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Sodium is an essential mineral for the human body, yet too much of it can cause problems for the human heart. An overload of sodium in the bloodstream can lead to higher blood pressure, which can increase risk in people with higher-than-average blood pressure for serious, potentially life-threatening conditions.

While the warmth of the summer season can be inviting for outdoor activity, too much exposure to extreme heat can have a negative effect on people diagnosed with diabetes or heart disease. As a result, it’s important that everyone, but especially people with a known condition, be extremely cautious when venturing into the heat for any extended period of time.

The summertime opens many opportunities for heart-healthy activities, but beating the heat can be a challenge without a careful approach. No matter the weather, staying active and conscious of your cardiovascular health is important, but working out in the heat has its dangers.

What’s a 4^th of July cookout without burgers on the grill, creamy potato salad and apple pie? The holiday wouldn’t be complete without an outdoor feast. But, before you dig into that classic American meal, have you considered the impact it could have on your body?

The more coronary calcium you have, the higher the chances of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems in the future. A heart scan, also known as a coronary calcium scan uses computerized tomography (CT) technology to capture pictures of the heart, detect and measure calcium-containing plaque in the arteries.

Cholesterol itself isn’t bad. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to produce hormones, vitamin D, and digestive fluids to help your organs function properly. However, having too much LDL cholesterol in your system can be a problem.

Stressful situations can cause your blood pressure to spike temporarily. But, does it cause long-term effects on your health – specifically, blood pressure?

Stress is your body’s response to change, releasing adrenaline (that causes your heart rate to speed up and your blood pressure rise) to help you cope with the situation. While the link between stress and heart disease is unclear, it is linked with high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), roughly 735,000 Americans have a heart attack each year. And of these people, 210,000 have already had a heart attack.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and the vast majority of heart attacks are caused by known risk factors – many of which can be reduced or managed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 550,000 new cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. And, what’s concerning about CHF is that it affects people of all ages – ranging from children and young adults to the middle-aged and elderly.

According to the CDC, almost 75 million Americans have high blood pressure -- that’s one in every three adults. And, only 54% of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control.

High blood pressure, sometimes called “the silent killer” is a major health problem but often times, people don’t know something is even wrong. This is because high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) doesn’t have any visible signs or symptoms of illness.