Certain risk factors such as family history or smoking status can increase your risk of heart disease. Some factors may be less obvious and present in otherwise healthy patients.

Some heart patients may be highly educated and understand recommended treatments. However, they do not appear to do any better at managing their own care related to heart failure as compared to less-educated patients.

Blood pressure changes during middle age may be more significant than they appear. An increase or decrease in blood pressure during that period can increase lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke.

Blood transfusions during surgery are common, especially for elderly patients. Doctors say the problem is they may be too common.

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may have an added benefit. They also appear to break down plaque in arteries, a major contributor to blood vessel blockages that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Now, doctors know why.

Certain regions of the U.S. suffer from high hospital readmission rates. Interestingly, that elevated number may have less to do with poor care or more severe illnesses.

Having accurate blood pressure readings is critical. Inaccurate measurements could lead to misdiagnosis or unneeded treatment.

Patients had generally been urged to follow guidelines suggesting that they schedule non-emergency angioplasty, an artery opening procedure common after a heart attack, at hospitals with a dedicated surgical team.

The number of strokes experienced by Americans is declining, but substantial heart health improvements are still needed as larger, higher calorie meals become more popular and obesity continues to rise.