As you may know, The Cardio Blog is being retired today. It's been an honor to write for this blog, and I hope that the information we brought to you was useful and informative. Since this will be my last post for The Cardio Blog, I thought I'd write about a topic that is near and dear to my heart (pun, lamely, intended): women's heart health.

We've seen it in the headlines again and again -- women, and often their doctors, don't always prioritize their health, and this seems to be especially an issue when it comes to heart health. But the fact is that heart disease is public enemy number one for women, and we all need to better understand and deal with our risk factors.

So I'll leave you with this post from Her Daily News. In it, they talk about Heart Truth, the National Institute of Health's campaign to bring heart education to women. They also include a checklist of questions to take to your doctor, as well as a list to help you understand your own risk. Do yourself -- and your heart -- a favor today and read through the questions to determine if you need to do more to protect your health.

Thanks for reading The Cardio Blog, and don't forget to come visit us at That's Fit for all of the latest news in health and fitness!

The FDA is currently taking public comment on the possibility of creating a symbol system that would put nutritional information -- loud and clear -- on the front of food packages, instead of the current system of a smaller print food labeling on the side or back of a package. Though some companies currently do some version of this, the FDA system would presumably be more regulated and consistent. The hope is that when people see one of their favorite foods contains too much salt, fat, or sugar that they make a healthier choice.

I think there are arguments for both sides of this issue. On the one hand, most of us are perfectly capable of turning a box around to read the ingredients -- if we choose to do so. But a clearer system would help those who can't read small print, who are illiterate, or who aren't educated in basic nutrition. Would it stop you from grabbing that super-sized bag of potato chips, though? I don't know...I mean, after all, when I buy junk food, I usually already know it's junk. What do you think?

Earlier this year, my great-aunt passed away suddenly from an unknown heart condition. Her doctor recommended that all of her siblings, children, and nieces and nephews be screened for heart problems as well, flagging them at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Thankfully, no problems were uncovered, but they are now aware of the higher risk associated with having heart disease in our family.

Scottish researchers believe that if family members of those with known heart disease were singled out as high-risk and their risk factors gotten under control, up to 40% of early deaths from cardiac events could be prevented. Even so, this type of flagging system is rarely used, even though it is common procedure among families with genetic cancers.

So if someone in your family has had some form of heart disease or heart attack, be sure that you know your risks. Talk to your doctor and tackle any problems that increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and protect your heart for the long haul.

Even one fatty feast can cause your body to stop protecting itself from cardiovascular disease, a recent study showed, at least temporarily. When study participants were given a high-fat meal -- the equivalent of a double cheeseburger, large fry, and a chocolate shake -- their HDL (or good) cholesterol lost the ability to protect their arteries from inflammation. But when participants ate the same meal, this time prepared with polyunsaturated fat, the ability of HDL to prevent inflammation actually improved.

Researchers say this study points out the importance of avoiding saturated fats as much as possible. In fact, they say that a maximum of 10% of your calories should come from saturated fats, and the AHA takes that one step further and recommends no more than 7%. That means that if you typically eat 2,000 calories a day, you should eat no more than 14 to 20 grams of saturated fat.

Here's more about good fats and bad fats from the AHA.

Global warming is a term we're all familiar with right now, and as we look to the future of our planet, we can only wonder what effects it will have. At the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting this week in Austria, conversations turned to the affects of global warming on heart health, and some experts are concerned.

Citing the fact that hearts don't do as well in hot weather, some cardiologists feel that in the coming years we may see an increase in heart related fatalities. Others think that pollution and overpopulation (leading us all to live in cities) may be a problem. Still others think that humans may adapt, and that warmer temperatures may get people out exercising more frequently.

It's all speculation at this point, but it's interesting nonetheless. What do you think?

Healthy living is such an ordeal, isn't it? Not really, of course, but it can certainly seem that way if you've spent the better part of the last several years being a couch potato. If you'd like to clean up your lifestyle but the idea of changing too much too soon has been scaring you off, take heart. Experts say that it really doesn't take the much to be healthy.

For instance, just adding one serving of fruits and vegetables to every meal will equal three of the recommended 5 to 9 servings. And three 10-minute walks a day are enough to decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease. If you're consistent in adding in small changes to your routine, before you know it your lifestyle will look a lot healthier than it did just a few months ago.

If you're interested in trying out "stealth health," check out these suggestions from WebMD to get started.

Ireland was the first country to every ban workplace smoking within its borders, and they implemented the law in 2004. Within one year, the incidence of heart attacks fell by a whopping 10%. Health experts say that Ireland's success should be encouraging for other countries thinking of similar laws. In May, the World Health Association recommended a worldwide ban on workplace smoking and all indoor public places. That's certainly an ambitious goal, but maybe if more countries follow Ireland's lead, public smoking will finally become a thing of the past. What do you think?

