Heart Failure & AFib

Simpler heart device may work as well as standard pacemaker

A study found that a simpler two-lead heart device performed just as well as the traditional three-lead version in people with heart failure who needed a special pacemaker called cardiac resynchronization therapy — essentially a device that helps the heart's chambers beat in better sync. Researchers tracked over 600 patients for a year and found similar rates of death, hospital visits, and device problems between the two groups, suggesting the simpler device (which has one fewer wire implanted in the heart) may be a viable option. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.

Plant-based eating may cut heart disease risk

This research combined data from 23 studies and found that people with type 2 diabetes — and adults generally — who closely followed the Planetary Health Diet (an eating pattern built around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes like beans and lentils, and nuts, with little red meat or processed food) had about 17–18% lower chances of death or serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. The benefit wasn't all-or-nothing: meaningful risk reductions appeared once people reached a moderate-to-high level of the diet, suggesting that gradually eating more plants and less processed meat — even starting with one meal today — may matter. The researchers note these studies show a strong link but can't yet prove the diet directly causes these better outcomes, so this is promising but not the final word.

New procedure may help beyond just blood pressure

Researchers found that a procedure called renal denervation — where nerves near the kidneys are disrupted to help lower high blood pressure — may also have benefits beyond just blood pressure control. The study found it was linked to improvements in heart rhythm problems, sleep apnea (a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep), fasting blood sugar levels, and how well the heart's lower chambers relax and fill with blood. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.

Plant-Based Diet May Help Your Heart Health

A study found that eating more plant-based foods — like vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains — while cutting back on red meat and processed meat may help improve heart health in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers found this shift in eating habits was linked to a lower chance of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. The findings suggest that what people put on their plate regularly can make a meaningful difference for their heart over time.

30 Minutes of Exercise Weekly May Transform Your Health

5 Cannabis Risks Older Adults Should Know About

Be aware that cannabis use carries specific risks for adults over 65, including a higher chance of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, falls, and memory issues — and today's cannabis is much stronger than it used to be. It can also interact dangerously with other medications, so people in this age group taking any prescriptions should be especially cautious. Anyone who notices dizziness, confusion, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or unexpected changes in how their medications seem to work should reach out to their doctor.

Ultra-Processed Foods May Raise Heart Disease Risk

Researchers found that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods — things like packaged snacks, fast food, sugary drinks, and ready-made meals that are made in factories with added sugars, unhealthy fats, salt, and artificial ingredients — is consistently linked to higher risks of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, obesity, and death in people with type 2 diabetes and in the general population. These foods tend to be low in fiber and nutrients, which may make blood sugar control harder for people with diabetes. The researchers note that scientists are still working to fully understand exactly how and why these foods affect heart health.

High Coffee Intake May Raise Heart Attack Risk

A large analysis combining data from over 2.8 million people found that drinking higher amounts of coffee was linked to a 48% greater chance of having a heart attack compared to drinking very little coffee — though it did not appear to raise the overall risk of other heart conditions like heart failure. For people with type 2 diabetes, who already face a higher risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes, this is worth noting, though the research doesn't tell us exactly how many cups cross the line. Your doctor can help weigh whether current coffee habits make sense alongside any other heart or blood sugar concerns.

Do routine health checks actually prevent heart disease?

Researchers looked at whether routine 'health check' programmes — where adults get screened for things like high blood pressure or risk of serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes — actually help people stay healthier in countries where healthcare is free at the point of use. The idea is that catching these risks early, including in people with type 2 diabetes, might allow doctors to step in sooner and potentially prevent serious illness down the line. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.

Irregular heartbeat may cause hidden valve leaks

Researchers found that in some people with atrial fibrillation — an irregular heartbeat — the heart's upper chambers can stretch and widen over time, which may cause a valve called the mitral valve to leak in a way that has often gone unnoticed or undiagnosed. This matters because if doctors can better identify and treat this type of valve leakage, it could potentially improve outcomes for people living with atrial fibrillation down the road. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.

Frailty may triple death risk after heart surgery

Researchers combined data from 25 studies and found that older adults who were considered 'frail' — meaning they had reduced strength, energy, and ability to bounce back from stress — were roughly 3 to 4 times more likely to die after heart surgery compared to older adults who were not frail, and they also faced higher risks of complications like irregular heart rhythm, confusion, and stroke. This matters because it suggests that measuring frailty before surgery could help doctors and patients have more informed conversations about what to expect. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.

Best way to treat irregular heartbeat with heart failure

Researchers studied people who have both atrial fibrillation — an irregular heartbeat — and heart failure, and looked at whether the *way* doctors perform a procedure called catheter ablation (where abnormal electrical signals in the heart are targeted and corrected) makes a difference in outcomes. They found that a more thorough approach combining two different guiding techniques led to better results over three years, including fewer serious hospitalizations and more people staying in a normal heart rhythm. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.

Why COPD and heart disease often go together

According to guidelines jointly developed by seven medical societies in Spain — covering lung specialists, heart specialists, and primary care doctors — people living with COPD (a lung condition that makes breathing difficult) are more likely to also have heart disease, and having both conditions at the same time can make each one worse. The guidelines recommend a team-based approach where doctors from different specialties work together and coordinate care, rather than each treating only their one area. This matters because COPD and heart disease share overlapping symptoms, which can make it tricky to diagnose and manage both conditions properly without that kind of coordinated effort.

Heart rhythm procedure may help people with heart failure

Researchers found that for people living with both heart failure and atrial fibrillation — a condition where the heart beats irregularly — different treatment strategies were compared, including a procedure called catheter ablation (where doctors use heat or cold to correct the faulty electrical signals in the heart) versus medications that manage heart rhythm or heart rate. The study looked at how each approach affected survival, heart function, and quality of life across 16 studies and more than 5,700 patients. People with both conditions might find it helpful to ask their doctor which treatment strategy has been shown to work best for someone with their specific situation.