Infectious endocarditis - which sometimes is also called subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE), or just "endocarditis" - is an infection of the endocardial surface (the interior lining) of the heart. Infectious endocarditis is always a serious medical problem, since the infection can destroy your heart valves or heart muscle.

Read here all about infectious endocarditis.

Recent studies have shown that during periods of grief caused by loss of a loved one, the risk of having a heart attack becomes remarkably higher for a period of time.

Read about the increase in cardiac risk caused by bereavement - what causes the risk, its magnitude, and what you can do about it if you or a loved one are going through a period of intense grief.

Yes, stress can help to produce heart disease - but not all stress, and not in all people.  For stress to be harmful to your heart, you've got to have the "right" kind of stress, and you've got to react to it in the "right" way. Learn about what kind of stress to avoid, and how to handle it when you cannot avoid it.

Read about when stress causes heart disease.

The American Heart Association has released its first-ever official statement on the topic of sexual activity in people with heart disease.  The salient features of the AHA's advice can be boiled down to two points.

1) If you are receiving a nitrate drug,  you should not take Viagra  or any of the other PDE-5 inhibitor drugs used for erectile dysfunction.

2) As long as your heart disease has been completely stabilized with appropriate treatment, and you are not having active cardiac symptoms, then go ahead and enjoy sexual activity.

Read more about using Viagra-like drugs if you have heart disease.

Read more about resuming sexual activity after having a cardiac problem.