In-Depth
Heart attack
Risk factors
- Secondhand smoke: Avoid dangers in the air Secondhand smoke — Understand the dangers and consider options for clearing the air.
- LDL cholesterol calculator Use this target LDL cholesterol calculator to determine a healthy LDL cholesterol level.
- Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors All women face the threat of heart disease. Discover how to protect your heart.
- Heart disease risk calculator Heart disease risk: Use this tool to calculate your risk of having a heart attack.
Symptoms
- Chest pain Chest pain — Comprehensive overview covers causes, diagnosis, treatment of problems this symptom may signal.
- Heart attack symptoms: Know what's a medical emergency Watch for these heart attack symptoms.
- Angina Angina — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes and treatment of this type of chest pain.
- Symptom Checker Use this Symptom Checker to pinpoint possible causes of your medical symptoms.
Tests and diagnosis
- Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) Heart scan (coronary calcium scan) — Overview covers definition, risks and results of these scans.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) — Overview covers definition of this test to monitor your heartbeat.
- C-reactive protein test C-reactive protein test — Overview covers what to expect and results from this blood test.
- Stress test A stress test — Overview covers what to expect and results of this heart test.
- Nuclear stress test Nuclear stress test — Overview covers what to expect and results of this exercise stress test.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan Positron emission tomography (PET) scan — Overview covers definition, risks, results of this imaging test.
- SPECT scan SPECT scan — Overview covers definition, risks, results of this imaging test.
- Blood tests for heart disease Blood tests offer clues to your heart health. Here's information about these blood tests.
Causes
- Nicotine dependence Nicotine dependence — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, complications, treatment of this difficult-to-break addiction.
Complications
- Ventricular fibrillation Ventricular fibrillation — Comprehensive overview covers the causes and treatments of this life-threatening heart arrhythmia.
- Flu shots: Especially important if you have heart disease Flu shots are recommended for anyone with heart disease. Find out why.
Treatments and drugs
- Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol Niacin, a B vitamin, can boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterol. Find out more.
- Daily aspirin therapy: Understand the benefits and risks Daily aspirin therapy can be lifesaving or life-threatening. Discover if you're a good candidate.
- Cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation — Overview covers the results of this program to improve your heart health.
- Lowering cholesterol: Discover your options Discover your options for lowering cholesterol.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): First aid First-aid instructions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Heart attack: First aid How to recognize, get help for and provide first aid for a heart attack.
Lifestyle and home remedies
- Heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease Ready to start your heart-healthy diet? Here are eight tips to get you started.
- Menus for heart-healthy eating: Cut the fat and salt Use these menus to jump-start your heart-healthy diet.
- Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health Discover how walnuts, almonds and other nuts help lower cholesterol and im-prove heart health.
- Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are good for your heart. Find out more.
Prevention
- Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart? Red wine and something in it called resveratrol may be good for your heart.
- 5 medication-free strategies to help prevent heart disease Heart disease prevention — five strategies you can adopt now to protect your heart.
- Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are good for your heart. Find out more.


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