Looking back on a year since most people in the United States became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, medical experts can celebrate a technological triumph while acknowledging unresolved challenges

The heart inflammation that followed COVID-19 shots in some teens and young adults is rare and a new study affirms that your risk is extremely low

As doctors learn more about the consequences of COVID-19, they are confirming that heart inflammation is rare among hospitalized COVID patients. That's the good news — but those who develop it are much more likely to require intensive care

COVID-19 was full of surprises early on, causing mild problems in the short term for some people and serious complications for others. Long term, it may be just as capricious. Studies are spotting potential heart and brain problems up to a year after infection with SARS-CoV-2, even in people who had mild COVID-19

Findings indicated that better health care access, preventive measures, smoking cessation and better treatment of high blood pressure and cholesterol may be helpful in lowering the lifetime probability of developing a heart attack or a stroke

So you put on extra pounds during the pandemic. Your cholesterol's too high. Maybe you need to do a better job managing blood pressure. It can feel like a lot to tackle. But taking that first step toward better health can be as easy as … taking a first step. Literally. Just putting one foot in front of the other – as often as you can

While it might be legal for adults to light up, the question of whether it is harmful or helpful in many cases remains unanswered

Each person should discuss their individual risk profile with their physician. The new recommendation does not apply to people with existing heart problems who are taking low-dose aspirin, including people who have had open heart surgery, undergone stenting, have had a stroke or heart attack, or have diagnosed blockages in major arteries

Anyone who has been on the receiving end of a dog's love and devotion knows these furry friends are nothing if not good for our hearts. But a pooch's heart needs attention, too. And there are steps humans can take to make sure they get it. They just aren't the same steps people take to protect their own heart health.