After a transplant earlier this year, a young British woman gave her heart away...literally. After doctors removed her heart -- damaged by a condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy -- Jennifer Sutton, 23, lent it to the Wellness Collection of central London. It will be on display to help educate the public on the importance of donor organs. Jennifer recently got to see her heart and described the moment as "surreal." I can only imagine. Read more about Jennifer's story and see a picture of her (and her heart!) at BBC News.

I'll be honest here and admit that, because I've never had a blood pressure problem, I once believed it didn't matter how much salt I ate. Older and at least a little wiser, I now realized that as a nation, we all eat far too much sodium than is healthy. Four major health organizations -- the AMA, AHA, ADA, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health -- have teamed up in a national campaign to cut our intake of salt by 50%. Cutting salt can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower the risk of death.

What can you do to lower your salt intake? You can eat fewer processed foods and become a savvy label reader. You can make more of your foods at home and use spices instead of salts to flavor food. When eating out, ask for unsalted foods and empty your salt shaker at home. You can even consider making your own bread, since bread and cereal products account for a large portion of our daily intake. Shoot for 1,500 to 2,400 mg of salt a day, which seems like a lot but is much lower than the 4,000 to 6,000 mg the average American eats today.

We talk a lot about nutrition here at The Cardio Blog, and that's because health experts link a healthy diet to a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease. And while we all know that a low-fat, high-fiber diet is important to good heart health, there are other vitamins and minerals that are important in keeping your ticker ticking. They include:

• magnesium
• folic acid and other B vitamins
  
• niacin
• potassium
• calcium

While eating a balanced diet full of whole grains, lean proteins, nuts, and plenty of veggies and fruit will give you the daily recommended allowance of most of those nutrients, magnesium is often little harder to get. Found mostly in whole grains and dark, leafy vegetables, some magnesium is lost when foods are cooked. Raw pumpkin seeds, spinach, and black beans are all good sources of magnesium. Talk to your doctor before taking any kind of supplement, since they can interfere with medications or cause trouble in people with certain conditions.

As records go, this isn't the one to beat: Mississippi recently became the first state in the nation to have 30% of its citizens qualify as obese. Health experts have several theories why Mississippi is now "the fattest state," including the fact that it's one of the poorest states in the country. People who have to stretch their food dollar often turn to cheap processed foods with poor nutrition.

State leaders are stepping up to the plate. Schools will now be requiring 150 minutes of gym class each week, which equals out to 30 minutes a day, for K-8 students. They'll also require 30 minutes per week of health education and are cleaning the junk food out of their vending machines. The hope is that students will take their new habits home with them; if they don't, Mississippi's future looks grim. By 2015, 50% of the state could be obese. Find out where your state stands here.

I didn't realize this, but there's a nationwide campaign to put portable defibrillators, or AEDs, in every school. Proponents want the defibrillators in place to protect kids who may suffer a cardiovascular event, as well as adults in the school building. But a recent study out of Seattle questions the logic of spending $1000-$3000 on the equipment in every school, when there may not be a need.

Researchers found that few cardiovascular events happen among school aged children as it is, and that an AED would most likely be used on adults who happened to be in the building. They also found that those adults were more likely to be in junior and senior high schools (for sports programs, etc.) so AEDs may not be required at the elementary level.

On the other hand, no one really knows when and where a heart attack may strike, and wouldn't it be tragic if it happened in a building that didn't acquire an AED to cut costs? It's a tough decision for those who balance the school budgets...what do you think?

A recent study found that a 30-minute training DVD could teach adults to perform CPR just as well as the conventional class, which often took three to four hours. Now, researchers out of Denmark have found an innovative way to get parents to learn CPR...let their kids teach them. During the study, 7th graders watched the DVD at school and practiced CPR on mannequins. Then they took the materials home to their parents with instructions to teach their families how to do the method. Students taught an average of 2.5 people each, and health experts are hopeful that new methods such as this one may reach larger groups of people.

If you're interested in learning CPR at home, check out CPR Anytime for Family and Friends, as well as an infant version for new parents.

April showers bring May flowers, but September brings cooler weather just right for the outdoor exercise routine. The American Heart Association recommends getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 days a week, and fall is a great time to rededicate yourself to a consistent fitness routine.

Take advantage of what fall has to offer:

• Community education classes tend to follow the school year. Try something new with a friend.
• Brisk air and crunchy leaves invigorate the senses on a fall hike.
• Work fitness into your kid's routine by walking while you wait for them at practice.
• Enjoy your favorite fall TV shows -- on a treadmill or exercise bike!

Find more fall fitness tips at WebMD. What about you...what do you love about working out in the fall?

When male and female mice exercise, female hearts seem to get more benefit than male hearts. Researchers believe this finding may be translatable into human heart health and may explain why women seem to get more -- heart-wise at least -- out of exercise than men.

Female mice had bigger and stronger hearts than male mice and had a 20% reduction in a protein found in people who have heart disease. Male mice did not see the same reduction. Female mice were also able to run farther and faster on a running wheel than their male counterparts.

Though this research only makes a dent in gender-specific cardiac changes, health experts hope that down the road, studies like this one will lead to better treatment strategies for men and women with cardiovascular illnesses.