I am a 66-year-old woman. I walk three miles five or six times a week. And I swim for half an hour every day. My HDL cholesterol level is usually over 100, but it was up to 127 in my most recent cholesterol test. My total cholesterol was 215 and my LDL was 68. Should I be celebrating or worried about an unusually high HDL?

I had a heart valve replacement 12 years ago. I need to take warfarin to avoid blood clots on the valve. I have been reading about the newer blood thinners that don’t require regular blood tests. I am tired of so many blood tests. Can I ask my doctor about making a switch?

I was wondering what exactly "fluid around the heart" means. What causes it and what can be done to treat it?

I drink one to two glasses of wine most evenings. I always thought this was good for your health. But I recently read that even small amounts of alcohol increase your risk of developing cancer. It’s confusing. Any advice?

My 81-year-old husband has been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm that’s 5.2 centimeters wide. His doctors say there’s a magic number at which surgery is done, but I’m questioning why they can’t do something sooner. My husband is generally in good health, so he shouldn’t be a poor candidate for surgery.

I have high blood pressure. But my blood pressure varies a lot during the day, especially the top number. Which blood pressure reading should I use: the lowest, the highest or the average?

My daughter has schizophrenia. The psychiatrist at her mental health center prescribed an antipsychotic drug. I know some of these drugs increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. What sort of clinical monitoring do you advise?

I have high blood pressure. My newest blood pressure drug is atenolol. My blood pressure is now great. I feel fine. But I can no longer get my pulse up when I work out on my treadmill or bike. Does that mean I won’t benefit from exercise anymore?

My doctor prescribed simvastatin to lower my cholesterol. She said to take it at night. But I keep forgetting. I take two other pills in the morning and never forget those. Can I take the simvastatin in the morning?

I am a 60-year-old man. Lately I have been experiencing pain that starts on the lower jaw and goes up the side of my face towards the temple and then to the head. The pain is severe and lasts for about five minutes. It comes on at any time of the day. Why is this happening?

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