Heart2Heart with Madiha

  Protein shakes have exploded in popularity in recent years. They're in our gyms, our offices, and our morning routines. Marketed as essential for muscle growth and energy, they’re now a common part of many people’s diets. But while they may benefit your muscles, the real question is—what effect do they have on your heart? Protein itself is essential for life. It plays a critical role in building and repairing tissue, including the cardiac muscle. A well-balanced intake of protein can support heart health by promoting lean body mass and reducing cravings for unhealthy snacks. It can also help control blood sugar spikes, which indirectly supports cardiovascular wellness. However, not all protein sources—or protein shakes—are created equal. This is where things get complicated. Many people assume that because protein shakes are popular among fitness influencers and health-conscious people, they must be heart-healthy. But some store-bought shakes and even homemade ones can do more ha...

  It’s a number we’ve all heard: 10,000 steps a day. It sounds simple, maybe even gimmicky—but there’s powerful science behind this popular goal. Walking 10,000 steps daily can be one of the most accessible and effective ways to improve your heart health. Our hearts are not just symbols of emotion—they’re hardworking muscles that rely on movement, oxygen, and blood flow to function properly. Walking, particularly at a steady or brisk pace, activates the cardiovascular system in a way that’s both safe and sustainable for most people. Studies have shown that individuals who walk consistently—especially in the range of 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day—have a significantly lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and even death from cardiovascular causes. This is because walking improves circulation, reduces resting blood pressure, and helps regulate cholesterol levels. It also supports healthy weight management, which is critical, since excess body fat, especially around the waist, increases...

  Water is one of the simplest yet most profound tools we have for healing, energy, and longevity. We all know we should drink more of it, but what many people don’t realize is that   when   you drink water can be just as important as how much. For heart health especially, timing your water intake can make a meaningful difference. Your heart relies on proper hydration to function efficiently. Dehydration thickens the blood, making it harder to circulate. This increases the load on your heart and raises your blood pressure. Over time, poor hydration can contribute to long-term cardiovascular issues, especially in individuals who already have heart disease or high blood pressure. That’s why drinking water at the right times of day is not just about quenching thirst—it’s about supporting your body’s natural rhythms and protecting your heart. The best time to start hydrating is first thing in the morning. After a long night of sleep, your body wakes up mildly dehydrated. Drin...

For decades, cardiologists have faced a sobering biological truth: once damaged, the human heart has little capacity to heal itself. After a heart attack, sections of the heart muscle die and are replaced by scar tissue, which cannot contract or conduct electricity like healthy myocardium. This permanent damage often leads to chronic heart failure, reduced quality of life, and premature death. While medical advances have improved survival and symptom management, they have done little to reverse the underlying damage. But in the last few years, a new frontier has emerged that could radically change how we treat heart disease—regenerative medicine, and specifically, the use of stem cells. Stem cells are unique in that they have the potential to develop into many different types of cells, including heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). Scientists have long theorized that if we could deliver the right stem cells to damaged areas of the heart, we might be able to replace dead tissue, regener...

In recent years, artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most transformative forces in modern medicine, and nowhere is its impact more evident than in the field of cardiology. Once confined to theoretical research and experimental models, AI is now making its way into real-world clinical practice, fundamentally changing the way we diagnose, monitor, and treat heart disease. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for nearly 18 million deaths per year according to the World Health Organization. Despite advances in imaging, medication, and surgical intervention, a major challenge persists: detecting heart disease early, and predicting life-threatening events before they happen. This is where AI is beginning to show extraordinary promise. By analyzing vast amounts of data—far more than a human clinician could process—machine learning algorithms are uncovering patterns and correlations that were previously invisible. These patterns can...