Ask the Harvard Experts: Details of Your Family Medical History Influence Heart Disease Risk
Q: I am filling out a form that asks for my family medical history. My father died of what we think was a heart attack at age 84. But no one else in my family had heart disease that I know of. Does that mean I check “yes” on that question? A: That’s the problem […]
Heart disease is a woman’s disease
Environmental Nutrition In the U.S., 1 in 4 women will die from heart disease — almost half a million deaths each year — yet the perception that heart disease is primarily a man’s disease persists. An American Heart Association survey found that fewer than one-half of American women are aware that heart disease is their […]
Heart risk similar for all NSAIDs other than aspirin
Q: I take ibuprofen almost every day for arthritis pain. I keep reading about warnings regarding a higher risk of heart problems in people that take these kinds of anti-inflammatory drugs. Should I be taking a different one? A: Despite new research, the answer is unclear. Like you, millions of people with aching joints and […]
Waist size trumps body weight to gauge heart disease risk
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I recently met my new doctor. He was worried about my waist size. I’ve always had a big belly but I have never been overweight. What’s more important: body weight or waist size? A: That’s terrific that your doctor focused on your waist […]
