By Eliz Greene

When you or a loved one visits the hospital for a suspected heart attack or stroke, use Eliz Greene's advice to make sure you or your loved one receives the proper treatment. These tips are especially important for women, who, unfortunately, are less likely to receive the emergency care they need during a significant cardiovascular event.

Usually, stress is something the heart-health conscious try to avoid. But medical stress tests are some of the best ways to determine the health and efficiency of a person’s heart.

High blood pressure—the very phrase is enough to, well, make your blood pressure rise. Recent estimates published on the American Heart Association Web site indicate that one in three Americans live with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Because high blood pressure typically has no symptoms, only one-third of those people know they have high blood pressure. Known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure can wreak havoc on the kidneys, brain, and heart. Luckily, there are simple ways to test and monitor changes in blood pressure to avoid permanent health issues.

Cholesterol is a naturally-occurring substance in the body, but the very mention of it can strike fear in the hearts of the health conscious. A little knowledge can go a long way toward dispelling fears associated with cholesterol.