Buffalo Bills Bring Back Safety Damar Hamlin The Buffalo Bills have signed safety Damar Hamlin to a one-year contract, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from fans. While some may view the decision skeptically, Hamlin has consistently contributed to the team since being drafted in 2021 from Pittsburgh. His experience as a starting safety adds depth to the roster, particularly with C.J. Gardner-Johnson expected to serve as the primary safety alongside Cole Bishop. Hamlin’s role as a special teamer is also significant, despite a notable error during a postseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs a few years ago. The deal is not a major blockbuster in free agency, as the Bills are currently focused on filling roster spots ahead of the draft. However, Hamlin’s off-field impact remains substantial. He is a key figure in the Buffalo community through his Chasing M’s Foundation, which aims to improve health equity and save lives through education, access, and advocacy. His efforts with the American Heart Association have also gained attention, especially following his cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bills’ safety depth chart includes Cole Bishop as the starting safety, with C.J. Gardner-Johnson likely to be the second starter. Hamlin would join the roster as a backup, alongside players like Geno Stone, Jordan Hancock, and Wande Owens. Sam Franklin is listed as a safety but is primarily expected to contribute on special teams. This signing underscores the team’s strategy to balance immediate needs with long-term planning, while also leveraging Hamlin’s community influence.#buffalo_bills #american_heart_association #cincinnati_bengals #damar_hamlin #chasing_m_s_foundation
Buffalo Bills Re-Sign Damar Hamlin for 2026 Season The Buffalo Bills have re-signed safety Damar Hamlin to a one-year contract for the 2026 NFL season. The 28-year-old player, who became the only NFL team Hamlin has ever known, returns after his 2025 campaign was cut short due to a pectoral injury. Hamlin, who previously endured a life-threatening cardiac arrest during a game in January 2023, made a full recovery and played in five games the following season, earning second-place honors in Comeback Player of the Year voting. Hamlin’s 2025 season was limited to five games after sustaining a pectoral injury during practice, which required surgery and ended his season early. His resilience was tested in January 2023 when he suffered a cardiac incident during a “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Diagnosed as commotio cordis—a rare condition caused by blunt force trauma that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest—Hamlin was resuscitated on the field and has since fully recovered. His return to play in 2024, including a standout performance in the AFC divisional round, marked a significant milestone in his career. During the 2024 season, Hamlin recorded eight tackles and forced a strip-sack on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in a Bills victory. His efforts on the field were complemented by his off-field advocacy, as he has collaborated with the American Heart Association and lawmakers to promote CPR and AED training in schools, youth organizations, and communities. Hamlin has also worked to secure AEDs for educational institutions and help implement emergency action plans to address cardiac emergencies. Hamlin’s journey from a near-fatal incident to becoming a key player for the Bills underscores his determination.#buffalo_bills #american_heart_association #cincinnati_bengals #damar_hamlin #lamar_jackson
2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia The American Heart Association has released updated recommendations for managing dyslipidemia, emphasizing a more comprehensive approach to assessing and treating lipid disorders. Key updates include the integration of the PREVENT-ASCVD equations to guide primary-prevention lipid-lowering therapy, which helps clinicians determine individualized risk levels for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The guideline also recommends testing for lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] at least once in a lifetime and selective measurement of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) to enhance risk assessment and treatment decisions. Previously retired LDL-C and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) treatment goals are now reintroduced, with lower targets set for higher-risk patient groups. Additionally, the expanded use of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is highlighted as a tool to reclassify risk and improve stratification. These changes reflect a broader understanding of ASCVD risk factors beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), incorporating triglyceride-rich remnant particles and Lp(a) into clinical evaluation. The guideline replaces the 2018 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol, now titled the 2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. This shift underscores the evolving recognition of atherogenic lipoproteins, including Lp(a), in contributing to cardiovascular disease. The updated recommendations are based on clinical evidence through late 2024, addressing the evaluation, management, and monitoring of individuals with high blood cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated Lp(a). Writing Committee Chairs Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, and Pamela B.#american_heart_association #prevent_ascvd #lipoprotein_a #apob #cac_scoring
