Q. I’m wondering if I should get a test to check my calcium score. I’m 52 and in good health. My LDL cholesterol level is normal (97 mg/dL), but my father had a heart attack in his late 40s. A. The artery-clogging plaque that builds up inside the heart’s arteries contains cholesterol, inflammatory cells, scar…
The more salt people eat, the greater their risk of clogged heart and neck arteries, a new study suggests. Arteries narrowed by plaque (atherosclerosis) can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The study, published in March 2023 in the European Heart Journal Open, included 10,788 people ages 50 to 64. Researchers estimated each participant’s salt…
A heart-healthy diet that focuses on plant-based foods is closely tied to improved physical fitness, a new study finds. The study included 2,380 middle-aged people in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term, multigenerational study that seeks to uncover the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease. All participants underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, the gold standard for…
Sometimes there are good reasons to stick to denial — or equally good reasons to let go of it. At some point in life, everyone experiences denial, a natural response when you’re unable or unwilling to face the facts. Denial is not always a bad thing. But it might be easier to recognize in others…
