Heart | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/heart/RSS feed for HeartenTue, 18 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000Avoiding These Three Vascular Health Risk Factors in Midlife Can Help You Delay Dementia for About 13 Years, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/avoiding-these-three-vascular-health-risk-factors-in-midlife-can-help-you-delay-dementia-for-about-13-years-study-suggests-180989354/High blood pressure, diabetes and smoking are three major modifiable risk factors of dementia. New research tracked more than 12,000 participants to quantify how many years of healthy cognitive function you can gain by evading some or all of them during middle ageTue, 18 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/avoiding-these-three-vascular-health-risk-factors-in-midlife-can-help-you-delay-dementia-for-about-13-years-study-suggests-180989354/This Playful Interactive Reveals the Medical Advances That Have Made Life Better … and Sometimes Longerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-playful-interactive-reveals-the-medical-advances-that-have-made-life-better-and-sometimes-longer-180988867/From replacing lost limbs to helping a heart find its rhythm, the work of American doctors and researchers has improved lives in incalculable waysFri, 05 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-playful-interactive-reveals-the-medical-advances-that-have-made-life-better-and-sometimes-longer-180988867/Cancer Is Somehow Rare in the Heart. Turns Out, the Organ's Rhythmic Beat Might Keep the Disease at Bay, a Mouse Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cancer-is-somehow-rare-in-the-heart-turns-out-the-organs-rhythmic-beat-might-keep-the-disease-at-bay-a-mouse-study-finds-180988666/Less than 1 percent of cancers start in the heart, and disease that begins elsewhere seldom spreads to the blood-pumping organ. New research suggests mechanical force might have a protective roleTue, 05 May 2026 18:31:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cancer-is-somehow-rare-in-the-heart-turns-out-the-organs-rhythmic-beat-might-keep-the-disease-at-bay-a-mouse-study-finds-180988666/Doctors Used 'Digital Twins' of Patients' Hearts to Fix Their Irregular Heartbeatshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/doctors-used-digital-twins-of-patients-hearts-to-fix-their-irregular-heartbeats-180988476/A small clinical trial suggests the technology can help physicians perform life-saving surgeries more efficiently and safelyMon, 06 Apr 2026 15:47:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/doctors-used-digital-twins-of-patients-hearts-to-fix-their-irregular-heartbeats-180988476/Intermittent Fasting Might Not Live Up to the Hype When It Comes to Weight Loss, New Research Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/intermittent-fasting-might-not-live-up-to-they-hype-when-it-comes-to-weight-loss-new-research-suggests-180988218/The popular eating strategy is about as effective as doing nothing to lose weight, according to a review of several clinical trialsThu, 19 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/intermittent-fasting-might-not-live-up-to-they-hype-when-it-comes-to-weight-loss-new-research-suggests-180988218/After a Heart Attack, the Brain's Response Might Make Recovery Harder. Cutting Some Communication Between the Organs Could Helphttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-a-heart-attack-the-brains-response-might-make-recovery-harder-cutting-some-communication-between-the-organs-could-help-180988084/The new study in mice could lead to innovative treatments for heart attacksThu, 29 Jan 2026 18:53:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-a-heart-attack-the-brains-response-might-make-recovery-harder-cutting-some-communication-between-the-organs-could-help-180988084/'Excitement With a Little Dash of Fear': Polar Plunges Ring in the New Year With a Splash. But What Actually Happens to Your Body?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/excitement-with-a-little-dash-of-fear-polar-plunges-ring-in-the-new-year-with-a-splash-but-what-actually-happens-to-your-body-180987934/Three experts share the science behind taking a dip in cold water—and offer safety tips that any potential plungers should bear in mindWed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/excitement-with-a-little-dash-of-fear-polar-plunges-ring-in-the-new-year-with-a-splash-but-what-actually-happens-to-your-body-180987934/New Daily Pill Could Potentially Be Life-Saving for Americans With High Cholesterol Levels, Researchers Sayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-daily-pill-could-potentially-be-lifesaving-americans-high-chloresterol-levels-researchers-say-180987668/The medication, which significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks, could be a promising alternative to expensive and unpopular injectablesMon, 10 Nov 2025 17:28:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-daily-pill-could-potentially-be-lifesaving-americans-high-chloresterol-levels-researchers-say-180987668/Can Visiting an Art Gallery Lower Your Stress Levels and Improve Your Health?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-visiting-an-art-gallery-lower-your-stress-levels-and-improve-your-health-180987607/New research found that cortisol levels dropped among volunteers who spent 20 minutes looking at masterpieces at London's Courtauld GalleryThu, 06 Nov 2025 21:45:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-visiting-an-art-gallery-lower-your-stress-levels-and-improve-your-health-180987607/Women Need About Half as Much Exercise as Men for the Same Heart Benefits, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/women-need-about-half-as-much-exercise-as-men-for-the-same-heart-benefits-study-suggests-180987584/Researchers analyzed the activity and health records of 85,000 U.K. adults over roughly eight yearsThu, 30 Oct 2025 15:14:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/women-need-about-half-as-much-exercise-as-men-for-the-same-heart-benefits-study-suggests-180987584/