Sleep Apnea May Cause Heart Attack at Night: Study

Small amount of dark chocolate daily lowers heart attack, stroke risk

(NEWSER) - Eating small amounts of chocolate may lower your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to new research out today. In a study of 19,000 middle-aged subjects, German scientists noted lower blood pressure in those who ate the most chocolate, accompanied by a 39% lower risk of heart attack and stroke compared to those who ate the least. More»

'Broken heart syndrome' caused by emotional, physical stress

(NEWSER) - Turns out hearts can actually "break" for those who suffer meltdowns. Doctors have identified a mysterious ailment called broken-heart syndrome that mimics heart attacks but is not connected to coronary artery disease. It's "a heart attack which is triggered by stress rather than by a blocked artery," one cardiologist tells the Wall Street Journal . Stress can include both emotional triggers, such as the death of a loved one, or physical trauma, like migraines or respiratory distress. More»

Celery, seaweed could work wonders for your diet

(NEWSER) - The usual admonitions we hear at this time of year about eating right are probably going in one ear and out the other, so perhaps these unusual health-food suspects from Men’s Health will catch your attention as you prepare that New Year’s resolution.

• Celery: Its phytochemicals are thought to lower blood pressure. Bonus: It’s great in Bloody Marys.
• Seaweed: High in potassium and calcium, which lower blood pressure. You’re most likely to see it wrapped around sushi.

Vascular experts believe disease is being massively underdiagnosed

(NEWSER) - A disease so obscure many doctors don't know about it may actually affect up to one in twenty people, experts tell the Wall Street Journal. Fibromuscular dysplasia—FMD—affects the walls of arteries and can cause blockages. It is rarely diagnosed, or looked for, but vascular experts believe it could be responsible for many heart-related deaths among young people. More»

Anger shown to cause irregular heartbeats with the potential for cardiac arrest

(NEWSER) - Anger really can kill you, a new study suggests. Researchers monitored the heart patterns of patients suffering from heart conditions and discovered that electrical instability in the heart increased when the patients were asked to relive angry episodes. Those who had the strongest reactions were 10 times more likely to later suffer the irregular heartbeats that can cause sudden cardiac arrest, Reuters reports. More»