Latest news with #cardiologists
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop ‘Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric
Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop 'Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric originally appeared on Parade. It's really easy to fall into TikTok rabbit holes, especially when it comes to your health, and heart health is no exception. Whether it's dangerous diet culture and weight loss discourse, supplement shilling or anti-vaccine messaging, it's easy to feel anxious that you aren't doing enough to stay healthy when you're there yet another thing you should be doing to track your health, or is the latest TikTok wellness trend just a sales tactic to get you to buy a new device or to download another app that may use your data in potentially questionable ways? Below, cardiologists weigh in on the truth about a heart health metric, called , that influencers are insisting you need to measure—you know, along with everything else you're juggling just to exist in this remember: No one knows more about your actual health and what your body needs than you and your doctor, so check with your physician before implementing any changes one way or the other.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 "Heart rate variability, or HRV, is the variation in time between each heartbeat," , cardiologist and vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart, tells Parade. "It reflects how well your body can adapt to stress, rest and recovery. A higher HRV generally points to better cardiovascular fitness and resilience.""If your heart rate is 60 beats per minute, your heart doesn't beat exactly once per second," , an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company, explains further. "There is some variability in time measured in milliseconds. Heart rate is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which plays a key role in regulating your HRV. When you exercise, your heart speeds up, and when you rest, your heart slows down."Related: Like most other health indicators, there are a lot more factors to HRV than just mere numbers—even sociological and socioeconomic factors play a role."It is influenced by age, race, sex, physical fitness, sleep, medication and health issues," , cardiologist and chief medical officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, Morgan notes that even caffeine intake can play a role in your HRV measurement, so putting too much stock into it may not be the best idea, but in general, there are general ranges. A normal HRV at rest for someone in their 20s is typically around 55 to 105, for example, while for someone in their 60s, it will be more like 25 to Influencer Lucie Fink talks about using Heart Rate Variability to track her COVID journey. That depends on a few factors, experts agree, and it's by far not the most important metric to gauge your cardiovascular health by any means. "For most people, their HRV is stable over time," Dr. Amin tells us. "But some studies have shown a higher risk of heart events or even mortality in those with a reduced HRV."According to Dr. Serwer, a high HRV "means your body can switch efficiently between rest and stress modes which is a sign of good health." Conversely, he notes if you're sick, stressed, fatigued or if you over-exercise, your HRV may be Chances are you don't have the equipment to get a fully accurate picture here. "The gold standard to measure HRV is by performing an EKG and precisely measuring the time between heartbeats," Dr. Serwer says. "Using advanced software, the HRV can be accurately calculated. This, however, isn't practical on a day-to-day basis."That said, Dr. Serwer and Dr. Morgan each note that certain apps and wearable technology (like fitness trackers or smartwatches) may be able to measure, track and store your Honestly, for most healthy people, the answer is probably no: While it doesn't necessarily hurt, it also doesn't reveal as much about your heart health as you think. "HRV is a valuable metric which may lead us to identify stress, illness or overtraining earlier than waiting for apparent symptoms," Dr. Serwer notes, adding, "Like any test or vital sign, it is only helpful when you understand the limitations and the meaning of the value. We are often overwhelmed with data and sometimes don't pay attention to the apparent issues. HRV is a tool and when used appropriately, can be helpful." People who may benefit from HRV monitoring are athletes and anyone worried about over-exerting themselves through exercise, or potentially recovering from an illness, and even then, your doctor will be able to make much more sense of it than most of us laypeople can. "Monitoring HRV can offer a window into how your body is responding to stress, illness or physical overexertion," Dr. Morgan advises. "It's not all-encompassing, but it's a peek into the performance of your autonomic nervous system. Knowing this information and sharing it with your physician can help you make more informed decisions about your health and wellness." Related: For one, it's just not that useful, Dr. Amin says. "In general, I wouldn't suggest leaning too heavily on this measurement," he explains. "Generally, it would be best to focus on tracking more traditional markers of increased heart risk, including blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes control." Dr. Morgan notes that it's easy for people to get too obsessive over their heart rate variability when it can change for purely benign reasons. "The main downside is over-interpreting the data and, frankly, worrying too much about it," she says. "HRV can fluctuate due to many factors, like sleep, hydration or even caffeine intake. It's a useful tool, but it shouldn't be the sole measure of your health. Don't worry too much if one or two readings are off—that's not good for your heart, either." "Think of HRV as part of the bigger picture," she adds. "Trends matter more than single readings, and HRV should be viewed alongside other metrics like blood pressure, cholesterol and lifestyle habits (for example, getting eight hours of sleep per night, standing up and moving at least once per hour, taking any heart medications as prescribed, etc.). Always consult your physician if you notice concerning changes or have questions about your heart rate." Up Next:Dr. Sameer Amin, MD Dr. Jayne Morgan, MD Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD How to Use Heart Rate Variability Data In Your Training, HSS Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop 'Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric first appeared on Parade on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop ‘Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric
Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop 'Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric originally appeared on Parade. It's really easy to fall into TikTok rabbit holes, especially when it comes to your health, and heart health is no exception. Whether it's dangerous diet culture and weight loss discourse, supplement shilling or anti-vaccine messaging, it's easy to feel anxious that you aren't doing enough to stay healthy when you're there yet another thing you should be doing to track your health, or is the latest TikTok wellness trend just a sales tactic to get you to buy a new device or to download another app that may use your data in potentially questionable ways? Below, cardiologists weigh in on the truth about a heart health metric, called , that influencers are insisting you need to measure—you know, along with everything else you're juggling just to exist in this remember: No one knows more about your actual health and what your body needs than you and your doctor, so check with your physician before implementing any changes one way or the other.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 "Heart rate variability, or HRV, is the variation in time between each heartbeat," , cardiologist and vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart, tells Parade. "It reflects how well your body can adapt to stress, rest and recovery. A higher HRV generally points to better cardiovascular fitness and resilience.""If your heart rate is 60 beats per minute, your heart doesn't beat exactly once per second," , an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company, explains further. "There is some variability in time measured in milliseconds. Heart rate is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which plays a key role in regulating your HRV. When you exercise, your heart speeds up, and when you rest, your heart slows down."Related: Like most other health indicators, there are a lot more factors to HRV than just mere numbers—even sociological and socioeconomic factors play a role."It is influenced by age, race, sex, physical fitness, sleep, medication and health issues," , cardiologist and chief medical officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, Morgan notes that even caffeine intake can play a role in your HRV measurement, so putting too much stock into it may not be the best idea, but in general, there are general ranges. A normal HRV at rest for someone in their 20s is typically around 55 to 105, for example, while for someone in their 60s, it will be more like 25 to Influencer Lucie Fink talks about using Heart Rate Variability to track her COVID journey. That depends on a few factors, experts agree, and it's by far not the most important metric to gauge your cardiovascular health by any means. "For most people, their HRV is stable over time," Dr. Amin tells us. "But some studies have shown a higher risk of heart events or even mortality in those with a reduced HRV."According to Dr. Serwer, a high HRV "means your body can switch efficiently between rest and stress modes which is a sign of good health." Conversely, he notes if you're sick, stressed, fatigued or if you over-exercise, your HRV may be Chances are you don't have the equipment to get a fully accurate picture here. "The gold standard to measure HRV is by performing an EKG and precisely measuring the time between heartbeats," Dr. Serwer says. "Using advanced software, the HRV can be accurately calculated. This, however, isn't practical on a day-to-day basis."That said, Dr. Serwer and Dr. Morgan each note that certain apps and wearable technology (like fitness trackers or smartwatches) may be able to measure, track and store your Honestly, for most healthy people, the answer is probably no: While it doesn't necessarily hurt, it also doesn't reveal as much about your heart health as you think. "HRV is a valuable metric which may lead us to identify stress, illness or overtraining earlier than waiting for apparent symptoms," Dr. Serwer notes, adding, "Like any test or vital sign, it is only helpful when you understand the limitations and the meaning of the value. We are often overwhelmed with data and sometimes don't pay attention to the apparent issues. HRV is a tool and when used appropriately, can be helpful." People who may benefit from HRV monitoring are athletes and anyone worried about over-exerting themselves through exercise, or potentially recovering from an illness, and even then, your doctor will be able to make much more sense of it than most of us laypeople can. "Monitoring HRV can offer a window into how your body is responding to stress, illness or physical overexertion," Dr. Morgan advises. "It's not all-encompassing, but it's a peek into the performance of your autonomic nervous system. Knowing this information and sharing it with your physician can help you make more informed decisions about your health and wellness." Related: For one, it's just not that useful, Dr. Amin says. "In general, I wouldn't suggest leaning too heavily on this measurement," he explains. "Generally, it would be best to focus on tracking more traditional markers of increased heart risk, including blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes control." Dr. Morgan notes that it's easy for people to get too obsessive over their heart rate variability when it can change for purely benign reasons. "The main downside is over-interpreting the data and, frankly, worrying too much about it," she says. "HRV can fluctuate due to many factors, like sleep, hydration or even caffeine intake. It's a useful tool, but it shouldn't be the sole measure of your health. Don't worry too much if one or two readings are off—that's not good for your heart, either." "Think of HRV as part of the bigger picture," she adds. "Trends matter more than single readings, and HRV should be viewed alongside other metrics like blood pressure, cholesterol and lifestyle habits (for example, getting eight hours of sleep per night, standing up and moving at least once per hour, taking any heart medications as prescribed, etc.). Always consult your physician if you notice concerning changes or have questions about your heart rate." Up Next:Dr. Sameer Amin, MD Dr. Jayne Morgan, MD Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD How to Use Heart Rate Variability Data In Your Training, HSS Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop 'Leaning Too Heavily' on This One Daily Metric first appeared on Parade on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The type of exercise that could reduce your heart attack risk
