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?

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.

On the heels of news that light cigarettes are just as bad for your health as regular ones, Health Canada is looking at banning the light, mild and ultra-light labels on cigarettes here. And tobacco companies aren't planning on fighting it -- they're on board and ready to change their labels.

I think this is an excellent idea. I personally know several people who smoke cigarettes labelled light and while they know that smoking is bad for them, they incorrectly feel better about their choice because it's light. However, I doubt that changing the label will be the thing that makes them quit smoking, but you never know. What do you think?

You may have heard of red yeast rice as a simple way to lower your cholesterol. After all, that's what some manufacturers want to believe. But don't fall for it -- it's a scam. What's more, many red yeast rice manufacturers have been spiking their product with statins to make them seem more effective.

If you're interested in lowering your cholesterol, there are better ways to do it than wasting your money -- exercising and eating well will do more for your health than any so-called miracle cure will.

Many people experience a rise in blood pressure in the morning, which steadily declines throughout the day and steadies out overnight. Is this normal, and should you be concerned? Research has shown that the greater the difference between your blood pressure readings throughout the day, the more likely you are to suffer from a stroke.

If you suspect your blood pressure might fluctuate throughout the day, you might want to consider investing in a device that monitors your blood pressure throughout the day. Once you've established how much your blood pressure changes, you can talk to your doctor about preventing a stroke.

For more information, click here.

British baby Jack Vellam (13 months) went home from the hospital recently after an astounding 120 days on an artificial heart. Apparently, it was a record-breaking stay: that is the longest anyone so young has stayed on an artificial heart.

Five months ago, Jack was diagnosed with myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle. He had fallen ill suddenly and suffered a heart attack, then spent several days in intensive care. He became so ill that his mother agreed with doctors' recommendation that his life-support machine be turned off. "It was a heart-breaking ordeal for all of us," said his mom Danielle.

Then the docs unexpectedly came up with another option: a transplant, if a donor heart could be found. The parents reluctantly agreed, feeling they should give their little one a chance at life. That's when the artificial heart came in. Jack's artificial heart consisted of a pump (the "heart") outside of his body, connected to him via four tubes in the chest.

At that point, however, the myocarditis was discovered and the parents were informed that Jack might recover without a transplant. And, happily, that's what happened. Eventually, Jack underwent surgery (risky in and of itself) to disconnect him from the artificial heart. Said an elated pediatric cardiologist who helped save Jack's life: "This is the best of days for us; this is what we work for."

The Thai government says the heart drug Plavix is way overpriced. And it's going to do something about it: it will begin importing generic versions of Plavix from India. The first batch of two million pills will arrive soon, says the chairman of Thailand's Government Pharmaceutical Organisation. The imported version of Plavix, a blood-thinner, will cost only the equivalent of three US cents per pill. Compare this with the current cost for Thai heart patients: two US dollars per pill!

In order to do all this, the Thai government approved a temporary suspension of patent protections for expensive medications. Needless to say, this has seriously ticked off the big pharmaceutical companies! (Plavix, by the way, is sold by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol Myers-Squibb.) However, the Thai government has not limited itself to heart meds; it is also planning to import generic versions of pricey AIDS drugs, and is considering including cancer drugs in the measure, too.

Now, I don't know how legitimate the Thai government's measures are. But what would happen if governments elsewhere around the world started doing the same thing? The United States, perhaps? Ha! Don't hold your breath. But it's a nice thought, isn't it? Government leaders saying: "enough, already. Our people can't afford these over-priced drugs. Let's do something!"

I once received a call from a guy who stated that he was conducting a health survey. Wait -- I take that back, I have received similar calls many times over the years, but this time was very different. To be perfectly honest, I happened to be pretty bored the day the guy called, so I didn't mind giving him the five minutes I thought he would need. Little did I know that this was going to be the longest survey in history. No word of a lie, the damn survey lasted almost twenty minutes. Wait -- again, I have to take something back. It may have taken much longer, only I eventually had to end it after twenty minutes!! Okay, where am I going with all this? Let me tell you.

