It might not just be a "little heart attack" if you are a woman.

Analyzing more than one million patients admitted to U.S. hospitals with confirmed myocardial infactions between 1994 and 2006, researchers found that almost 40% more women had not experienced chest pain at diagnosis, and they had a 42% higher chance of dying in the hospital. It was the youngest women patients who were most likely to have no chest pain and the highest mortality.

PositiveTip: Encourage all women to understand the signs and symptoms of heart attack. Ask each to watch the short Go Red for Women video, too!

Synthetic marijuana use may cause heart attacks in teens.

Myocardial infaction is very rare in teens, but physicians are now reporting that K2, a designer drug made from a collection of herbs and spices treated with a sythetic cannabinoid, is causing insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle of teens with no previous health problems or family history. K2 gives a marijuana-like effect without showing up on drug screens and is surprisingly easy to obtain.

PositiveTip: Parents and physicians should discourage teens from using any real or synthetic drugs.

Calcium supplements' small benefits to bone strength must be weighed against the cardiovascular risks.

There is evidence that supplemental calcium may hasten vascular calcification and can raise the risk of heart attacks in otherwise healthy older women. An analysis of 15 double-blind, randomized trials with more than 8000 participants taking at least 500 mg of calcium supplements each day or a placebo, has shown significantly higher rates of heart attack in those taking calcium supplements. The data suggests that treating 1000 people with calcium supplements for 5 years would only prevent 26 fractures but would cause 14 additional heart attacks.

PositiveTip: Taking calcium supplements? You should talk to your physician about the small bone benefits against the cardiovascular risks.

A drop in ambient temperature may trigger heart attacks.

Scientists in Britain have discovered that for every one degree Celsius drop in temperature, the relative risk of heart attack increased by 2%, and was seen for up to two weeks after the weather turned cold in the fall.

Modest reductions in dietary salt could save 92,000 lives per year and save $24 billion!

Dietary salt intake in the U.S. in on the rise, in spite of more and more evidence linking salt intake to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Reducing salt intake by a modest 3 grams (1/2 teaspoon) per day per person is projected to annually reduce new cases of coronary heart disease by up to 120,000, stroke by up to 66,000, and heart attacks by up to 99,000. This in turn could save up to $24 billion each year in health care costs.

PositiveTip: The majority of dietary salt in the U.S. comes from processed foods. Stop subtracting years from your life by cutting back on these foods.