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Images and risk communication boost motivation for better heart health

A study from Umeå University found that visualizing ultrasound images of atherosclerosis, combined with a motivational dialogue, increases motivation to improve lifestyle habits and take preventive medication. This results in lower estimated risk of cardiovascular disease and better development of risk factors over time.

SourceUmea University·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 15, 2026

Karina Yaniv begins professorship at HI-TAC, Mannheim

Dr. Karina Yaniv has been appointed as the new Scientific Director of Systemic AngioCardioScience at the Helmholtz Institute for Translational AngioCardioScience (HI-TAC). She aims to expand her research with a focus on translation into clinical applications, and build a bridge between basic and translational cardiovascular research.

Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype may lower cardiovascular disease risk

Research suggests that exercising at a time that matches an individual's natural chronotype (morning or evening alertness) can lower cardiovascular disease risk. The study found that chronotype-aligned exercise improved blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol levels, and sleep quality more effectively than mismatched timing.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalOpen Heart·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 14, 2026

Early weight gain is linked to lifelong health consequences

A study of over 600,000 people found that early weight gain is associated with a higher risk of dying from various diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Weight gain during adulthood also increases the risk of premature death, especially for those who develop obesity at a younger age.

SourceLund University·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 10, 2026

Better use of exercise time? Adding resistance training improves strength and aerobic fitness beyond aerobic exercise alone in heart failure

Combining resistance training and aerobic exercises significantly enhances aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and walking distance in heart failure patients. Adding resistance training to aerobic workouts increases muscle strength more than exercising aerobically alone.

SourceJournal of Sport and Health Science·JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 10, 2026

University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute study highlights long term gains in cardiovascular outcomes at UH Portage Medical Center

A new study by University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute highlights the long-term impact of preventive heart and vascular care. The study shows a significant decline in cardiovascular mortality rates after investments in local cardiac care, with notable reductions among older age groups.

Self-employed Hispanic women may be at lower risk for cardiovascular disease compared with their salaried counterparts

Research published in Ethnicity & Disease found that self-employed Hispanic women report less high blood pressure, obesity, and poor health compared to their salaried counterparts. They were also more likely to exercise, with a nearly 11% higher rate of physical activity.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalEthnicity & Disease·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 8, 2026

The wearable ring on your finger could help assess your cardiovascular health while you sleep

Researchers developed a method to estimate vascular age from consumer wearables' PPG signals, predicting accurate results with a mean error of six to seven years. The technique uses a deep learning model and may lead to earlier detection of cardiovascular risk and more effective preventive care.

Small-volume hypertonic saline plus furosemide linked to lower inflammatory and remodeling markers in acute heart failure

Treatment with i.v. furosemide plus HSS significantly decreased serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers IL-6, sST2, hsTnT, galectin-3, and NT-proBNP. The study found that this combination therapy modulated some miRNA expression and was associated with reduced miR181b expression compared to furosemide alone.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeNews article·DateApr 7, 2026

Research Spotlight: A new pulmonary embolism guideline, clinical advances and research updates, and a Mass General Brigham investigator’s insights

The new guidelines introduce five clinical categories to capture PE severity, emphasizing follow-up care and treatment considerations. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, PE remains a serious condition with substantial risk, highlighting the need for continued research and improvement.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateApr 7, 2026

People who can’t afford dental care may be at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, dementia

A new study found that older people who forego necessary dental procedures due to financial barriers may experience heart failure, a heart attack, a stroke, or dementia. The researchers suggest that alleviating upstream factors such as financial constraints could prevent chronic disease.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalThe Journals of Gerontology Series A·TypeObservational study·DateApr 1, 2026

Microaxial flow pump does not improve outcomes for high-risk heart attack patients without cardiogenic shock

A new trial found that using a microaxial flow pump before and during cardiac stenting procedures for high-risk heart attack patients with severe heart attacks did not reduce heart damage. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also showed increased bleeding complications.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 28, 2026

Multi-task deep learning identifies four MASLD subtypes for precision cardiovascular– liver–kidney–metabolic management

The study developed a novel multi-task deep LASSO algorithm that identified six core clinical indicators, establishing four stable MASLD subtypes with distinct characteristics. The classification system enables targeted interventions, prioritizing fibrosis screening and aggressive cardiorenal protection for specific subgroups.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateMar 26, 2026

Study finds a pregnancy complication that can increase a child’s risk of heart disease

A Rutgers Health study found that children born to mothers with premature placental separations are three times more likely to develop or die from cardiovascular disease. This risk is higher among those younger than 12 months old, and pregnant women over 35 or experiencing twin pregnancies are also at increased risk.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeObservational study·DateMar 25, 2026

Lower hemoglobin levels can offer several health benefits

A new study by Finnish researchers found that lower hemoglobin levels within the normal range may be beneficial for glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health. The study, conducted on 64 adults, revealed an association between lower hemoglobin levels and improved physical fitness, heart health, and reduced liver fat.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalAnnals of Medicine·DateMar 25, 2026

Digital CBT reduced cardiac-related anxiety and improved disease-specific health status following heart attack

A new study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that digital CBT significantly reduced cardiac-related anxiety and improved patients' quality of life and physical function after a heart attack. The treatment showed stable benefits up to one year after completion.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 25, 2026

Medical centers highlight responsible ways to share genetic disease risk information

A study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the eMERGE network found that sharing genetic disease risk information with patients can be done responsibly, with a 70% success rate. The team shared results with over 24,000 people using various methods, including one-to-one conversations for those with higher-risk findings.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 23, 2026

Improving heart health may not be enough to protect against Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers found that exercise and aggressive cardiovascular risk reduction improved heart health, but did not produce measurable cognitive benefits over two years in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. The study highlights a critical gap between vascular risk reduction and brain health.

SourcePennington Biomedical Research Center·JournalJAMA Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 23, 2026

Korea University study identifies liver–metabolic disease as a key risk factor for heart failure in older adults with atrial fibrillation

A Korea University study reveals that liver metabolic disease is a key risk factor for heart failure in older adults with atrial fibrillation, with MASLD having the lowest risk and ALD carrying the highest risk. The study highlights the importance of liver health in cardiovascular disease management.

SourceKorea University College of Medicine·JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2026

Combining small changes to sleep, diet, and exercise could be key to reducing heart attack and stroke risk

Research shows combining small improvements in sleep, diet quality, and physical activity can significantly reduce major cardiovascular events. Making modest shifts in daily routines, such as sleeping more, eating more vegetables, and exercising more, were associated with a 10% reduction in risk.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·DateMar 23, 2026

Using AI to improve standard-of-care cardiac imaging

Researchers developed a new multiview DNN structure to capture complex 3D anatomy and physiology from multiple imaging views, improving diagnostic accuracy for cardiovascular conditions. The approach demonstrated better performance than single-view DNNs and provided a viable alternative for other medical imaging modalities.

SourceUniversity of California San Francisco Medical Center·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 17, 2026

ACC/AHA issue updated guideline for managing lipids, cholesterol

The updated guideline consolidates evidence-based recommendations for managing dyslipidemias, offering a comprehensive approach to lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The guideline recommends earlier intervention through healthy lifestyle changes and considers the use of a new cardiovascular disease risk calculator, P...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 13, 2026

New study offers strong evidence of elevated heart failure risk in adults with prediabetes, hypertension and subclinical heart injury or stress

A new study finds that adults with prediabetes and hypertension who have subclinical heart injury or stress are at increased risk of heart failure. The study highlights an at-risk population that can be identified using common cardiac biomarkers and emphasizes the importance of preventive care.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateMar 9, 2026

Heart and metabolic risk factors more strongly linked to liver fibrosis in women than men, study finds

Women with cardiometabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes and high waist circumference face a higher risk of liver fibrosis, with rates increasing 11-fold and 2.8-fold compared to men. The study highlights the importance of managing these risk factors for liver health beyond heart disease prevention.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 9, 2026