Even though that freakin' survey lasted twenty minutes, I at least knew that I was taking it. It was conducted by my volition, just as it was ended at my discretion. However, what's currently going on around the United States and Canada is a bit more sneaky. You see, if you have a heart attack, stroke, or any other issue that would cause paramedics to come to the scene, you may involuntarily become part of a clinical study. Yup, you read that right. It turns out that as I write this, about 15,000 patients, selected randomly from 11 regions throughout the U.S. and Canada, are having their lifesaving procedures examined by researchers.

The goal is to use this information to figure out ways how to improve the lifesaving techniques used by ambulance services and emergency rooms. Still, many critics feel that this method is intrusive and duplicitous, in addition to being an abuse of patients' rights.

Feel free to weigh in on this topic by commenting below.

Because I grew up with Atari (I'm dating myself), the video games of today seem like they are anything but calming. But a new modified version of the popular puzzle game Tetris -- soon be available online -- actually teaches people to calm themselves down to raise their score. The game measures a player's pulse, and if it rises the game speeds up. As the pieces fall faster and faster, players have to calm down and focus to get a higher score.

The program is called BioBlox and will run on Windows-based PCs.

Massages are one of my favourite ways to relax, though because I don't have any real back or neck problems, they often seem like a frivolous indulgence for me (albeit a worthy one.) But here's some great news if you're looking for an excuse to get massaged -- they can prevent heart attacks! It all comes down to a group of cells in your neck that are connected to the area in your brain that helps control your blood pressure and your breathing. This is according to a study done at the University of Leeds.

So next time you're in need of some serious de-stressing, instead of reaching for the comfort food, treat yourself to a massage.

A new report shows that exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war may be linked to hypertension in Vietnam vets. The herbicide, which was sprayed liberally over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to defoliate the dense jungle that the opposing soldiers were known to hide amongst, has been linked to large number of illnesses, including several types of cancers, and now scientists who are examining the after-effects of exposure to the herbicide now believe that heart disease and several other cardiovascular illnesses have agent orange to blame. This backs up previous findings that pointed to the same conclusion.

But although the harmful effects of Agent Orange continue to gain momentum, veterans are still being let down by the healthcare system. Officials still believe there is "limited or suggestive evidence" to back up the claims that agent orange is behind many illnesses. Considering that Vietnam Veterans put their life on the line for their country, I think this is completely immoral and downright sick. What do you think?

For someone with Allergies, Allegra can be a life-saver. But for someone who takes it, it can also be a life-ender, particularly with the use of Allegra-D, which contains a decongestant. The decongestant in Allegra, pseudoephedrine, works by restricting blood vessels, which can be a serious problem for people with high blood pressure because it raises it. And having habitually high blood pressure can lead to other problems, including stroke, kidney failure congestive heart failure, heart attack and more.

If you suffer from allergies and high blood pressure, please talk to your doctor about alternative therapies for both problems.

Recent studies have shown that two common diabetes drugs may double the risk of heart failure in the patients that take them regularly. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone are two of the most common diabetes medications out there, and millions in North America and Europe are currently taking them, and with obesity and diabetes on the rise, the amount prescribed in increasing every day.

It's thought that the risk of heart failure is a result of the drugs' tendency to cause fluid retention in those who take them. Furthermore, in studies, heart failure occurred even in those on a low dose of the medications. Studies continue to be done to determine the safety of these drugs.

Not only are diesel fumes nauseatingly foul smelling, they're bad for you too. A new study shows that those who are regularly exposed to diesel fumes are putting themselves at risk of damaging their arteries. Apparently, small particles in the fumes interact with LDL (Bad) Cholesterol, and can lead to inflammation of the blood vessels, which in turn could lead to blood vessel blockage, which it goes without saying is pretty bad.

This is bad news for truck drivers, who tend to be unhealthy and are exposed to these fumes quite often, but it's not much of a risk for those who aren't exposed to too much diesel. Nonetheless, it's a good reminder to keep your cholesterol down.