News & Articles

When it comes to heart health, what is good for you is good for your whole family—including its youngest members. We now know that two-thirds of teenagers have at least one risk factor for heart disease, from being overweight and “couch potato-itis” to unhealthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Even more disturbing, about one million… Read More »

This well-known “wonder drug” is an antiplatelet medicine that can help to lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke for those who have already had one. Aspirin also can help to keep arteries open in those who have had a heart bypass or other artery-opening procedure, such as angioplasty. In addition, aspirin is… Read More »

The good news is that quitting smoking immediately reduces your risk of heart disease and other serious disorders, with the benefit increasing over time. Just 1 year after you stop smoking, your heart disease risk will drop by more than half. Within several years, it will approach the heart disease risk of someone who has… Read More »

Regular physical activity is a powerful way to reduce your risk of heart disease. Physical activity directly helps prevent heart problems. Staying active also helps prevent and control high blood pressure, keep cholesterol levels healthy, and prevent and control diabetes. Plus, regular physical activity is a great way to help take off extra pounds—and keep… Read More »

Seven Secrets of Weight Management If you have ever tried to take off weight, you know that it’s more than a matter of promising yourself that you’ll eat less and move more. You also need to mentally prepare yourself for new behaviors. Here are some tips for getting and staying in a healthy weight mindset…. Read More »

Getting Started Losing weight and keeping it off can be a challenge. It is frustrating to work hard to lose the weight and then see it starting to creep up. Below are some helpful tips to help you lose the weight and then to keep it off. Eat for health Choose a variety of nutritious… Read More »

How much fat you may include in your diet depends on how many calories you consume daily and whether you have high cholesterol or heart disease. If you do NOT have high cholesterol or heart disease the saturated fat in your diet should be less than 10% of your daily calories. Total fat should be… Read More »

  If your LDL cholesterol is above your goal level, you should start on the TLC eating plan right away. Consuming foods that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol contributes to high levels of LDL cholesterol. On the TLC Eating Plan you should aim for: Less than 7 percent of the day’s total… Read More »

The last several weeks in our Guide to a Healthy Heart we have spent time talking about risk factors. What they are and how they affect your heart health. Understanding what your risk factors for heart disease will help you and your healthcare team create a plan of action. According to research you can greatly… Read More »

This week in our A Guide to a Healthy Heart series we will continue talking about other risk factors for heart disease. There are some factors that are specific to women and hormone usage, both for menopause and for birth control. Menopausal Hormone Therapy Menopausal hormone therapy was once thought to help ward off heart… Read More »