Planning on a road trip to visit family or flying somewhere exotic? Either way, if you’re watching out for a heart condition and you’re planning to travel, the first stop on your itinerary should be your doctor’s office. Talk with your doctor about how you’re feeling, where you want to
Nearly everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability, can find a hike that offers the right level of personal challenge. Like brisk walking, hiking is a good way to improve your cardiovascular fitness, particularly if your route includes some hills, which will increase your heart rate. And hiking may even
Everyone knows it’s important to keep our heart healthy, but here are a few facts to inspire you to do so: • The average heart beats about 115,000 times a day, or 42 million times a year. • It pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood a day through about 60,000
If you love a good laugh, scientists can now explain why. According to a recent study by the Maryland School of Medicine, laughter could literally save your life. Researchers found that laughter expands the endothelium—the protective barrier lining our blood vessels—and increases blood flow. This process reduces the risk of
If you like hot peppers, a new study by the Mediterranean Neurological Institute in Italy could give you reason to love them wholeheartedly. Among 25,000 participants monitored over eight years, the risk of dying from a heart attack was 40% lower among those eating chili peppers at least four times
While 50% of cardiovascular disease is genetic, you can still lower your risk even if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease. “You can greatly reduce a high genetic risk or greatly worsen a low genetic risk,” says Dr. Eugenia Gianos, director of Women’s Heart Health at Lenox Hill
And all you have to do is not smoke; control high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol; exercise regularly; and eat healthy. Easier said than done. According to a recent report from the American Heart Association, 121 million American adults have some form of heart disease. That’s nearly half of
Why do Japan, Korea and France have the world’s lowest rate of heart disease? What are they doing that we Americans don’t? And what are they not doing? Here are some examples: Smaller portions. The Japanese use the phrase “Hara Hachi Bu’ which means 80% full. One hundred percent full