The Medical Advisor

Most people consider their morning latte healthy and pleasurable. Many studies have shown coffee is associated with health benefits like longevity and reduced risk of diabetes ,  heart disease  and cancer . However, research finds people with an increasingly common health issue shouldn’t exceed more than one cup of coffee per day. Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease: A 2026 Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association A 2026 scientific statement finds that up to five cups a day are safe for most adults—and may actually be protective. The statement , backed by a review of the latest research, links moderate coffee drinking to a lower risk of high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), and Type 2 diabetes. The statement is clear that the majority of the findings were observational and cannot prove cause and effect. Observational studies involve researchers observing what happens nat...

Between 2010 and 2019, the number of people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) rose from 33.5 million to nearly 60 million. 1   AFib is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that affects the upper chambers of the heart, disrupting the normal heartbeat and increasing the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. 2 Age, high blood pressure, and metabolic issues are well-known risk factors, but the steady rise in cases suggests that traditional risk models could be missing an important piece of the puzzle. One such piece lies well outside the boundaries of the heart itself — specifically, in the mouth. A recent study published in the journal Circulation found a direct connection between periodontal infection and atrial fibrillation, implicating oral bacteria in the development of cardiac fibrosis and electrical dysfunction. This raises pressing questions about how a routine dental checkup might influence your cardiovascular health. 3 How Gum Disease Triggers AFib and ...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a silent epidemic that's quietly taking hold across the globe. As the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm, it affects millions of people worldwide, with prevalence estimates ranging from 1% to 2% of the general population in the U.S. 1 When you have AFib, your heart's electrical system goes haywire, causing irregular and sometimes rapid rhythms. This puts you at a much higher risk of stroke — three to five times higher, to be exact. The reason? Your irregular heartbeat can cause blood to pool and clot in your heart, and these clots can travel to your brain. 2 What's particularly alarming is how the risk of developing AF increases dramatically with age. While it’s relatively rare in younger adults, affecting only about 0.1% of those under 55, 3  the prevalence is estimated at 6.4% for those aged 65 to 69, and 28.5% for those over 85. 4 But AF isn’t just a problem of the elderly. In some cases, it can strike at a much younger age due to genet...