A study of over 6.4 million young adults in South Korea found that LDL cholesterol levels above 130 mg/dL significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, especially when combined with other risk factors like obesity and smoking.
A genetic blood fat called Lp(a), found in about 1 in 5 people, may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. It's not typically detected in standard cholesterol tests and is largely determined by genetics, making lifestyle changes less effective for lowering it.
A large study of over 72,000 people found that increasing daily step count significantly reduces death and heart disease risk, even for those who sit for long periods. Walking 9,000-10,000 steps daily showed the greatest benefit.
Researchers have finally understood what Leonardo da Vinci was sketching 500 years ago—a mysterious mesh-like structure inside the heart called trabeculae. Using MRI scans from the UK Biobank and genetic analysis, scientists have discovered these spongy patterns inside the heart's ventricles may influence blood flow and could be linked to cardiovascular disease risk. Da Vinci originally thought the structures warmed blood, but modern science reveals they follow fractal patterns coded in genetics.
