odds for a Stroke

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• May 27, 2021
• Full Page

Adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a common mental health condition known as OCD, may have more than triple the risk of having a stroke, according to a new report from Taiwanese researchers.

As to why, the study authors aren't sure.

The investigators specu...

AHA News: Deep Disparities Persist in Who Gets Exposed to Secondhand Smoke

• American Heart Association News
• May 27, 2021
• Full Page

Harmful secondhand tobacco smoke remains more widespread than most people think, experts say, and exposure is particularly high for children, Black adults and people living below the poverty line.

One of the biggest hurdles is smokers often underestimate the levels of ex...

AHA News: College Kid Couldn't Shake Headache - Until Other Symptoms Revealed a Stroke

• American Heart Association News
• May 27, 2021
• Full Page

Soon after turning 21, Jacob York and his buddies from the University of Missouri were in Miami Beach, Florida, for spring break. They spent their days by the shore and nights at the bar.

So when he felt an incredibly sore throat and a headache, he chalked it up to too m...

Birth Order, Family Size May Affect Heart Health

• Cara Murez
• May 26, 2021
• Full Page

It's known that genetics and lifestyle can affect your heart health. Now, researchers say, your birth order and family size may also have an impact.

A new Swedish study found that first-born children had a lower...

AHA News: How Much Harm Can a Little Excess Salt Do? Plenty

• American Heart Association News
• May 26, 2021
• Full Page

Many people know too much salt in their diet is a bad thing. Not nearly as many know exactly why.

"They're surprised at the degree to which it can affect them," said Dr. Cheryl Laffer, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. "And at the ...

AHA News: Surprisingly Few Women May Have Good Heart Health Before Pregnancy

• American Heart Association News
• May 26, 2021
• Full Page

Less than half of U.S. women entering pregnancy have good heart health, and those rates are falling, according to new research.

Experts already knew poor heart health can have dire consequences for mothers-to-be. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of a mother's ...

Testosterone Might Influence COVID Severity in Men

• Robert Preidt
• May 26, 2021
• Full Page

Low testosterone levels may increase men's risk of severe COVID-19, according to a new study.

On average, men fare worse with COVID-19 than women.

"During the pandemic, there has been a prevailing notion that testosterone is bad. But we found the opposite in men," ...

AHA News: El vínculo entre la depresión y las enfermedades del corazón tiene un doble sentido

• American Heart Association News
• May 25, 2021
• Full Page

El día en que Jordan Chaffiotte, de 23 años, fue dada de alta del hospital tras su exitosa operación a corazón abierto debería haber sido feliz. Un motivo de celebración.

En cambio, se encontró sollozando en la sala con sus padres y su hermana, luchando contra la ...

AHA News: Link Between Depression and Heart Disease Cuts Both Ways

• American Heart Association News
• May 25, 2021
• Full Page

The day 23-year-old Jordan Chaffiotte was discharged from the hospital following her successful open-heart surgery should have been a happy one. A cause for celebration.

Instead, she found herself sobbing in the living room with her parents and sister, struggling with gu...

AHA News: Woman's Frozen Face, Garbled Speech During Zoom Call Were Signs of a Stroke

• American Heart Association News
• May 25, 2021
• Full Page

At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Dorothy Farris organized "Cocktails and Conversation," a weekly hourlong Zoom session with a group of old friends. Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. quickly became a cherished part of their routines.

They talked about everything from whe...

Fat Around Your Heart Could Be Especially Deadly

• Robert Preidt
• May 25, 2021
• Full Page

Too much fat around your heart could increase your risk of heart failure, especially if you're a woman, researchers warn.

They looked at nearly 7,000 45- to 84-year-olds across the United States who had no evidence of heart disease on initial CT scans. Over more than 17 ...

AHA News: Depression and Anxiety Linked to Lower Levels of Heart Health in Young Adults

• American Heart Association News
• May 24, 2021
• Full Page

Young adults with depression or anxiety may be more likely to have lower levels of cardiovascular health, new research shows.

