Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

GLP-1 medications linked to reduced postoperative infections and heart complications

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also help protect people from serious complications after surgery.

19 Oct 2026

Cannabis users face increased heart attack risk around surgery

As marijuana use becomes more common and legal in most U.S. states, patients who use cannabis may face a significantly higher risk of heart attack around the time of surgery, while also showing an unexpected lower risk of dangerous blood clots in the veins, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Could ultraprocessed foods affect your brain before you notice?

Ultraprocessed food intake correlates with increased body fat and vascular brain injury in middle-aged adults, though cognitive performance remains unaffected.

19 Oct 2026

Menopause isn't the end of the story for the ovaries

Research reveals that postmenopausal ovaries remain active, showing molecular remodeling linked to inflammation and potential implications for women's health.

19 Oct 2026

What you did last week may be the strongest clue to how much you'll exercise this week

Researchers analyzing exercise records from 5.17 million Strava users across 65 countries found that recent exercise history was the strongest predictor of whether individuals would meet a weekly physical activity threshold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity patterns varied considerably across regions, with greater disruption in many middle-income countries and better adherence associated with greater access to outdoor exercise facilities.

18 Oct 2026

You don't need 10,000 steps a day to benefit your heart, cardiologists say

A new American College of Cardiology scientific statement recommends integrating individualized exercise prescriptions into routine cardiovascular care, drawing on evidence supporting aerobic activity, resistance training, and cardiac rehabilitation. The authors emphasize that previously inactive individuals have the most to gain from increasing physical activity, while exercise recommendations should consider individual health conditions, functional capacity, and safety.

18 Oct 2026

Your age may not tell the whole story about your health, but your blood could

Researchers analyzed plasma metabolites from 18,476 individuals aged 1 to 96 years and developed two metabolomic aging measures to assess biological aging, chronic disease, and mortality risk. Accelerated metabolomic aging was associated with greater risks of chronic disease and death, while a separate mortality-linked measure provided additional information about health status and disease burden beyond conventional clinical assessments.

18 Oct 2026

New surgical technique enlarges aortic roots for larger valve implants

When replacing the aortic valve, a small aortic root can limit the size of the prosthetic valve that can be implanted.

16 Oct 2026

Drug-coated balloons offer an alternative to permanent heart stents

Thousands of heart patients could be treated without having a metal stent permanently implanted in their arteries - according to research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).

15 Oct 2026

Parents know fruit and vegetables are healthy, but many underestimate how much children need

A qualitative study involving 15 Swedish parents found that although most recognized the health benefits of fruit and vegetables, many underestimated recommended daily intake and considered serving vegetables at dinner sufficient. Researchers identified four overlapping parental roles influencing children's eating habits and suggested that clearer guidance on quantities, serving frequency, and practical feeding approaches could help families improve consumption.

15 Oct 2026

AI study of 101,000 patients links brown fat to heart and mental health

In a retrospective analysis of PET-CT records from 101,243 patients, researchers found that detectable brown fat was associated with lower prevalence of cardiometabolic and psychiatric conditions, while greater activity, particularly in the axillary region, was linked to more favourable metabolic outcomes. Medication screening identified losartan, which increased brown fat thermogenic activity in laboratory experiments and energy expenditure in mice, although its effects on human brown fat remain unproven.

15 Oct 2026

New scientific statement urges doctors to prescribe exercise for heart health

Exercise should be prescribed as a foundational component of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment, according to a new American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement published today in JACC, its flagship journal.

15 Oct 2026

Heart failure alters bone marrow to promote harmful inflammation

Heart failure (HF) alters the bone marrow (BM), reducing protective cells that regulate inflammation, reports a study conducted at Science Tokyo.

15 Oct 2026

Coffee drinkers had fewer repeat blood clots in a Norwegian study

A Norwegian study involving 2,071 patients found that those who reported drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee daily before their first venous thromboembolism had a 51% lower estimated risk of recurrence than non-drinkers. The association was strongest among patients whose initial blood clot was provoked, although the observational study could not establish that coffee consumption prevents recurrence.

14 Oct 2026

A study of 2.3 million California children raises questions about lithium in water

Researchers analyzed healthcare records from more than 2.3 million children in California and found that those living in counties with higher lithium concentrations in water sources had 60% higher adjusted odds of a Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) diagnosis. A separate New York analysis supported an association at a lower lithium threshol

14 Oct 2026

Losing weight is one thing. Keeping your muscle is another, experts say

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position stand concludes that sustained calorie restriction drives weight loss, while adequate protein intake and resistance training help preserve lean mass. Reviewing intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and other dietary approaches, the authors emphasize individualized nutrition plans, body composition, and sustainable weight management rather than rapid weight loss alone.

14 Oct 2026

New project receives $2.3 million to develop a database and AI model to identify therapeutic peptides

A group of scientists led by Joseph Brown, assistant professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, has received $2.3 million USD in funding to develop a database and AI training model to identify peptides with therapeutic potential.

14 Oct 2026

Common blood pressure drug boosts brown adipose tissue activity and metabolism

Scientists have discovered that the drug losartan, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, boosts brown adipose tissue activity in mice, enhancing their metabolism.

14 Oct 2026

Early vasopressin use does not improve septic shock survival

A new study from researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City found that starting an advanced medication earlier for critically ill patients with life-threatening septic shock does not improve their survival, shorten hospital stays, or improve their recovery compared with waiting until their condition potentially worsens.

14 Oct 2026