Heart surgery may seem frightening, but there are steps you can take to minimize complications. Researchers say one method is surprisingly easy: take aspirin during the five days leading up to cardiac surgery.

Borderline high blood pressure puts individuals at an elevated stroke risk even though patients don't formally have hypertension. Common blood pressure drugs may significantly reduce that risk.

Getting your heart into better shape isn't just about losing weight. Improving your fitness level even without weight loss reduces your risk of dying.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials are taking a second look at blood thinning drug Pradaxa ( dabigatran etexilate mesylate ) after reports of serious, potentially fatal, bleeding.

Previous studies have shown that omega-3 derived from fish or supplements is beneficial to heart health in men. Little research has been done to determine whether women reap the same cardiovascular protection.

Heart stem cells are in demand because damaged hearts have difficulty repairing themselves. Now researchers have identified a pool of heart stem cells capable of expanding and forming several cell types, including bone.

Treating clogged arteries often requires a procedure to open the blockage following by placement of a permanent stent to prop it open. New technology has prompted development of a stent capable of slowly disappearing.

Women may be able to lower their risk of stroke just by changing what they eat -- even if they have a history of heart disease. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are high in antioxidants, appear to offer positive heart benefits.

Race may play a role in determining which patients are more likely to need repeated procedures to widen narrowed arteries caused by coronary artery disease.

Could common conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes influence dementia? New findings suggest a possible link.