by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Jan 13, 2024 | Heart Health
Having blood triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dL puts you at increased risk for a heart attack, stroke, or heart valve disease, even if your blood cholesterol levels are normal. Triglyceride levels can be measured with routine blood tests. Safe triglyceride level are...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Dec 15, 2023 | Heart Health
A study from the UK examined the links between having a big belly, amount of physical activity and risk for a heart attack (Br J Sports Med, Nov 8, 2023;0:1-8, UK Biobank). The study followed 70,830 people, average age 61, for 6.8 years and in that time, 2795 suffered...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Dec 11, 2023 | Heart Health
At the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions (November 13, 2023), researchers presented the results of the 11,255 patient ESPRIT trial of patients who also had diabetes and/or a past history of a stroke. When they were treated very aggressively for three...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Nov 25, 2023 | Heart Health
A new study found that reducing daily sodium (salt) intake by one teaspoon per day significantly lowered systolic blood pressure in as little as a week (JAMA, Nov 11, 2023). The study participants were 213 adults, ages 50-75, who had: • normal blood pressure, or •...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Nov 13, 2023 | Heart Health
It is overwhelmingly established that exercise helps to prevent heart attacks (J Am Coll Cardiol, 2016;67:316–329), but a recent study showed that very vigorous exercise may be associated with increased plaque size (Circulation, Mar 28, 2023;147(13):993-1003). For...
by Dr. Gabe Mirkin | Oct 20, 2023 | Heart Health
In Europe, fish oil pills must now list that atrial fibrillation is a common side effect, according to the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee of the European Medicines Agency (Medscape, October 13, 2023). Fish oil pills are also called omega-3 supplements and...
