A few years ago, in the middle of another 50-plus patient week, Cleveland Clinic heart surgeon Marc Gillinov and cardiologist Steven Nissen realized something was wrong with their job. They could determine the cause of malfunctioning arteries in just a few minutes, yet they couldn't stop it before it happened. The duo decided to compile Heart 411 (Three Rivers Press, $19.99), an entertaining and easy-to-read medical resource for all questions of the heart. Here are a few of our favorite heart-healthy tips from the book.
Get out of traffic. Noise pollution can cause more than just a headache and a foul temper. If your daily commute includes sitting in honk-heavy traffic jams, your mood isn't the only thing suffering. A Danish observational study found that the louder the traffic during your drive, the greater the risk of stroke.
Layer up. Bundling up in the wintertime can help ward off more than just a cold. Heart attacks peak in the winter, according to a study from England and Wales. The research found a 2 percent increased risk of heart
attack with every 1.8-degree drop in temperature.
Get busy. A recent observational study found that men who had sex at least twice a week were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who had sex once a month or less.
