GMA’s Sam Champion shares details on 'urgent' heart procedure Sam Champion, a weather anchor for Good Morning America, shared updates about his recent heart procedure with fans, revealing he is on the path to recovery. The 64-year-old returned to the morning talk show on March 25, 2026, after taking a few days off for an urgent medical intervention. During the broadcast, he described experiencing a "little bit of a heart scare over the weekend," which led to further testing and treatment. Champion had initially raised concerns when he posted from a hospital bed on March 23, stating he had undergone a nuclear stress test that revealed "some things that needed to be taken care of." He later explained that the procedure involved a cardiac catheterization, a more invasive diagnostic method, which was performed at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City. "So today I went into the cardiac catheterization laboratory… and we took care of it. Thanks to these procedures. I am well and expected to make a full recovery," he said in a social media post. In a follow-up message on March 24, Champion confirmed he would return to work on March 25 and planned to discuss heart health in greater detail. "All is well and I’ll see you tomorrow on GMA," he wrote. "I want YOU to know what to ask your doctors… sooo we’ll talk more in depth about my procedures and my stents and the signs so that you can be more aware and more involved in your health conversations." On the show, he explained that despite maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, his doctor recommended further testing after he experienced shortness of breath. This led to the cardiac catheterization, which allows doctors to examine the coronary and pulmonary arteries for blockages or structural issues.#good_morning_america #mayo_clinic #cleveland_clinic #sam_champion #mount_sina_fuster_heart_hospital
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
