Silent stroke may be the most common form of brain injury in children with sickle cell anemia, a rare, painful blood disorder. Recently, researchers have been able to pinpoint the risk factors for such strokes in children.

Physical or sexual abuse can leave lingering emotional scars on young girls. Such abuse also may affect them physically -- increasing their risk for heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes, once they become adults.

Heart failure patients that also have an infection of the heart lining called infective endocarditis tend to live shorter lives. Heart valve surgery may significantly reduce the risk of such patients dying.

Cholesterol-lowering statins are known to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular-related death. How they fared longer term was uncertain. New findings shows they remain effective at the five-year mark.

As the population ages and people live longer, the rate of high blood pressure is increasing. By 2013, more than a quarter of all Canadians are expected to suffer from hypertension.

Less than 10 percent of heart attack patients requiring a life-saving emergency procedure are being transferred to larger hospitals within the recommended 30 minutes.

Hoping to capitalize on the habit of many Americans -- listening to an mp3 player while exercising -- Motorola is offering something new. Recently unveiled devices let users track or even listen to their heart beat while they work out.

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer loses patent rights to its popular cholesterol lowering medication Lipitor ( atorvastatin calcium) this week. The news means patients will be able to begin purchasing a less-expensive generic version by Thursday.

If you develop diabetes, you have to start taking even better care of your heart than before. Drinking a certain type of yogurt may be one way to protect against your increased risk of heart disease.

Diabetes affects many parts of the body, including the heart. So, how should you protect the health of your heart if you have diabetes? The answer may lie in what you eat.