American Heart Association's New Cholesterol Guidelines Emphasise Earlier Screening, Lifetime Heart Risk Reduction The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have released the 2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia, marking the first major update to cholesterol guidelines since 2018. The new recommendations focus on dyslipidemias, including LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and emphasize strategies to reduce lifetime cardiovascular risk through earlier screening and personalized treatment. The guidelines, published jointly in Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, incorporate evidence up to late 2024 and aim to address the rising prevalence of heart disease in younger populations. Dr. Roger Blumenthal, chair of the guideline writing committee and director of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, highlighted that 80% or more of cardiovascular disease is preventable. He noted that elevated LDL cholesterol, often called "bad" cholesterol, is a significant contributor to this risk. While lifestyle changes remain the first step in managing cholesterol, the guidelines recommend initiating lipid-lowering medication earlier than previously advised if lifestyle modifications fail to bring lipid levels into the desired range. Lowering LDL cholesterol over the long term, similar to managing blood pressure, provides greater protection against future heart attacks and strokes. The guidelines replace older risk assessment tools like the Pooled Cohort Equations, which overestimated the 10-year risk of heart attack and stroke by 40%-50%.#circulation #american_heart_association #american_college_of_cardiology #johns_hopkins_ciccarone_center #prevent_ascvd
People with high cholesterol may need to begin statins in their 30s Millions more adults should consider starting cholesterol-lowering medications earlier to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke, according to new medical guidance. In an updated guideline released Friday, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association – along with nine other medical groups – emphasize that treating high cholesterol sooner, even starting in their 30s, could significantly reduce a person’s lifetime risk of heart attack or stroke. The 123-page guideline covers many aspects of managing cholesterol and triglycerides, but one message stands out: Don’t wait too long to act. “Our standard practice has been to assess 10-year risk, and statistically that will be low for a person in their 30s. But now we see a shift to 30-year risk projections,” said Dr. Jennifer Haythe, co-director of the Women’s Heart Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who was not involved in the updated guidance. “The potential benefits of starting lipid-lowering agents in younger patients are real, as there is well-supported trial data that longer duration of reduced LDL exposure translates to less plaque accumulation.” In the United States, “there are roughly 65 to 70 million people ages 30 to 44,” she said. “So even if some small fraction of those individuals has an LDL greater than 160, the number potentially qualifying under the new criteria – with a higher 30-year risk – could be in the millions.” Statins, some of the most commonly prescribed types of medication, work by lowering LDL cholesterol, which can build up in the arteries over time.#american_heart_association #american_college_of_cardiology #newyork_presbyterian #columbia_university_irving_medical_center
New guidelines offer new approach for managing high cholesterol Doctors now recommend that patients get a lipoprotein(a) test along with other screenings to manage high cholesterol, according to updated guidelines released by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. The guidelines emphasize more aggressive prevention strategies and earlier treatment, including a one-time lipoprotein(a) test for all adults. This genetic marker is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions. The guidelines aim to improve tools doctors use to assess cardiovascular risk, which remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Dr. Roger Blumenthal, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins and chair of the guideline writing committee, noted that 80% or more of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Elevated LDL cholesterol, often called "bad" cholesterol, plays a major role in this risk. However, relying solely on LDL levels may not be sufficient. Blumenthal highlighted that measuring additional biomarkers can provide a more complete picture of a patient’s risk and help determine whether cholesterol-lowering therapy should begin earlier. The lipoprotein(a) test is a simple blood test that is widely available and increasingly offered by primary care physicians as part of preventive care. Since lipoprotein(a) is genetically determined and stable over time, it typically needs to be tested only once, ideally early in adulthood. Elevated levels indicate an inherited risk for cardiovascular disease. The guidelines also promote the use of coronary calcium scoring, a noninvasive scan that measures calcified plaque in arteries.#american_heart_association #american_college_of_cardiology #johns_hopkins #cleveland_clinic #circulation
