Even one fatty feast can cause your body to stop protecting itself from cardiovascular disease, a recent study showed, at least temporarily. When study participants were given a high-fat meal -- the equivalent of a double cheeseburger, large fry, and a chocolate shake -- their HDL (or good) cholesterol lost the ability to protect their arteries from inflammation. But when participants ate the same meal, this time prepared with polyunsaturated fat, the ability of HDL to prevent inflammation actually improved.

Researchers say this study points out the importance of avoiding saturated fats as much as possible. In fact, they say that a maximum of 10% of your calories should come from saturated fats, and the AHA takes that one step further and recommends no more than 7%. That means that if you typically eat 2,000 calories a day, you should eat no more than 14 to 20 grams of saturated fat.

Here's more about good fats and bad fats from the AHA.

A dose of Rover might just be the perfect medicine for heart patients. Research, reported by the American Heart Association, has found that spending time with a dog helps heart and lung function by lowering blood pressure, diminishing the release of harmful hormones, and decreasing anxiety.

The best news, is that it doesn't take much time with a furry friend to see results. In the study, hospitalized heart patients spent just 12 minutes with the dogs -- so even short-term exposure to dogs has beneficial physiological and psychosocial effects on patients.

Personally, I can attest that dogs are a great comfort ... they make people happier, calmer, and feel more loved ... this has to be a huge help when you are scared and not feeling well.

April showers bring May flowers, but September brings cooler weather just right for the outdoor exercise routine. The American Heart Association recommends getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 days a week, and fall is a great time to rededicate yourself to a consistent fitness routine.

Take advantage of what fall has to offer:

• Community education classes tend to follow the school year. Try something new with a friend.
• Brisk air and crunchy leaves invigorate the senses on a fall hike.
• Work fitness into your kid's routine by walking while you wait for them at practice.
• Enjoy your favorite fall TV shows -- on a treadmill or exercise bike!

Find more fall fitness tips at WebMD. What about you...what do you love about working out in the fall?

Physical inactivity is one of the major risks for cardiovascular disease, and the American Heart Association recommends we all get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week, in addition to at least two days per week of strength training. But there are a lot of myths and half truths out there, and fitness experts want to make sure that if you're going to take the time to exercise, you're doing it right. For instance, did you know that swimming isn't the best exercise for weight loss? Or that yoga isn't good for all types of back pain? WebMD recently busted nine common fitness myths, so take some time to read them over and make sure that you're getting the most out of every workout!

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.

If you live in the Philadelphia area then mark Sunday, September 16th on your calendar: it's the 9th annual Start! Heart Walk, sponsored by the American Heart Association. The purpose of Start! is to get people moving and walking to help reduce the devastating effects of cardiovascular disease and stroke, which are now the 1st and 3rd killers of adults in this country. The University of Pennsylvania is participating for the eighth year and through their Penn's Heart Walk page you can get more information, details, and sign yourself up. And I say even if you don't live in the area, it could be a great excuse for a weekend getaway!

Are you getting enough activity? The American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine recently released new guidelines on how much exercise we should all be getting. Former guidelines suggested that, at a minimum, we should all be doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. The AHA and ACSM took that a step or two further and recommended:

• 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days per week, OR
• 20 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 days per week, AND
  
• strength training, including 8-10 different exercises, two days per week

They also encourage seniors to be more active and to focus on exercises that will promote strength, balance, and flexibility. In addition, the two groups want us all to understand that these are minimum guidelines and that the more you move, the better your health will be!

Forget signing up for a time-consuming class on the other side of town. I mean really, do you actually have time to learn how to save someone's life?

All kidding aside, and because I know you really are busy, you can now conveniently learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in less than 25 minutes -- and in the comfort of your own home. So no more excuses!

The American Heart Association (AHA) has unveiled a revolutionary self-directed learning program: CPR Anytime for Family and Friends, $30. The kits includes an inflatable CPR mannequin, a 22-minute instructional DVD, and a resource booklet. The DVD walks you through each step of the training, from inflating the mannequin to doing chest compressions and rescue breathing.

Echocardiography is a routine part of evaluating heart disease, but physicians are using the old tool in new ways...with good results.

Echocardiography is basically an ultrasound of the heart. Recent studies have shown that it's accurate in diagnosing heart disease in at-risk patients, even if they haven't developed symptoms yet. The screening is also useful in finding the location and extent of disease within the heart. The test may be an especially important tool for diagnosing heart disease in women, and, according to the article, women who have an abnormal echo are up to three times more likely to suffer a heart attack or heart disease.

What this means for patients is that an echo study may become part of your health screening process -- even if you're symptom-free -- if your doctor thinks you could be at risk. To learn more about echocardiography, visit the American Heart Association.

Getting pregnant and having a baby is a wonderful and magical experience, but it can also be a little stressful as expecting parents worry about living healthy lifestyles and making sure the growing baby is going to be born healthy. But the American Heart Association has made things a little simpler by releasing these 4 tips to help avoid congenital heart defects:

• Talk with your doctor preconception. Prospective mothers can be checked for any number of health conditions, like diabetes and influenza, and helped to get it under control before getting pregnant.
• Women should take a daily multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid, as this is important for the normal growth of the fetus and has been shown to help prevent heart defects.
• Review the proper use of both prescription and over-the-counter medications with your doctor.
• Avoid people with the flu or any illness with a fever. Women with a fever-associated illness during the first trimester have twice the risk of giving birth to a baby with heart problems.

By taking steps before you conceive and early in the pregnancy, you can greatly increase your chances of avoiding congenital heart defects and giving birth to a beautiful, happy, healthy baby!

The deadliest form of heart attack, which involves total blockage of a heart artery and is called an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is hopefully about to get a little less deadly. The American Heart Association is planning to launch a new community-based program called "Mission Lifeline" specifically designed to improve treatment times for patients suffering from this type of heart attack. The plan will focus both on teaching patients to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack sooner and call 911, and on establishing reliable speedy systems to transport the patients in need to appropriately equipped hospitals.

It is imperative to know the signs of an impending heart attack. Many lives can be saved if people are aware of the signs, not only for themselves, but also for family members and even strangers. It might not be obvious that someone is having a heart attack, but knowing what to look for can help.

The most important thing to remember is that if there is any doubt, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You will not look foolish and the best scenario would be if it is a false alarm. Also, remember that these symptoms may show up in isolation and may also be signs of an impending attack, so catching it early could truly save a life.

The 10 most common signs are:

• Pain from the center of the chest that spreads down one or both arms and up to the shoulders, back, neck, or jaw
• Chest pain that feels like heaviness, burning, squeezing, tightness, pressure or crushing
• Chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and disappears with rest
• Sudden chest discomfort that persists even with rest
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Indigestion, nausea or vomiting
• Cold sweats or cool, clammy skin
• Pallor
• Fear or anxiety
• Denial: a refusal to admit anything is wrong

Women are somewhat more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and pain in the back of the jaw, although their most common symptom is still chest pain. To learn more go to the American Heart Association website.

Have you been recently diagnosed with heart disease? If so, take a moment to check out the American Heart Association's online program Heart Profilers. A recent study found that patients who used the program were more likely to have a good understanding of their disease, were more knowledgeable about their medications, and were more likely to ask their doctors questions and discuss treatment options.

The program was especially beneficial for those dealing with conditions like coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. Knowledge is power, and both knowledge and empowerment, say experts, can reduce complications from heart disease.

Before there were stents, angioplasty (without stents) and drugs were the two main weapons used to prevent a second heart attack. A small study in Switzerland found that when comparing groups of symptom-free heart attack survivors who were treated with angioplasty and drugs vs. intensive drug therapy alone found that those in the angioplasty group suffered fewer second heart attacks.

But the American Heart Association isn't convinced. Calling the study "intriguing," an AHA spokesperson said the study was too small to be conclusive. In addition, because the patients in the study were treated over a decade ago, it doesn't take into account the advancements made in both types of therapy, as well as the addition of stents. A larger study that uses the latest technology in both types of therapy is the next step to find out if the Switzerland study's findings should be applied to today's heart patients.

Much like the pacemaker, a new implantable device is being developed to help battle against cardiovascular disease. Called the Rhoes(tm) Baroreflex Hypertension Therapy(tm) System, this device -- recently implanted into 10 patients enrolled in the first U.S. trial at the University of Rochester Medical Center -- is said to significantly reduce blood pressure in people with drug-resistant hypertension.

Based on the information put forth by a U. Rochester Medical Center doctor at the recent American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, this implantable device works by sending electric stimulation to the carotid baroreflex -- the body's natural system for regulating blood pressure. Located in the carotid arteries in the neck, the small amounts of electrical pulses to this area sends signals to the brain, essentially instructing it to do what is necessary to lower blood pressure. This includes heart rate reduction, blood vessel dilation, and the promotion of fluid excretion by the kidneys. More or less, this device seems (or at least it seems to me, based on what I've read) to "trick" the brain into giving the "lower the blood pressure" orders through variety of natural physiological mechanisms. Pretty crafty, if you ask me.

So far, 10 U.S. patients have had the Rheos System implanted. After three months of using this system, it was found that systolic blood pressure was reduced by an average of 22 mmHg (from 180 mmHg to 158 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 18 mmHg (from 15 mmHg to 87 mmHg). Not a bad start at all. Next on the agenda is testing the safety and efficacy of the Rhoes System on a much larger number of trial patients. After that? I suppose that remains to be seen. I'll keep you posted, though.