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.

Vioxx has been in the news for awhile now for negative cardiac effects including heart attacks, and now new research may have pinpointed why. It all seems to come down to the pain killer's side effect of causing the body to produce extra amounts of a protein called "tissue factor" that has to do with blood clotting. Too much TF equals too much clotting, which equals heart attack and stroke problems.

Experts believe Vioxx isn't the only pain med to carry this risk, but all cox-2 inhibitors cause the increased production of tissue factor -- including Celebrex, which is still available. This study was not considered conclusive, but if you have questions or concerns about medications you're currently taking speak with your doctor.

Famed bluesman Bo Diddley (78) is in a Gainesville, FL, hospital following a heart attack. Diddley is famous for ever-cool tunes such as "Who Do You Love" and "I'm a Man." Well, at least he was in the right location: Diddley was actually at the hospital for a checkup when the heart attack struck. This ensured he got prompt care that may very well have saved his life.

It appears Diddley suffered the heart attack on Friday of last week, but it was only announced today. This afternoon a spokeswoman stated that the now-elderly guitar hero felt unwell during his Friday checkup and was transferred to the emergency room, which is where the heart attack occurred. Diddley had surgery soon after to have a stent fitted. This will improve blood flow to the heart. Today he was transferred out of intensive care. As of earlier today his condition was said to be stable but serious.

Interesting factoids: Diddley's real name is Ellas Bates. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The legendary musician has not been enjoying the best of health lately: he had a stroke in May of this year, which has impaired his speech and speech recognition. He has also lost some of his toes to complications of diabetes.

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."

There's been a great deal of research done and an abundance of data that suggests that vitamin E supplementation does not play a role in reducing the chance of heart attack. However, a new study points to underdosing as the reason for the vitamin's repeated failure.

Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals damage cellular proteins, fats and DNA. Though free radicals are byproducts or normal metabolism, they are also produced in excess when the body is in certain disease states, heart disease not withstanding. Researchers conducted animal studies to determine if vitamin E (and other antioxidant compounds) could offer some protection against heart attack in individuals with excessive free radical damage. However, subsequent studies on vitamin E revealed that almost no benefit came from its consumption.

But, researchers are now suggesting that in this earlier clinical trials, test subjects were not given large enough doses of vitamin E for it to show any effect. Upon upping the dosage to 1600 IU per day (which is twice that was used in the earlier studies), the test subjects showed a significant reduction in oxidative stress.

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.

Ever wondered what would happen if you overdosed on Red Bull? Answer: your heart could stop ticking. I am not kidding.

Australian man, Matthew Penbross (28), found that out recently after drinking eight of the super-highly caffeinated beverages during a five hour period. I guess eight is his unlucky number, because after downing that last one he collapsed. An ambulance was called and the first aid crew found Penbross having a heart attack. Realizing his heart had stopped, they had to use a defibrillator to get his heart pumping again.

The obvious question: why was he drinking so much darn Red Bull?? Answer: he was competing in a motocross (motorcycle racing) event and wanted to get his adrenalin pumping. "It was to get a bit of a buzz and keep down my reaction time," says Penbross.

Penbross has gone public since his unfortunate RB-related incident. He says the product should sport a decent warning label. He says that current labels, which warn against consuming more than two cans per day, are inadequate. I guess a brush with death is more of a jolt than he was looking for...

Here's the thing: Penbross admits that prior to the heart attack he'd routinely drink four cans of Red Bull daily, which is twice the recommended maximum. Not only that: he also admits he continued to drink it even after experiencing chest pains. C'mon! I have no sympathy for the guy.

Occasional chest pains can be frightening -- I know because I get them from time to time. I'm only in my mid-20s and I'm healthy so I doubt it's anything to worry about, but sometimes I can't help worrying about the state of my heart.

Chest pains are one of the most important things to share with your doctor, because it can provide him or her with valuable insights into what might be afflicting you. Chest pains can be a sign of a heart attack, angina, inflammation of the heart tissue or a multitude of other things. Chest pains can also be caused by acid reflux, which I suspect in the culprit in my case.

To find out more about chest pains, check out this article.

