Why scientists think the brain may worsen heart attacks

🙌 Happy Friday! 

It’s American Heart Month ❤ , and we want to start with something to smile about. :) Studies show that laughter can reduce your risk of a heart attack, both oxygenating your cells and improving blood flow – it delivers up to 20% more blood to the rest of your body!

When was the last time you really laughed? For those of you who need a little help, there’s always laughter yoga. 😂 🧘

This week: New heart attack insights, science confirms a two-day oatmeal ‘reset’ lowers cholesterol, and Sweden’s adorable “friendcare” initiative…

What if heart attack damage spreads beyond the heart?

Treating a heart attack usually involves knives, needles, and valves to open blockages and repair the heart. It’s risky, stressful, and might not stop long-term damage. 🔪 💉

Now, a mouse study from the University of California, San Diego, published in the journal Cell, shows heart attacks are an interconnected problem between the heart, brain, and immune system. And that conversation could be making things worse.

Here’s how it works: The conversation between the heart, brain, and immune system plays a role in how a heart attack unfolds. When a heart attack happens:

That inflammation doesn’t fix the injury, though. It spreads it. I think about it like rubbing a stain deeper into a white shirt.

But blocking communication between the heart and brain “stops the spread of the disease,” Augustine says, which significantly reduces the damage.

Why this matters: Brain-driven inflammation may be worsening heart attack damage. The future of heart protection could be as much about stopping the conversation between the heart and brain as it is about reopening a blocked artery ‼

Join us for the Livelong Women’s Health Summit on April 17-18, where you’ll learn from 75+ globally-recognized health leaders about simple, science-backed strategies to tackle menopause symptoms, get strong, supplement right, and take control of your biology. Use promo code ERIN to get your ticket.

Oatmeal is already a heart-healthy breakfast. An “oat-reset” might be better.

A new study published in Nature Communications found that just 48 hours on an oatmeal-based diet lowered LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol by ⬇ 10%. Even more surprising is that cholesterol stayed lower for weeks after the reset ended.

Researchers at the University of Bonn, Germany, compared different approaches to reducing cholesterol in people with metabolic syndrome. 

The short high-dose, oatmeal diet had the strongest impact, while moderate intake only produced a small LDL drop. Calorie reduction was insignificant.

Increasing fiber intake from oats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods supports a healthy gut microbiome and benefits cholesterol, metabolism, heart health, and aging. 🌾 🥑

If humans are a story, DNA is the words that bring our story to life. For a long time, we've only been able to create 'short stories' using short DNA sequences…

Now, Caltech researchers have pioneered Sidewinder, a technology that can build long, perfect sequences of DNA. 🧬 With AI at the helm of designing these sequences, it could revolutionize longevity research and precision medicine.

🖼 Big picture: This technology has the potential to create new gene therapies, vaccines, and custom biology with implications for extending lifespan and precision medicines, and creating research breakthroughs.

JOIN The Women’s Livelong Lab (WLL): It’s free to join and easy to use, and we’d love to see you there. 😊 Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Ask LIV: You’re in LUCK! We have a new AI tool that can answer your longevity questions. Ask your first question.

Building relationships pays more than you think.

The Swedish pharmacy chain Apotek Hjärtat is paying select employees to make time for friendship.

In a novel year-long program called ‘friendcare’ (vänvård), select employees are getting paid time during the workday to nurture existing relationships and form new connections in an effort to combat loneliness. 🫂

This goes beyond workplace wellness…

As the initiative gains traction, other companies are testing wellness grants, cultural outings, paid massages, and “wellness hours,” incentivizing habits that promote healthy aging.

Friendcare exemplifies how a little push can create positive ➕ changes that support living happier, healthier lives.

You can practice your own version of friendcare today. Start by:

🛍️ Vendors have the opportunity to connect with your audience at the Livelong Women’s Health Summit, April 17–18 in San Francisco. See the media kit for more information.

💫 If you’re passionate about women’s health and longevity and want to help spread the word about the event, you can join us as an Ambassador! Check out the details and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

We asked: Do you choose organic produce?

Organic fruits and veggies aren’t treated with synthetic pesticides or GMOs and are grown more sustainably. That said, research shows organic isn’t necessarily healthier than conventional. As the Mayo Clinic puts it: “The best choice… is the one that puts the highest amount and variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains in the diet.”