Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to 47% Higher Heart Disease Risk

Do Ultra-Processed Foods Raise Your Risk of Heart Disease?

Yes. A study of nearly 4,800 U.S. adults found that people who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a 47% higher risk of heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate the least. This held true even after researchers accounted for age, sex, race, smoking, and income.

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere in modern diets. Sodas, packaged snacks, frozen meals, and processed meats fall into this category. On average, participants in this study got 26% of their total daily calories from these foods. That is roughly one out of every four calories coming from items that have been heavily changed from their original form, often loaded with added sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients.

Read more

Sleep-Aligned Extended Overnight Fasting Improves Nighttime

Can Timing Your Last Meal Around Sleep Improve Heart and Metabolic Health?

Yes. A Northwestern Medicine study found that stopping eating at least three hours before bedtime and extending the overnight fast by about two hours lowered nighttime blood pressure by 3.5% and heart rate by 5%. The intervention also improved how the body handles blood sugar during the day.

This 7.5-week study included 39 overweight or obese adults aged 36 to 75. Researchers aligned the fasting window with each person’s natural sleep-wake cycle, a key factor in heart and metabolic health. Participants did not change how much they ate, only when they ate. The study was published February 12, 2026 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (American Heart Association).

Read more

New Pill Cuts LDL Cholesterol by 57% in Major Trial

Can a Daily Pill Replace Cholesterol Injections?

Yes. In a phase 3 trial, a once-daily pill called enlicitide lowered LDL cholesterol by 57.1% at 24 weeks. That matches the results of injectable PCSK9 drugs that have been available for years, but in a simple pill you take by mouth.

For millions of people who struggle to control their cholesterol with statins alone, PCSK9 inhibitors have been a game-changer. The problem is that the current options, drugs like evolocumab (Repatha) and alirocumab (Praluent), require injections every two to four weeks. Many patients skip doses or avoid them entirely because of the needle. Enlicitide could change that by putting the same type of treatment into a daily pill.

Read more

'autonomic Conflict': Cardiac Arrhythmias During Cold-water Immersion

Can Cold Water Immersion Cause Dangerous Heart Rhythms?

Yes. Cold water submersion can trigger a high rate of heart rhythm problems, even in healthy people. When you plunge into cold water while holding your breath, two opposite reflexes fight for control of your heart. Researchers call this “autonomic conflict” and it may explain some mysterious drowning deaths.

Internationally, about half a million immersion-related deaths occur each year. Here’s a puzzling statistic: 67% of drownings happen to strong swimmers, and 55% of these occur within 3 meters of safety. This review proposes that dangerous heart rhythms, not hypothermia or inability to swim, may be responsible for many of these deaths.

Read more

Editorial: The Trigeminocardiac Reflex Beyond the Diving Reflex

What Is the Trigeminocardiac Reflex and Why Does It Matter?

The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is the most powerful autonomic reflex in humans and mammals. This editorial summarizes nearly 20 years of research showing that stimulating the trigeminal nerve (which runs through your face) triggers immediate heart rate changes. Understanding this reflex has implications far beyond surgery, including sleep disorders and sudden infant death syndrome.

First described in neurosurgical settings in 1999, the trigeminocardiac reflex has been extensively studied for its effects during skull base surgery. Now researchers are expanding their understanding to explore how this reflex might play a role in various health conditions and potentially lead to new treatments.

Read more

Effects of Cold Stimulation on Cardiac-vagal Activation and Hrv

Can Applying Cold to Your Neck Reduce Stress?

Yes. This randomized controlled trial found that cold stimulation to the lateral neck significantly increased heart rate variability and decreased heart rate, suggesting activation of the body’s relaxation response. The neck region showed the strongest effect compared to the cheek and forearm.

Researchers from the University of Luxembourg wanted to find out if localized cold exposure could trigger the body’s calming vagus nerve. They were exploring the potential for a wearable device that could help people reduce stress in real-time. The results suggest the lateral neck is an effective target area.

