It’s enough to make you stop in your tracks: Recently, Dr. Haider Warraich, a cardiologist and author of the book State of the Heart: Exploring The History, Science and Future of Cardiac Disease, warned that we may see a new wave of increased heart disease in our country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Either as a direct result of viral infection from COVID or due to immune reaction in response to the virus, there is a growing trend of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) being seen even in “recovered” COVID patients who were asymptomatic or only had mild symptoms. While researchers need to better understand the relationship between COVID and heart damage, and whether this damage is temporary or long-lasting, it’s clear that cardiac damage can be another symptom of COVID infection. Added to that are the increased numbers of patients delaying or forgoing visits to cardiologists during this time, thereby increasing the number of patients with more severe cardiac symptoms and disease as a result of the pandemic. For sure this is terrible collateral damage.

Moreover, there’s new research out of Yale and published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure that further elucidates the link between stress, anger, and an increased risk for a cardiac event. Given the stress we are all under these days, that certainly is disturbing news. In this study, researchers found that stress and anger can result in worse baseline diastolic pressure and function, leaving you at greater peril for an adverse cardiac episode. Researchers are also not clear whether stress and anger management protocols can improve the situation for those at such risk. To find out more, sit calmly and click here.

However, a recent article in US News provides an upbeat assessment of yoga as providing significant and positive cardiovascular benefits.  We know from previous agebuzz posts that yoga is touted for its innumerable health benefits, given its value in reducing stress and decreasing hormonal activity that can cause inflammation. If yoga also has significant cardiac benefits, all the better as a great option for your home-based exercise regimen. But if you’re still on the lookout for even more cardiac help, you can take comfort in a new study out of Baylor College of Medicine linking chocolate consumption to a lower risk of blockages in your coronary arteries. While the study suggests the benefit is achieved through moderate chocolate indulgence, in these times we have to take what we can get. So unwrap that Hershey bar and read more here.