Some “healthy” oils may not be as healthy as advertised. While corn and safflower oils may lower cholesterol, they may not protect against heart disease and, in fact, they may do more harm than good.

It’s estimated that about half of all adult Americans take some type of dietary supplement. As a nation, we spend nearly $12 billion each year on vitamin and mineral supplements. But do these supplements help prevent our most daunting diseases?

When prescribing high blood pressure medication, doctors often focus on getting their patients to reach a blood pressure target. A more individualized approach, looking at multiple factors, may be more effective.

The expression "To have your heart in your mouth” may have a new meaning. Gum health has been shown to influence heart health, and good oral hygiene may even slow hardening of the arteries.

While physical activity is generally good for the body, vigorous sports activity can be risky for untrained people. The risks for women may be pretty rare, at least where the heart's concerned.

The most widely prescribed medication for diabetes, metformin, also has heart health benefits for diabetes patients. For those without diabetes, however, its effects on the heart may be limited.

For adults with diabetes, a urine test can spot those at risk for heart and kidney disease. The same test may also work for young people with type 1 diabetes.

Mesh tubes called stents can help keep blood vessels open in people with blocked arteries. To prevent blood clots from forming in stents, patients take anti-clotting agents, but it has not been clear how long this therapy should last.

Properly balanced hormones deliver benefits such as strong bones and healthy sexual function. Restoring natural hormones lost due to illness or aging with hormone supplements is an option, but it may carry risks.

Diabetes increases the risk for heart disease. Procedures to restore blood flow to the heart can help, but for those on insulin, these procedures may carry some risks.