http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/feeds/heart-smart-living?key=heart-smart-living Healthline Health Blogger Sarah Samaan - Heart Smart Living en-us Copyright (c) 2013 Healthline, All rights reserved. en-us Copyright (c) 2013 Healthline, All rights reserved. http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/heart-smart-living It has been such a privilege and a terrific learning experience writing this blog for you over the past two years. Thanks to HealthLine.com, I have had the opportunity to share the latest news in heart health and to search for answers to though... Thu, 15 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/heart-smart-living Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-11-15T08:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/shrimp-cholesterol-and-heart-health Years ago, shrimp was considered to be taboo for heart patients or for people watching their cholesterol numbers. That’s because a small serving of 3.5 ounces supplies about 200 mg of cholesterol. For people at high risk for heart disease, that... Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/shrimp-cholesterol-and-heart-health Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-11-13T08:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/blood-pressure-medications-may-thwart-alzheimers-dementia While high blood pressure, or hypertension, is very common, affecting one in three Americans, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Fortunately, we now have a wide variety of medications that address the problem in different ways. The average... Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/blood-pressure-medications-may-thwart-alzheimers-dementia Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-11-07T08:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/should-you-eat-organic Only a few decades ago, organic farming was associated with the hippie movement and often dismissed as countercultural and radical. In fact, the phrase “organic farming” was coined in the 1930s, when the concept of farming without chemical fert... Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/should-you-eat-organic Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-11-05T08:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/hormone-replacement-therapy-at-menopause-onset-could-it-protect-the-heart If you’re a woman and are concerned about your heart health, you’re probably well aware that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause is a complicated and controversial topic. Although the “change of life” has been a part of life since A... Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/hormone-replacement-therapy-at-menopause-onset-could-it-protect-the-heart Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-31T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/team-up-pressure-down-new-program-engages-pharmacists-in-blood-pressure-management High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects one in three Americans. It is a leading cause of strokes and heart attacks, yet in most cases is readily treatable. In September, the Centers for Disease Control launched an innovative new program c... Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/team-up-pressure-down-new-program-engages-pharmacists-in-blood-pressure-management Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-29T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/nsaids-risky-for-heart-patients Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs ) include such common medicine cabinet mainstays as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). Many of us pop a pill or two at least a few times a week to relieve headaches, joint pains, and mus... Wed, 24 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/nsaids-risky-for-heart-patients Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-24T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/parents-divorce-may-triple-sons-risk-for-stroke In a recent post, I told you about an important study that found a link between emotional neglect in childhood and the risk for stroke later in life. Now a new study from the University of Toronto finds more compelling evidence that stress dur... Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/parents-divorce-may-triple-sons-risk-for-stroke Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-22T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/controlling-high-blood-pressure-we-can-do-better High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. Hypertension affects about one in three Americans and its treatment and complications are estimated by the Centers for Disease Control (... Thu, 18 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/controlling-high-blood-pressure-we-can-do-better Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-18T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/obesity-impairs-brain-development-in-adolescents Obesity is developing at an alarming rate in young children and adolescents. It’s estimated that more than one in every five adolescents are obese, and nearly one in ten suffer from the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The metabolic syndrome is a clus... Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/obesity-impairs-brain-development-in-adolescents Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-15T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/emotional-stress-during-childhood-linked-to-stroke-in-adulthood Love, nurturing, and respect are basic human needs. Old-style TV shows to the contrary, most of us cannot lay claim to an idyllic childhood. Bumps, scrapes, and disappointments are simply a part of life. But for some kids, home life is truly a ... Fri, 12 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/emotional-stress-during-childhood-linked-to-stroke-in-adulthood Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-12T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/chocolate-and-heart-health-its-not-just-for-women For many women, chocolate is the ultimate comfort food. In fact, in a study published in the scientific journal Appetite in 1999, Dr. Deborah Zellner and colleagues found that about 45 percent of American women and 17 percent of American men adm... Mon, 08 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/chocolate-and-heart-health-its-not-just-for-women Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/non-alcoholic-red-wine-lowers-blood-pressure-better-than-real-stuff Since the 1970’s, scores of scientific studies have attested to the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. For instance, a twelve year study known as the U.S. National Health Interview Survey followed more than 245,000 Americans and r... Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/non-alcoholic-red-wine-lowers-blood-pressure-better-than-real-stuff Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-04T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/early-menopause-doubles-heart-disease-risk Like so many biological facts of life, menopause plays out differently for every woman. Menopause happens when the ovaries cease to make estrogen, the “female” hormone, and menstrual cycles stop. For most women, this is a gradual process that m... Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/early-menopause-doubles-heart-disease-risk Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-10-01T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/bisphenol-a-and-heart-disease-more-bad-news Bisphenol A (BPA) has popped up regularly in the news since 2008, when a number of scientific studies began to question its safety. A compound commonly used to make a host of plastic products including plastic bottles, the inner coatings of can... Fri, 28 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/bisphenol-a-and-heart-disease-more-bad-news Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-28T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/the-cimt-test-worth-the-cost Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women, so it stands to reason that anything we can do to detect it as early as possible could be potentially life saving. The most important risk factors for heart disease... Mon, 24 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/the-cimt-test-worth-the-cost Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-24T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/just-say-no-bueno-to-taco-bell-breakfast Without a doubt, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. People who eat breakfast tend to have a more optimistic outlook, and they consistently score higher on tests of memory, attention span, and physical endurance. In general, breakf... Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/just-say-no-bueno-to-taco-bell-breakfast Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-20T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/shift-work-takes-a-toll-on-heart-health We may be a 24-7 society, but no matter how hard we try, our bodies are designed to awake in the morning and sleep at night. Nevertheless, hospitals, 24 hour supercenters, janitorial companies, international conglomerates with bases around the ... Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/shift-work-takes-a-toll-on-heart-health Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-17T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/confused-about-eggs-and-heart-health-its-a-mixed-basket It was a lovely late Sunday morning. Music was drifting across the backyard, the air was full of laughter and snatches of cheery conversations, our host was making the rounds with a tray of champagne mimosas, and plates were piled high with scr... Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/confused-about-eggs-and-heart-health-its-a-mixed-basket Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-14T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/weight-training-reduces-diabetes-risk There’s no doubt that regular aerobic exercise reduces the risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even dementia, but much less is known about the effects of weight training. Some studies have shown that diabetics can benefit from weight,... Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/weight-training-reduces-diabetes-risk Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-12T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/perils-of-low-carb-diet Low carbohydrate, high protein, high fat diets have been around since William Banting started the fad in the 1860’s. Modern versions include the Atkins Diet, the Zone Diet, and the South Beach Diet. Without a doubt, our typical Western diet, bl... Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/perils-of-low-carb-diet Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-07T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/can-marathon-running-damage-the-heart Ted*, a fit 55-year-old runner with 10 marathons under his belt, recently visited me in the office at his family doctor’s suggestion. A lean and healthy guy with no symptoms and no major risk factors for heart disease save his age and gender, ... Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/can-marathon-running-damage-the-heart Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-09-04T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/the-mediterranean-diet-never-too-soon-to-start Many people live their lives under the impression that they can start worrying about their health later, when the kids are grown, when they have more time, when work isn’t quite so stressful, when (you fill in the blank). But the truth is that ... Fri, 31 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/the-mediterranean-diet-never-too-soon-to-start Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-31T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/quitting-smoking-is-weight-gain-unavoidable If you are a smoker, the absolute best thing you can do for your health is to quit. Quitting smoking trumps weight loss, exercise, even a healthy diet -- although you’ll be better off if you choose a lifestyle that embraces all of these healthy... Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/quitting-smoking-is-weight-gain-unavoidable Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-27T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/news-about-statins-diabetes Statin drugs have revolutionized cardiology, reducing heart attack and stroke risk by upwards of 30 percent in those who take them as prescribed and achieve their target cholesterol goal. The first statin drug, Mevacor (lovastatin), was approve... Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/news-about-statins-diabetes Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-24T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/blood-pressure-medication-linked-lip-cancer A wide variety of commonly used presciption and over-the-counter medications may make the skin more sensitive to the sun, increasing the risks for sunburn and heat rash. Antihistamines, estrogen and progesterone (used for birth control as well ... Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/blood-pressure-medication-linked-lip-cancer Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-22T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/women-stress-workplace-job-strain-linked-to-heart-risk Stress is a part of life for most of us. While we can’t usually eliminate it, we can find healthy ways to cope with stress that will make its effects less toxic. Recently I have noticed a growing sense of stress and anxiety in many of my workin... Fri, 17 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/women-stress-workplace-job-strain-linked-to-heart-risk Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-17T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/a-tale-of-two-salad-dressings I’ll admit that I am not a very methodical shopper. Simply entering a grocery store seems to wipe out my memory bank. Unless I have a list at hand, I usually leave with more than what I came for, yet still missing some crucial ingredient. The u... Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/a-tale-of-two-salad-dressings Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-14T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/chia-seeds-new-use-for-ancient-wonder Seemingly out of nowhere, chia seeds have emerged as a hot new super food, appearing in such diverse products as crackers, granola, juice drinks, and even puddings. The seeds are packed with healthy omega-3 fats and are high in protein and fi... Fri, 10 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/chia-seeds-new-use-for-ancient-wonder Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-10T07:00:00Z http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/atrial-fibrillation-what-you-should-know-about-blood-thinners Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disturbance that affects upwards of 2.6 million Americans. Although it’s more common after the age of 70, it can happen at any age. In atrial fibrillation the upper chambers of the heart, or atria, quiver ... Mon, 06 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/heart-smart-living/atrial-fibrillation-what-you-should-know-about-blood-thinners Sarah Samaan, MD, FACC 2012-08-06T07:00:00Z