News and Updates for the Patient and Family

If your primary care doctor or cardiologist has ordered a transthoracic echocardiogram, don’t fret – it’s not as intimidating as it might sound.

A myocardial infarction, which is commonly referred to as a heart attack, is a life-threatening event that can happen to anyone. It is typically associated with some form of underlying heart disease that disrupts the flow of blood to the heart. Heart disease can also be the culprit in other…

Kidneys that function properly are important for maintaining good health. More than 1 in 7 American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects how well kidneys function. The two main causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. About 1 in 3 adults with diabetes…

The brief provides public health professionals with the most recent, practical, and useful data available on coronary heart disease, blood pressure, and stroke for adults aged 45 years or older.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for numerous health and chronic conditions, including cognitive impairment. The public health community can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline in populations by preventing and managing high blood pressure. Learn more in a new action brief —Protecting the Heart and the Brain: Managing…

This report summarizes the consensus reached by the subject mater experts and describes the major points of discussion that led to their recommendations on managing the impact of vascular risk factors for men and women aged 50 years and older.

Cannabinoids are the active chemicals in cannabis, also known as marijuana. Cannabis contains hundreds of cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol. Cannabidiol causes far fewer psychoactive effects than THC.

Health literacy is important for everyone because, at some point in our lives, we all need to be able to find, understand, and use health information and services.