JACC issues inaugural report on state of US cardiovascular health
Peer-Reviewed Publication
In recognition of Heart Health Month, we’re spotlighting the importance of cardiovascular wellness. From risk factors and prevention to innovative treatments, we’re exploring the science and stories shaping heart health today.
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 21-May-2026 07:16 ET (21-May-2026 11:16 GMT/UTC)
Through its commitment to a data-driven approach to improving cardiovascular health, JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology, today published the first JACC Cardiovascular Statistics report. This comprehensive analysis examines five major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors - hypertension, diabetes, obesity, LDL-cholesterol and cigarette smoking - and the five conditions that collectively account for most CVD deaths and disability in America: coronary heart disease (CHD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke.
Veteran male athletes who have spent years training at high intensity may be at greater risk of serious heart problems while exercising, new University of Leeds research shows. The study shows that male endurance athletes aged over 50 may be more likely to experience abnormal heart rhythms during training if they already have scarring in their heart. The team says their research shows that exercise itself is not dangerous - but the findings suggest that the presence of scar tissue in the heart increases the risk of potentially dangerous heart problems during physical activity.
About one in nine adults suffer from chronic insomnia and its residual effects like drowsiness, cognitive issues, and irritability as well as increased health risks like diabetes and heart risks if left untreated. While many treatments are available, the challenge lies in determining how well a medication or other sleep aid works in individual patients. Now a new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine has found using real-time smartphone-based assessments can help to determine the effectiveness of sleep medications by detecting improvements in daytime insomnia symptoms including thinking, fatigue, and mood. Following a two-week course of treatment, this smartphone-based assessment approach detected treatment effects more powerfully than did traditional methods like recall questionnaires.
Maintaining a bedroom temperature of 24°C at night while sleeping reduces stress responses in older adults, according to new Griffith University research.