| Q: If I'm having chest pain, should I go to the ER right away or wait to see if it goes away?
A: Don't ignore chest pain, waste time trying to diagnose it yourself, or hoping it will go away! Get to an ER immediately, and if you have an aspirin, chew it on the way. More >>
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| Q: If someone is having a heart attack in a public place, I heard I could use an AED to help save their life? What is an AED and where can I find one?
A: AED stands for automated external defibrillator. AEDs are able to deliver an electrical shock to the heart to try to "restart" it and hopefully allow the heart to begin to beat again in a normal fashion. More >>
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| Q: Is it true that the lower my cholesterol, the better?
A: It has long been known that lowering cholesterol helps to reduce the risk of heart attack and death in people with heart disease. More >>
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| Q: I've heard about a new type of artery disease that affects women. What is it?
A: In this condition, cholesterol plaque spreads evenly within the walls of the arteries rather than forming major blockages. The condition has been called by different names-hidden heart disease, microvascular syndrome, endothelial dysfunction, syndrome X. More >>
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| Q: How can I take an active role in managing my heart failure?
A: The management of heart failure is a team effort, and you are a key member on that team. More >>
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| Q: I don't know CPR. Why is it important for me to learn it and how much of a difference can it make?
A: CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In sudden cardiac arrest, a person's chance for survival decreases by 10 percent every minute that CPR and defibrillation does not occur. More >>
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| Q: I’m pregnant and congenital heart disease runs in my family. What is my risk of having a baby with a heart defect?
A: Heart defects are the most common of all birth defects, affecting about 8 of 1,000 babies. Your family history of congenital (which means present at birth) heart disease raises your risk of having a baby with this condition and varies depending on how many people in your family were born with a heart defect. More >>
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| Q: My doctor says that whole grains are good for my heart. What foods have them?
A: From popcorn and oatmeal to graham crackers and corn tortillas, whole grains naturally come in many different "packages" that make it easy for you to eat healthy every day. Whole wheat and oats can actually help lower blood cholesterol; research has now confirmed that barley can, too. More >>
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| Q: I've been diagnosed with heart failure. How do I care for it?
A: Heart failure is a disease in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker and becomes unable to pump effectively enough to meet the body's need for blood and oxygen. More >>
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