Could Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Still Help Some People?

MONDAY, Sept. 16, 2019 -- Debate over the benefits and drawbacks of daily low-dose aspirin has flared in recent years, with guidelines now generally urging against the regimen to prevent a first heart attack or stroke in healthy people.

But some people with good heart health still might benefit from taking daily low-dose aspirin, a new study from New Zealand argues.

AHA News: Stroke May Lead to Lower Vitamin D

THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Low vitamin D levels do not lead to strokes but can result from them, according to the latest study that looks at the relationship between the two.

Vitamin D is mostly known for helping the body absorb calcium and contributing to bone health. But research in recent decades also has looked at whether vitamin D levels affect cardiovascular disease, although with inconsistent results.

AHA News: Study of Skiers Holds Surprises About A-Fib, Stroke and Intense Exercise

MONDAY, Aug. 26, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Exercise is important for health and wellbeing. But past studies suggest high-intensity exercise may be a risk factor for an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation that sometimes leads to stroke. So, are athletes who develop A-Fib at higher risk for stroke?

Researchers in Sweden looked at men and women who completed one or more races in the 30- to 90-kilometer cross-country skiing event called Vasaloppet from 1989 through 2011, comparing them to a group of non-skiers. The investigators hypothesized high-intensity exercise would increase the risk of A-Fib, thus leading to more strokes in the ski group. But they discovered the opposite may be true.

Dirty Air Kills 30,000 Americans Each Year

THURSDAY, July 25, 2019 -- Despite improved air quality since the 1990s, pollution still causes lung disease, heart attacks and strokes that kill more than 30,000 Americans each year, a new study estimates.

Researchers looked at concentrations of fine pollution particles known as PM2.5 across the country from 1999 to 2015. These tiny particles -- 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair -- come from the combustion of cars, coal-fired power plants and other industrial sources.

Americans Are Spending Even More Time Sitting, Study Shows

FRIDAY, July 26, 2019 -- The United States has grown a bumper crop of couch potatoes in recent years, a new study reports.

The amount of time people spend sitting around actually increased after the initial release of the federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in 2008, researchers have found.

Trying to Avoid a Second Stroke? Blood Pressure Control Is Key

MONDAY, July 29, 2019 -- If you've already had one stroke, your risk for another is much higher. But new research found that well-controlled blood pressure can reduce that risk by about 20%.

The study authors suggested maintaining a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or less.