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recently refined treatment guidelines for patients who present with chest pain or who suffer a heart attack. The new guidelines clarify treatments for high risk and low risk patients and bring attention to the fact that low-risk patients who suffer chest pain or non-ST myocardial infarction need further testing and treatment to lower their risk of future heart attack. In addition to a stress test and echo-cardiogram, low risk patients may also be prescribed ACE inhibitors and get education on lifestyle changes to prevent further attacks. Recommendations for high risk patients continue to include intervention such as stents and medication. To learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack, visit the AHA's website to read more.

The symptoms of angina can be very similar to those of a heart attack -- pain and pressure in the chest and upper body, for one. Though angina is treatable, it is a major red flag that tells you that it's time to pay close attention to your heart health. Angina is your heart's way of warning you that it's working too hard, and left untreated, it can put you at risk for heart attack and cardiac arrest. It can be caused by coronary artery disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or narrowing of the arteries, as well as other conditions.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with angina, here's an excellent article that outlines symptoms, causes, and different types of angina, as well as treatment options and lifestyle changes to manage the disease. Though any new heart symptoms or pain should be evaluated by a doctor immediately, if you have angina, this article may help you better understand your condition.

When we first applied for life insurance, my marathon running husband was shocked to find out that his premium would be twice as high as mine. The reason, according to our agent, was his strong family history of early heart disease. Though we knew that genetics play a role, we thought that a healthy lifestyle would balance things out. Not so, at least in the eyes of life insurance companies.

A healthy lifestyle does have a significant impact on your heart health, but if you've been wondering just how much of a role family history plays in your personal risk of cardiovascular disease, check out this article from WebMD. It covers the basics of family history and may help initiate a conversation about prevention with your doctor.

Shortly after giving birth to her first child, my sister-in-law developed a blood clot that traveled to her lung. Because she's only in her mid-30s, she was surprised to find out she'd be taking blood thinners for the rest of her life, due to a previously undiscovered genetic blood clotting disorder.

Though blood thinners are commonly prescribed to those with high risk of heart attack or stroke, they're also prescribed to prevent blood clots and to those who suffer from atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. When you first start using blood thinners, there are a few basics you should know, including:

• Blood thinners may interact with other medications you are taking, so be sure to tell you doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you use.
• Alcohol should be avoided while on blood thinners and patients should quit smoking.
• Regular monitoring of the blood is necessary to make sure your medication is effective.

Technology, especially medical technology, is constantly amazing me. Take, for instance, this device, which uses Bluetooth technology. It takes periodic ECG readings of the heart, and if it detects imminent heart failure, it will transmit that information to a user's cell phone. The cell phone then text messages the nearest medical center. The device is meant to be used by patients who have already suffered a cardiovascular event, and was created to help those patients get medical help more quickly in the event of a second attack.

The Wearable Cardiac Telemedicine System will hopefully ease the minds of patients and help them to lead a more mobile life. It appears to still be in the development stages, but heart patients may soon have it available to them for use.

Nothing says sexy like a long, brown Pall Mall cigarette hanging out of someone's mouth. Oh wait, my bad, I meant that nothing says "bad breath, bad teeth, and a shortened life expectancy" than that same scenario.

If I seem harsh about smoking, I'm sorry. Coming from a family of smokers - but not being one - I live in constant fear of my loved one's health and spend too much time questioning why they, and millions of people worldwide, would purposely do something so unhealthy. "It's a stress release" - yeah, I've heard that one before. "I only smoke when I drink" - yup, heard that one, too. "It's just too tough to quit" - aahh, a reason that at least has some merit. But, what all the smokers out there might not know is that there are actually certain foods that will help you quit (and no, this isn't the part where I try to get all cute and tell you that one of those foods is Cold Turkey).

Based on a study published in the journal (strangely enough) Nicotine & Tobacco Research, smokers claim that fruits, vegetables, juice, and dairy products combine the worst with the flavor of their cigarette. By contrast, caffeinated beverages and alcohol seem to be flavor enhancers.

At least that explains the whole "I only smoke when I drink" excuse.

One woman's near-deadly experience at a funeral has provided some serious insight and spurred new interest in the idea of dying from a broken heart. The woman, who had just recently had an internal defibrillator placed, experienced an electrical short-circuit in her heart that would have surely caused a heart attack had her defibrillator not kicked in. The device, besides saving her life, recorded the exact time of the event -- which doctors later realized was at the same time that her brother's wife was being buried.

This just goes to show that people's emotional states have a significant impact on our bodies and our health, and in severe cases can interact with heart disease issues and cause cardiac failure. You really can die of a broken heart.