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, with a heart attack occurring every 40 seconds. Cardiologists say aerobic exercise, or cardio, is the most beneficial physical activity for fortifying heart health and preventing heart attacks. Aerobic activities, such as walking, jogging, swimming, cycling or dancing, raise your heart rate and use large muscle groups. Regular aerobic exercise strengthens blood vessels, improves oxygen flow, lowers blood pressure, increases good cholesterol, and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Federal health authorities recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, although the benefits grow if you do more. Want to reduce your heart attack risk? Do this kind of exercise
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Heart attack: Unhealthy plant-based diet may increase risk by 65%
Not all plant-based meat alternatives are considered healthy.A new study finds that while many plant-based foods are healthy for the heart, many are not. The study concluded that eating a diet high in unhealthy plant-based foods was associated with a higher level of a key heart attack biomarker. Plant-based meat substitutes can be high in sodium and heavily processed, both of which are unhealthy for the heart. A new study confirms that healthy plant-based foods can be beneficial for the heart. However, not all plant-based foods qualify as healthy, and the study finds that those foods can be just as damaging to the heart as their non-plant-based counterparts. The authors of the study assessed associations between plant diets of various qualities and a trio of critical cardiac biomarkers. For many people who choose not to eat animal-based foods for moral reasons, the potential health benefits of a plant-based diet may be considered a happy byproduct or even a reward. The study suggests that this is not necessarily incorrect, as long as one considers that the rules that apply to healthy eating in general also apply to plant-based foods. During interviews taken throughout the NHANES survey, participants reported their food intake for a previous 24-hour period, as blood samples were taken to measure the relevant biomarkers. This study's biomarkers of concern were cardiac troponin T, cardiac troponin I, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Troponins are indicators of cardiac muscle damage, which is a sign of myocardial infarction or heart attack. The peptide is associated with heart failure. Up to 50% of individuals with no apparent history of cardiac issues have subclinical levels of troponins. While these levels are not of immediate concern, they may be interpreted as a warning sign of potential future issues. The researchers used the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid Equivalents 2.0 database to sort each reported food into one of three categories: healthy plant-based food unhealthy plant-based food animal-based food. The analysis revealed that adherence to a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a 49% lower likelihood of having elevated levels of cardiac troponin I. People following an unhealthy plant-based diet had a 65% greater chance of elevated levels of cardiac troponin I. The authors of the study found no strong association with either healthy or unhealthy plant-based foods and cardiac troponin T or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. The study is published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 'Plant-based foods are not automatically healthier than their animal-product-based counterparts,' said Michelle Routhenstein, who is a registered dietitian specializing in heart disease. 'While many plant-based diets can reduce cardiovascular risk due to their nutritional profile, such as being low in saturated fat, high in fiber, high in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants, not all plant-based foods share these benefits,' she added. Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist at Hello Heart, pointed out that 'meat substitutes are frequent unhealthy culprits hidden within plant-based diets, and can actually be quite high in sodium, additives, and saturated fats, often from coconut oil. 'Coconut oil or palm oil are often added for texture. These are high in saturated fat, which may raise LDL ('bad') cholesterol and contribute to heart disease risk. In fact, some plant-based burgers can actually have the similar amounts of saturated fat (6-8 grams) as a beef patty,' Morgan said. Routhenstein noted that these saturated fats can potentially promote insulin resistance as well. How much salt is in plant-based meat? 'Further, many plant-based meats are heavily seasoned to mimic meat flavors. This often means very high sodium levels, which is a major contributor to hypertension. A plain chicken breast might have 70 mg of sodium [in four ounces of chicken], while a processed plant burger could have 400–600 mg of sodium!' — Jayne Morgan, MD 'Some plant-based substitutes may be highly processed,' Routhenstein said, 'and include ingredients that can actually harm heart health. This applies regardless of whether the food is plant- or animal-based.' 'The level of processing is a critical factor in determining how healthy they are for your heart,' cautioned Morgan. 'When it comes to heart health, it's not just about what you eat, but also how processed the food is.' 'Bottom line, highly processed foods — whether plant-based or animal-based — tend to be worse for heart health than whole or minimally processed foods.' — Jayne Morgan, MD Processing may include additives such as methylcelluose, modified starches, carrageenan, and gums that may trigger inflammation or gut issues impacting the microbiome. Processing also takes away beneficial components of natural foods such as isolated proteins, diminishing the nutritional profile of whole food sources such as lentils or beans. 