Healthy Living Tips

Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder. It affects more than 40 million people worldwide, and it becomes more common with age. While AF can be serious, the good news is that treatment options have advanced rapidly in recent years. Patients now have more ways to live well with the condition.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, yet many aren’t aware of this sobering statistic. Despite the fact that about 44% of the female population (more than 60 million women) are living with some form of cardiovascular disease—only about half of U.S. women recognize heart disease as their number one health threat.

For decades, low-dose aspirin was a regular recommendation to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But recent research is reshaping that advice. Dr. Michael Miedema, MD, MPH, director of the Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health at Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation shares the latest recommendations, and they might surprise you.

High blood pressure often shows no symptoms—earning it the nickname as the “silent killer.” It can lead to many conditions, including heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. Genetics, age, and environment all contribute to high blood pressure (also called hypertension). 

If you peek inside the average American home, you might find fish oil supplements. Long promoted for heart-health benefits due to their omega-3 fatty acids, these capsules have become increasingly common. But, according to Dr. Michael Miedema, Director of Cardiovascular Prevention at the Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, the benefit of fish oil supplements for cardiovascular disease prevention may be overstated.

Although its name suggests otherwise, heart failure isn’t a condition where the heart has truly failed; rather, the heart has trouble keeping up with the body’s needs.  This can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs, and fluid buildup.

Food is more than fuel—it’s medicine for your heart. Every bite you take can impact your heart and vascular health. By focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods and limiting ultra-processed foods, you can nourish your body and maintain a healthy heart.

An individual’s heart will beat close to three billion times in an 80-year lifespan. Keeping that rhythm steady is important to overall health – but as many as 10.5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, or Afib, a condition of disorganized rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart.