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New clues link Long COVID and POTS

A new study has found a significant link between Long COVID and POTS, with nearly two-thirds of Long COVID participants meeting the diagnostic criteria for POTS. The study suggests that POTS may be contributing to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and brain fog in some individuals with Long COVID.

SourceAdelaide University·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeCase study·DateSep 16, 2026

Taking the stairs could cut risk of early death

A meta-analysis of nearly 1,900 studies found that climbing stairs significantly reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Regular stair climbing was associated with lower risks of heart-related problems and major cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAmerican Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 12, 2026

Feel the beat, not the burn: Study shows your favorite playlist can help you train harder and longer

Researchers found that exercising to self-selected music boosts endurance by nearly 20%, allowing individuals to tolerate sustained effort for longer. Participants cycled for an average of 35.6 minutes with music versus 29.8 minutes in silence, with no change in heart rate or lactate levels at the finish.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalPsychology of Sport and Exercise·DateApr 28, 2026

Chaos in the heart and brain

Researchers at Kyoto University found that chaotic component of heartbeat variability is sensitive to cognitive brain activity, providing a new indicator of brain-heart interaction. Chaos-based measures revealed clear and reproducible changes associated with task engagement, contrasting with conventional HRV indices.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2026

When the nervous system starves the brain: Autonomic dysfunction unmasked as a hidden driver of treatment-resistant depression

A study published in Brain Medicine suggests autonomic dysfunction, particularly parasympathetic and sympathetic imbalances, contributes to depressive symptoms in patients unresponsive to conventional antidepressants. Low-dose medications targeting these imbalances may offer a new approach to treatment.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalBrain Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 31, 2026

Pointing to success: Marathon potential is in your hands – literally

A world-first study suggests that a person's marathon potential may be identified through a simple check of their hands. Lower digit ratio is linked to cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise tolerance. This biomarker could help coaches identify talent or recreational athletes understand their endurance potential.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 10, 2025

World’s smallest pacemaker is activated by light

Northwestern University engineers developed the world's smallest pacemaker that can be non-invasively injected into newborn babies' hearts with a syringe. The device, paired with a wearable wireless controller, stimulates pacing through light pulses, dissolving after use without surgical extraction.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2025

Social factors help explain worse cardiovascular health among adults in rural vs. urban communities

A recent NIH-funded study found that rural adults experience higher rates of heart disease and its risk factors compared to urban counterparts. The study revealed that variables such as poverty, education, and access to healthcare do not explain these differences, with lifestyle risk factors like smoking also playing a lesser role.

Smartwatches may help control diabetes through exercise

A new study found that smartwatches paired with a health app can encourage people with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes to start and maintain purposeful exercise, leading to improvements in blood sugar levels and systolic blood pressure. The programme also helped participants lower cholesterol and improve their quality of life.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalBMJ Open·TypeObservational study·DateMar 26, 2025

Weight loss protects – even when weight is regained

A Swedish study of over 1,300 participants found that losing a significant amount of weight still offers protection against health issues like cancer and cardiovascular disease, even if some weight is regained. However, regaining weight can increase the risk of microvascular disease and other health problems.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 2025

Is this the new 5:2 diet?

Researchers at the University of Sydney recommend adopting a primarily plant-centric fibre-rich diet to enhance overall health and longevity. The plan involves incorporating more plant-based meals into one's diet, starting with two days a week and increasing to five days as recommended by Professor Luigi Fontana.

The heart has its own ‘brain’

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Columbia University identified a mini-brain within the heart with its own nervous system that controls the heartbeat. This discovery challenges current views on how the heartbeat is controlled and may lead to new insights into heart diseases and treatments.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2024

Early adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor in patients hospitalized with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction

Prescription rates of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors increased substantially within 2 years after publication of clinical trial evidence documenting benefit. The study highlights the need to understand strategies used by higher prescribing centers to increase SGLT2i adoption.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateNov 18, 2024