Read more

Resting Heart Rate Affects Heart Response to Cold-water Facial

Does Your Baseline Heart Rate Predict Your Diving Reflex Response?

Yes. This study of 65 healthy volunteers found that your resting heart rate strongly predicts how your heart responds to cold water facial immersion. People with lower minimum heart rates at rest showed stronger cardiodepressive (heart-slowing) responses during the simulated diving test.

The diving response varies dramatically between individuals. Some people experience mild heart slowing, while others may have bradycardia below 30 beats per minute or even brief asystole (heart stopping). This 2023 study from Medical University of Gdansk explored whether baseline heart rate characteristics could help predict these responses.

Read more

Sleep and Cognition

Does Cold Exposure Hurt Your Thinking Ability?

Yes. This systematic review of 18 studies found that cold exposure impairs thinking ability in 15 out of 18 studies. The impairment happens even before dangerous hypothermia sets in, affecting attention, memory, processing speed, and decision-making.

Researchers from Italy and Austria searched three major medical databases. They included only studies that tested healthy adults in controlled cold environments. They excluded studies where other factors like exercise, noise, or high altitude might confuse the results.

Read more

Trigeminal Cardiac Reflex and Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation Review

Does the Trigeminal Cardiac Reflex Affect Blood Flow to the Brain?

Yes. This review shows that stimulating facial nerves triggers a powerful reflex that changes both heart rate and blood flow to the brain. When researchers activated this reflex in rats using jaw extension, they observed blood pressure drops and prolonged dilation of brain blood vessels lasting up to 3 hours.

The trigeminal cardiac reflex (TCR) is a well-known phenomenon in surgery. When facial nerves are stimulated, heart rate and blood pressure drop. This review explores something less understood: how this reflex also affects blood flow to the brain.

Read more

Trigeminocardiac Reflex: Comparison with the Diving Reflex

Are the Trigeminocardiac Reflex and Diving Reflex the Same Thing?

They’re closely related but not identical. Both reflexes slow the heart through the trigeminal nerve, but the diving reflex raises blood pressure while the trigeminocardiac reflex lowers it. This review proposes they’re actually two versions of the same ancient oxygen-conserving mechanism.

When cold water hits your face, your heart rate drops. When a surgeon touches certain facial nerves, the same thing happens. These similar responses have long puzzled scientists. This 2015 review from researchers in France and Canada explores how these reflexes are connected and what they mean for human health.

Read more

Oxytocin and Heart Health: How the Love Hormone Improves Cardiac Function

How Does Oxytocin Improve Heart Health and Social Connection?

Oxytocin increases heart rate variability (HRV) - a key indicator of cardiovascular health and stress resilience - by enhancing parasympathetic nervous system activity and improving the heart’s ability to adapt to changing demands. Higher HRV indicates better cardiovascular fitness, emotional regulation, and capacity for social engagement, suggesting that oxytocin’s effects on social bonding are intimately connected to its beneficial effects on heart health and overall physiological resilience.

Read more

How Hormone Therapy Improves Cholesterol and Heart Health

Does Hormone Therapy Improve Your Cholesterol Profile?

Yes, significantly. This meta-analysis of 23 studies involving over 10,000 women found that hormone therapy consistently improves lipid profiles by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol by 10-15% and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol by 8-12%. These changes occur within 3-6 months of starting treatment and represent meaningful cardiovascular benefits.

Dr. Kumar’s Take

This research provides strong evidence for one of hormone therapy’s underappreciated benefits: cardiovascular protection through improved cholesterol profiles. While the Women’s Health Initiative created fear about heart disease risks, this meta-analysis shows that hormone therapy actually improves the lipid markers we use to assess cardiovascular health. For women with elevated cholesterol or cardiovascular risk factors, hormone therapy may provide dual benefits of symptom relief and heart protection.

Read more