Heart Health

Cardiac arrhythmia—which is an irregular heartbeat where the heart beats too fast or too slow—is a common condition. Although most arrhythmias are harmless, some can be quite serious and even life threatening, as the heart may be unable to pump a sufficient supply of blood to the organs and tissues in the body resulting in ...click here to read more

Drinking alcohol—be it a couple of beers or a glass of wine—is generally considered a weekend or special occasion activity, but according to a new study, having a drink every day may help protect a person’s heart against disease. Yes, the beverage commonly associated with good times and drunken stupors may actually save lives, albeit ...click here to read more

Pericardial effusion is a condition that describes fluid accumulation around the heart. The double-layered structure that surrounds the heart is known as the pericardium, and there is normally a thin layer of fluid found between the layers. Fluid in greater amounts can accumulate in the pericardium as a result of an injury or disease—it can ...click here to read more

Patients who take statins to help lower and control their cholesterol levels should continue to do so up to and including on the day of their heart surgery. Statin use has been linked to better post-surgery survival rates in those who undergo heart surgery, and researchers are encouraging patients who are on the medication to ...click here to read more

Women using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve menopause symptoms may have a lower risk of death and better heart health than those who don’t, according to a study from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Researchers retrospectively examined the health records of over 4,200 women who were given a coronary calcium scan between 1998 and 2012. A ...click here to read more

We are all aware of the common tips for promoting heart health. Eating a balanced diet and frequently exercising are great preventive strategies. However, it pays to know what some unexpected heart attack triggers are, especially if you’re at risk. Lack of sleep: Not only does sleep deprivation make you tired all day, but it ...click here to read more

Your target heart rate is meant to be your goal when exercising in order to ensure that you are working out effectively while not overdoing it. Target heart rates vary based on personal fitness level and may be different for each individual. To find out how to calculate and reach your target heart rate, continue ...click here to read more

Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Day is Wednesday, February 22, 2017, and in recognition, we’ve gathered some of Bel Marra Health’s most recent articles with tips on aging, joint health, bladder health, and heart health. Sedentary lifestyle may accelerate biological aging: Study A new study from the University of California, San Diego, has found that elderly women ...click here to read more

February is American Heart Month, which is the perfect time to brush up on your heart health knowledge. Check out some of Bel Marra Health’s latest articles that provide information on enlarged hearts, the risk of heart attack, how sleep effects the heart, as well as cholesterol ratios and why they’re important. Enlarged heart (cardiomegaly): ...click here to read more

New research from McMaster University has shown that brief, intense bursts of stair climbing can boost your fitness and your heart health. The study examined whether interval training in the form of stair climbing could improve the cardiovascular health of healthy, but sedentary, women. For the first experiment, researchers gathered 31 female participants who led ...click here to read more

While we are often bombarded with information on how alcohol can damage your health, pack on the pounds, and worsen mental illnesses like depression, some studies show that having a drink may provide some surprising health benefits, as long as it’s done in moderation. Keep reading to learn how different alcohols may help to improve ...click here to read more

Experiencing any sort of chest pain can be worrisome, and this is especially true of chest pain that comes and goes. You may think it was just a passing discomfort that has been resolved, but the pain returns and reignites your worry that something could be seriously wrong. What causes chest pain that comes and ...click here to read more

In recognition of World Cancer Day—taking place on February 4, 2017—Bel Marra Health has put together a roundup of articles featuring information on colorectal cancer and prostate cancer, as well as how these diseases relate to and are affected by diabetes, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Enzyme may prevent tumor growth in colorectal cancer Researchers ...click here to read more

The American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, has asserted that the timing and planning of meals could impact your heart health. Habits including eating breakfast and planning when you will eat your meals and snacks are associated with healthier diets, which may help to reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The frequency and time that ...click here to read more