General Resources
 

Heart Failure: New Research Shows Male/Female Differences

Heart failure is a condition which occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.  It’s a serious disease that affects approximately 5 million people in the U.S. and accounts for 300,000 deaths each year.  Recent research shows risk factors for developing heart failure (HF) and patient prognosis may be different for men and women.

Six Behavioral Changes You Can Make to Protect Your Heart

With the economic down turn, health care crisis, and unemployment on the rise, stress seems almost palpable. And recent research suggests that emotional stress can take a toll on our cardiovascular health. Needless to say, we can all use a breather.  And here's the good news, there are six things you can do starting today that will reduce your stress and increase your heart health.  Dr. Kennedy discusses the results on a new study.

3 Simple Keys to Heart Health

The key to heart health, says cardiologist Dr. John Kennedy, is learning to incorporate the triple threat approach to prevent cardiovascular disease - diet, exercise and stress management. So, when setting your health and fitness goals this year, be sure to include realistic portions of each of the three main principles in your plan.

Advancements in Cardiac Surgery

Cardiovascular disease is the number one health issue for women in the U.S.  And, because of this, many women will find themselves undergoing heart surgery. There have been major advancements in cardiac surgery over the last 50 years.   Dr. Kennedy reviews these technology advancements and what their implications are for you.

More About Your Heart

Questions about heart attacks and women? Prognosis and sex afterward? Read informative and encouraging articles by our cardiologist expert Dr. John Kennedy.

Got the Blues? Your Heart May Be Out of Rhythm

Depression is known to be a marker for poor prognosis after a heart attack and it may also be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, similar to high blood pressure and cholesterol.  Dr. Kennedy discusses why you should take depression seriously.

One More Time on Good vs. Bad Fat

You've heard about the difference between good and bad fat a thousand times but you're still confused, right? Well, it is confusing. Check out cardiologist Dr. John Kennedy's simple breakdown.

Dr. Kennedy Looks Into Some "Vices"

Dr. Kennedy, cardiologist, has been studying the medical research on the impact of consuming three of his personal vices, chocolate, alcohol and coffee, on heart health.  The findings are decidedly worth reading.

What Do Those Cholesterol Numbers Mean?

High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease which is the number one killer of American men and women. What’s encouraging is that by lowering blood cholesterol levels you can lower your cardiac risk.  Dr. Kennedy explains the numbers and the ranges that are acceptable.


Featured Stories

Antibiotics Before Visiting the Dentist?

The question of who should and should not receive antibiotics before dental procedures is important and confusing because new recommendations are dramatically different than recommendations in the past, says cardiologist Dr. John Kennedy.

Dr. Kennedy Answers Questions

Our expert cardiologist Dr. John Kennedy addresses your concerns about women and heart attacks, perimenopause and more. Send your questions to John@smartnow.com.

Cholesterol - Is It in Your Genes?

Some people have unhealthy levels of cholesterol in their blood no matter what they eat, what they weigh or how many steps they walk each day. In these rare cases, the liver, body’s enzyme systems and intestinal tract are genetically hardwired to make lots of “bad” LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, which in turn may lead to artery disease.   How do you know if this applies to you?  And, what can you do about it?

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Laughing is the Best Medicine for Your Heart


As reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center

Can a laugh every day keep the heart attack away? Maybe so.

Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease.

"The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack."