Life's Simple 7

High-protein diets are everywhere, but not all protein is created equal.

Our bodies crave water. There’s no way to live without it. But just how much do we need every day to stay healthy?

Men under 50 years old who smoke are 88 percent more likely to have a stroke than men who never smoked — and the number of cigarettes a day can move that risk up or down, according to new research.

When researchers looked at prediabetes paired with high blood pressure, they found a significant increase in coronary artery disease severity and cardiovascular events.

Potassium helps us eliminate sodium through our urine. It also helps ease the tension or pressure in the walls of our blood vessels. So, are you getting enough? If you are an average American, probably not.

People can have high blood pressure for years without knowing, causing damage in the body that can’t be undone. Knowing your blood pressure number and making the changes that matter to keep it under control can go a long way toward preventing heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Embarking on a physical activity program is a good goal, health experts say, especially if you’re doing it for the right reasons — to improve overall health and feel better. As part of such a goal, it’s important to find a fitness plan that suits your needs.

The formula for weight loss is neither secret nor mysterious — more calories burned than consumed. But if losing weight were as simple as that, then two-thirds of Americans wouldn’t be overweight or obese.

Extensive research has shown that too much sodium can cause high blood pressure, a primary cause of heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the world. Interestingly, the salt shaker is not the culprit. Learn about the science of dietary sodium.

Heart disease and brain health go hand in hand. In fact, many forms of heart disease are associated with cognitive impairment, cognitive decline or dementia. The good news? The seven simple factors for heart health support your brain health, too.

Within 24 hours of quitting smoking, some people are irritable, frustrated, anxious and experience a number of other unpleasant effects. That’s the bad news. The good news is, there are ways to blunt those effects.

Medical adherence — following doctor’s orders — is a huge issue in medicine. Adherence comprises both lifestyle and medication prescriptions. Neither can work as expected if not used as directed.

We know a lot of love passes between pets and their people, but does having a pet help our heart health?

Choosing to be heart-healthy together may help both of you meet your goals.

One or more artificially sweetened drinks a day was associated with higher risk of stroke and dementia, a study suggests.

According to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2017 Scientific Sessions, the temptation to overeat for people trying to lose weight or maintain a lower body weight is stronger when eating in a social setting.

There are plenty of ways to eat, and they are not equal in their effect on your weight and heart health. Recently the American Heart Association investigated this topic and published a scientific statement about meal planning and the timing and frequency of eating.

Tobacco use is a strong risk factor for developing PAD and for worsening of the disease. Some studies suggest that quitting smoking is associated with lower rates of some symptoms, serious complications and death in patients with PAD.