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The weight-loss drug semaglutide is the first obesity treatment shown to help people live longer and have fewer cardiovascular problems. Developed as a drug for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide was first marketed as Ozempic; a higher-dose version for weight loss is called Wegovy. But because the drug is so popular, it can be hard to find, and it might not be covered by insurance.

Orthostatic hypotension, a condition that causes blood pressure to drop when a person stands up, can leave people dizzy and lightheaded. It can result from certain medications or health problems and becomes more common with age and frailty. Doctors sometimes worry that intensive blood pressure treatment contributes to the problem, but research suggests the opposite is true. Strategies to cope with symptoms of orthostatic hypotension include drinking plenty of fluids, wearing compression stockings, and taking care when rising from a chair or bed.

Indirect evidence suggests that for people with atrial fibrillation who always take apixaban (Eliquis) every 12 hours as prescribed, it may be slightly better than once daily rivaroxaban (Xarelto).

The portfolio diet, which emphasizes foods rich in fiber and healthy fats, helps lower LDL cholesterol. A 2023 study suggests that the more closely people follow the diet, the lower their risk of cardiovascular disease. The diet discourages foods from animal sources and features foods from five main categories, including (1) plant protein such as legumes; (2) nuts and seeds; (3) foods rich in viscous fibers such as oatmeal, eggplant, and berries; (4) plant sterols such as phytosterol-enriched margarine; and (5) monounsaturated fats such as olive and canola oils.

A significant reduction in salt intake may directly lower blood pressure in even more people than previously believed.

Many people who suffer a first-time stroke had a prior warning from a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a ministroke. TIAs can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 20 minutes, although most usually last at least five minutes. TIAs usually have typical stroke symptoms, but because they are mild and brief they tend to be missed or ignored. People should seek immediate medical care after an attack.

Compared with people who sit for eight hours daily, people who sit more than 12 hours a day may be more likely to die prematurely. But just 22 minutes of brisk walking or similar activity daily may offset that risk, according to a 2023 study.

When people with atrial fibrillation sleep poorly, they may be more likely to have an episode of atrial fibrillation the next day, according to a 2023 study.

In contrast to previous studies, several new investigations have been unable to find clear evidence that people who take a drink a day are less likely to develop heart disease than people who don't drink. The new evidence doesn't negate past studies; it simply must be weighed against past studies. And while findings suggest that moderate drinking may offer some heart benefits, drinking is not recommended for the purpose of achieving those unproven benefits. Excessive drinking—averaging three or more drinks a day—causes multiple health problems, including heart problems.

Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Eugene Braunwald, known as "the father of modern cardiology," identified five promising future trends in cardiology. They include (1) using polygenic risk scores in newborns for early prevention of heart disease; (2) the emergence of a battery of drugs to treat inflammation; (3) improvements in cardiac cell therapy for repairing damaged hearts; (4) the development of smaller, more powerful, and less expensive left ventricular assist devices; and (5) transplanting genetically modified pig hearts into humans.