The New Rules of the Heart                                    by Alice Park and Jeffrey Kluger of Time

An estimated 610,000 Americans will die of cardiovascular disease this year. It's the No. 1 killer of both men and women and the cause of 1 of 4 deaths overall. 

 

Here are some of the most important ways the old thinking has been upended by new science - and what they can mean for you and the health of your heart.

 

Cholesterol

Old Thinking:  Focus on lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol.

New Science:  There are actually different kinds of LDL -  and raising "good" HDL levels may be even more important.

 

Dietary Fat

Old Thinking:  All saturated fat is bad and should be seriously limited

New Science:  It's complicated -- but trans fats are the worst for your heart

 

Blood Pressure

Old Thinking:  The 120/80 ratio signals healthy blood pressure and a healthy heart.

New Science:  Your blood pressure may need to drop even lower

 

Daily Aspirin

Old Thinking:  Take a baby sapirin a day to prevent a heart attack

New Science:  If you haven't already had a heart attack, the pill is not advised.

 

Weight Loss

Old Thinking:  Burn more calories than you take in if you want to lose weight

New Science:  It's not just how many but where they come from that matters.

 

Cholesterol Drugs

Old Thinking:  People with high cholesterol should likely be taking a statin

New Science:  Some people may need a different drug altogether - or none at all