Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and February’s designation as American Heart Month serves as an annual reminder of the importance of heart health. In a Q&A, Dr. Ramy Sadek, a board-certified cardiologist with UCR Health, discusses how lifestyle changes, appropriate medical screening, and managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.

Fans of DSC Arminia Bielefeld experience matchday excitement far more intensely in the stadium than in front of the television when watching football (soccer). A study from Bielefeld University demonstrates clear differences in heart rate and stress levels during the 2025 cup final of the German Football Association (DFB).

Dr. Catherine Prater, postdoctoral researcher at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has received a two-year fellowship from the American Heart Association. The fellowship includes a grant of more than $150,000 that will support research focused on weight gain markers. Her research project, “Examination of Metabolic Characteristics in the Predisposition for Weight Gain,” will reexamine existing clinical trial data with the goal of improving prediction models and uncover metabolic markers that explain individual differences in weight gain.

An analysis of national U.S. health and diet data found a strong link between ultra-processed food consumption and cardiovascular disease. Adults whose diets were highest in ultra-processed foods—like sodas, packaged snacks, and processed meats—had a 47% higher risk of heart attack or stroke than those who ate the least, even after adjusting for other factors. The findings underscore ultra-processed foods as a major, preventable driver of heart disease and a pressing public health concern.

A research team led by the Department of Medicine, under the School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has synergised impacts of worldwide clinical trial data through a series of meta-analyses on GLP‑1 receptor agonists, an emerging cardiometabolic drug, offering in-depth insights into its safety profile and novel therapeutic potential in treating cardiovascular diseases. The study found that there was no definite risk of ischaemic optic neuropathy associated with GLP-1 agonist use in patients with diabetes or heart diseases. It also revealed that cardiac patients with obesity may improve the long-term success rate of curative catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation by adopting various weight-control measures, along with appropriate medication. These findings will help frontline clinicians perform more comprehensive risk‑benefit assessments before prescribing medications.