Adults ages 18-34 who have moderate to severe anxiety or depression were more likely to smoke and have excess weight, and were less likely to get...

Elections Can Be Tough on Americans' Hearts

• Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
• May 21, 2021
• Full Page

A U.S. presidential election can be hard on your heart.

That's the takeaway from two new studies that look back on the 2016 race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

For one, researchers investigated heart rhythm disorders in more than 2,4...

AHA News: Kids With Sleep Apnea Into Teen Years Could Develop High Blood Pressure

• American Heart Association News
• May 21, 2021
• Full Page

Children with obstructive sleep apnea who don't outgrow it by adolescence have nearly three times the risk of high blood pressure as teens compared to those without the breathing issue, a new long-term study shows.

But children whose sleep apnea disappears in adolescence...

AHA News: Discrimination May Change Heart Structure in Hispanic Adults

• American Heart Association News
• May 21, 2021
• Full Page

Hispanic adults who experience perceived discrimination are more likely to have changes in the structure of their heart that may lead to cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

In the past, scientists have uncovered possible links between discrimination and ca...

When Cardiac Deaths Rose During Pandemic, Minorities Suffered Most

• Robert Preidt
• May 21, 2021
• Full Page

During the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, heart disease and stroke deaths rose in the United States, but a new study shows the increases were much larger in minority groups.

Researchers compared monthly cause-of-death data for March to April 2020 to the same p...

AHA News: A Baby's Gut Bacteria May Predict Future Obesity

• American Heart Association News
• May 20, 2021
• Full Page

New research into the growing problem of early childhood obesity suggests the bacteria in a baby's gut may indicate weight problems in the years to come.

Researchers examined gut microbiota - bacteria and other microbes in the digestive system - of babies, as well as the...

AHA News: Black People in Rural Areas More Likely Than White People to Die From Diabetes, High Blood Pressure

• American Heart Association News
• May 20, 2021
• Full Page

The rate of deaths related to diabetes and high blood pressure among Black people over the past two decades improved in urban areas, according to a new study, but rural communities are lagging.

Scientists have known for years that people in rural areas of the U.S. were m...

AHA News: Months After Learning to Walk Again, 24-Year-Old Finally Learns What Caused Her Paralysis

• American Heart Association News
• May 19, 2021
• Full Page

One morning when she was 24, Andrea Paez woke up to find dark red blood on her pillow. She felt exhausted and nauseous, with a pounding headache.

Looking in the mirror, she realized the blood had come from her nose.

Andrea had had occasional seizures throughout her...

AHA News: Is It Normal Aging or Early Signs of Dementia?

• American Heart Association News
• May 19, 2021
• Full Page

Misplacing keys. Forgetting names. Struggling to find the right word. Walking into a room and forgetting why.

Are these early signs of dementia? Or normal signs of aging?

It all depends on the circumstances, health experts say. To distinguish between changes associ...

AHA News: A Stroke at 34 Rocked Her Family's World

• American Heart Association News
• May 18, 2021
• Full Page

Lisa Anderson shook her husband, Jacob, awake.

"I just got off the phone with the nurse," she told him. "She said I could have a stroke."

Jacob bolted out of bed, trying to make sense of the news. It was around 1:30 a.m. on Easter.

Lisa had had a terrible hea...

AHA News: Research Into Asian American Health Doesn't Always Reflect Their Diversity

• American Heart Association News
• May 18, 2021
• Full Page

Large health studies sometimes paint a rosy picture of Asian Americans in comparison with other groups. But when researchers aren't using a broad brush, the portrait can be quite different.

When viewed not as a single entity of 20 million people but as people of Chinese,...

Low- or High-Dose, Aspirin Brings Similar Protection Against Heart Disease: Study

• Steven Reinberg
• May 18, 2021
• Full Page

When it comes to taking a daily aspirin to cut heart patients' risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study finds dosing doesn't matter.

Researchers looked at more than 15,000 heart disease patients at 40 health centers across the United States who took either 81 milligr...