'The goal,' stated Morgan, 'is to always maximize nutrients that protect the heart.' If you are looking to replace animal proteins, Routhenstein said to 'look for foods low in saturated fat and sodium, with minimal additives and preservatives. Choose whole food ingredients that are rich in protein, fiber, and phytonutrients to meet your goals — such as beans, legumes, tofu, and tempeh.' To avoid processed foods, 'Be on the alert for long ingredient lists full of additives or 'natural flavorings.' In fact, the word 'natural' is often a red flag,' Morgan warned. 'Choose unsalted or lightly salted options whenever possible. Seek recognizable foods, i.e., whole foods — and remember that fiber helps to lower cholesterol. Lentils, chickpeas, and black beans are good options. Look for oils such as olive, avocado, or canola. Avoid coconut or palm oils, saturated fats, sodium, and additives.' — Jayne Morgan, MD Heart Disease Cardiovascular / Cardiology Nutrition / Diet Vegan / Vegetarian
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
One million Australians missing specialist doctor appointments due to cost, report finds
One in 10 Australians pay almost $600 each year to see specialist doctors, with 1 million delaying or skipping appointments due to the cost, according to new analysis. A report by the Grattan Institute, released on Monday, revealed outpatient fees have soared over the past 15 years. The average initial out-of-pocket psychiatrist fee was $671 in 2023, with some 'extreme fee' specialists charging more than triple the scheduled Medicare fee. It found almost 2 million Australians are delaying or skipping specialist appointments each year – about half due to cost – adding pressure to the country's hospital systems. Experts say a lack of regulation of specialist consultation fees and training positions has led to ballooning costs. The report, Special Treatment: Improving Australians' Access to Specialist Care, found one in 10 low-income patients, with weekly household incomes of less than $500 a week, were billed almost $500 a year in out-of-pocket costs. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Some specialist doctors charged more than triple the Medicare scheduled fee, the analysis found. The scheduled fee refers to a fixed payment that the federal government will pay the doctor for the service. Of these 'extreme-fee charging' specialists, psychiatrists had the highest average out-of-pocket costs for an initial consultation – $671. This was followed by $372 for endocrinologists and $369 for cardiologists. 'The specialist system isn't working and Australians – especially poorer Australians – are paying the price,' said the lead report author and Grattan Institute health program director, Peter Breadon. Prof Yuting Zhang, an expert in health economics at the University of Melbourne, said a lack of government regulation of doctors' fees had led to increased costs to patients. 'Doctors can charge whatever they like … The fees have gone up quite a lot, especially for specialist fees relative to GP fees,' she said. 'We have seen a huge increase, but also very large variation across doctors, across regions and even across patients. The same doctor could charge differently for different patients coming to see the same service.' Zhang said in other countries with similar universal healthcare models, the government had 'some role' in determining fees. She said high specialist fees led to people skipping appointments and their deteriorating illnesses requiring hospitalisation. 'That costs a lot more, so ideally you don't want people to delay,' she said. 'The worry is it increases the downstream cost.' Zhang said often, patients do not know the total cost prior to seeing a doctor, making it harder for them to make an informed decision. 'It's hard for them to compare. But even if they know the price, it might be hard for them to judge if that price is justifiable,' she said. 'Sometimes people think more expensive means better, which in healthcare, often that's not true.' Dr Elizabeth Deveny, chief executive at peak body Consumer Health Forum of Australia, said consent for fees was mandatory but not enforced. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'People shouldn't be hit with surprise bills,' she said. Delaying or avoiding specialist treatment is leading to missed diagnoses and avoidable pain, the report found. Many patients waited months or even years for an appointment. In some parts of Australia, wait times for urgent appointments extend beyond the clinically recommended maximum. The report concluded specialist care in Australia was a 'postcode lottery', with people living in the worst-served areas receiving about a third fewer services than the best-served areas. It said public clinics do not do enough to fill these gaps. Zhang said requiring the federal government to increase the training of more specialist doctors could also ease wait times. She pointed to psychiatry as a specialty plagued by shortages. 'In areas like psychiatry, the government should do something to increase supply.' The report makes five recommendations, including that the federal government withhold Medicare funding from specialists who charge excessive fees and publicly name them. It also recommends governments expand public specialist appointments in areas that get the least care to provide more than 1m services annually, enable GPs to get written advice from specialists to avoid almost 70,000 referrals each and provide $160m to train specialists workforces, with funding linked to specialities with shortages and rural positions. The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the private health sector, including insurers and specialists, needed to do more to protect patients from exorbitant bills. 'The Albanese Labor government will help Australians find the best value when they need specialist medical advice and treatment, by upgrading the Medical Costs Finder to give more transparency on fees,' he said. 'We are committed to working with consumers, the colleges and private health providers on the design and implementation of this important cost transparency measure.'
