Atrial fibrillation ( AFib ) is an irregular heart rhythm. While heart attack increases the risk of AFib , AFib may also raise heart attack risk, especially in women and African Americans.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients have an increased risk for heart attacks. Some medications used to treat the inflammation from arthritis may also help lower the risk of heart attack as well.

A typical heart attack comes on suddenly and is easily diagnosed. Another type of heart attack that can occur after a heart procedure, however, may need to be better defined.

When a person has a heart attack, fast treatment is key to a fast recovery. A delay in restoring blood flow to arteries may mean a slow return back to normal activities, including work.

Stenting is a common way to treat atherosclerosis or clogged arteries. For patients who are having noncardiac surgery after stent placement, timing is everything.

They say the early bird gets the worm. And that’s no exception in the case of a heart attack.

Estrogen — a hormone used to treat symptoms of menopause — has been shown to increase the risk for certain cancers. But other questions about the safety of estrogen therapy remain. For example, is it safe for the heart?

For a person having a heart attack, the amount of time between first arriving at the hospital and receiving treatment is very important.

Heart attack patients can take steps to lower their risk of future cardiac events, such as losing weight and managing high blood pressure. Some high-risk groups, however, could be doing more.

Most people get the flu vaccine for the obvious reason: to protect them from the flu. But there may be other benefits to the shot as well.