Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Reducing your risk of heart disease could be as easy as changing up the type of carbs you eat -- from refined carbs to whole grains. In fact, according to recent studies, eating just one serving of whole grains can reduce your risk of high blood pressure by 4%. That might not seem like much, but it's a pretty promising result for such a small change in your lifestyle. Imagine the difference you could make to your heart health if you changed all of your grains to whole grains?
Cutting your blood pressure risk is as easy as switching from regular pasta to whole wheat, from white toast to whole wheat. You might not like the taste at first but you'll get used to it. I used to live for white bread and now I only eat whole wheat -- it's the only kind of bread I have a taste for these days.
Another thing to keep in mind is to check the labels on supposed 'whole grain' products to make sure they really are. If 100% whole grains isn't the first item on the ingredients list, toss it.
Now that many of us are under pressure to make our lifestyles healthier, many will opt for what they believe quick-fixes to their unhealthy habits, rather than making the effort to completely overhaul their lives. I think the increased use to vitamins is evidence of this -- rather than trade in french fries for 5-10 servings of fruits and veggies a day, people seem to instead opt to get their nutrients in pill form.
Vitamins can be beneficial in people who already have a healthy lifestyle but it's not a substitute for healthy habits. Take these findings for instance -- new studies show that taking common vitamins does little to promote heart health in women, whereas eating fruits and veggies high in vitamin C, E and Beta Carotene on a daily basis can help your ticker.
There are no quick fixes. Take control of your health today -- it's worth it!
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. But in individuals with heart troubles, too much exercise can be a bad thing too -- it can speed up heart failure ... in rats, at least. These findings are in direct opposition to what researchers thought they would find -- that the more they exercised, the healthier rats are.
But don't use these findings as an excuse to skip the gym for the next few decades -- it's still thought that a reasonable amount of exercise is better than a sedentary lifestyle. Excessive exercise might be a problem, but a daily walk will not kill you.
Cluster headaches are an especially painful form of headache that were hard to treat until a drug called Verapamil came on the market. But Verapamil isn't the wonder drug it seems -- it's been linked to cardiac irregularity, and according to studies, one in five patients recieving high doses of Verapamil will develop cardiac irregularities -- very frightening indeed!
Verapamil is fairly new, as is this bit of news, so it hasn't been removed from the market. Therefore, it's important to weigh the risks and talk to your doctor before going on any new drug.
When I was in school, it was pretty rare for my classmates to miss a day of school. If they did, they has either come down with the flu, broken a limb or were really good at faking it for their moms. Has much changed? I didn't think so, until I read this article. Apparently, obesity is now the leading cause for school absences. It's also the #1 predictor of absenteeism.
Why do you think this is? Those who did the original study aren't saying, but it's my feeling is that it's a mixture of things. First off, kids who have the unhealthy lifestyles that may lead to obesity are more likely to get sick. Secondly, kids who are obese are more like to get teased, and more likely to try to find a way to skip school.
Still, I think it's a problem that needs to be addressed, since education, like good nutrition, is so important for growing kids.
Many people in my life suffer from asthma, myself included. It doesn't help that we live in a city of over a million people, but when I see the pollution that engulfs cities like Los Angeles, I'm grateful for the chance to see blue sky and not just a smoggy haze when I look out my window.
Everyday Health has put together a list of the worst cities for Asthma Sufferers. At the top of the list? Atlanta. Other cities that made the cut include Philadelphia, Raleigh, Knoxville, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, Little Rock and Harrisburg. Strangely enough, LA only ranked 12th on the list -- I would have thought it to be #1.
Folic acid is an important nutrient for heart-health, some studies are showing. How do you know if you're getting enough? A diet full of fruits and veggies should mean your getting your daily intake, but if you suspect you might not, talk to your doctor. There are plenty of supplements out there that can help you get the folic acid you need. Or the answer might be as simple as adding cereal to your morning routine -- many of the options that line the cereal aisle can pack 100% of your RDI in Folic Acid.
Other good sources of folate include asparagus, broccoli, bananas, nuts, spaghetti and bread.
If you're worried about your heart, and even if your not, improving your health both today and in the long-run is as simple as taking four small steps. That's it. Only four changes. Want to know what they are? Here they are, courtesy of Fitsugar:
Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
Maintain a healthy weight, and healthy BMI of between (18.5 and 24.9)
Don't smoke, or quit if you do
Ok, the last two might be a bit of a struggle for some, but if you do the first two, the last two should follow. These really are the most important things you can do for your health. What do you think?
I think this is an excellent idea. I personally know several people who smoke cigarettes labelled light and while they know that smoking is bad for them, they incorrectly feel better about their choice because it's light. However, I doubt that changing the label will be the thing that makes them quit smoking, but you never know. What do you think?
You may have heard of red yeast rice as a simple way to lower your cholesterol. After all, that's what some manufacturers want to believe. But don't fall for it -- it's a scam. What's more, many red yeast rice manufacturers have been spiking their product with statins to make them seem more effective.
If you're interested in lowering your cholesterol, there are better ways to do it than wasting your money -- exercising and eating well will do more for your health than any so-called miracle cure will.
Food and drug officials in the USA and Canada are reviewing the long-term effects of common stomach drugs Nexium and Prilosec to determine their safety. The drugs have been linked to heart problems, though officials are saying that preliminary studies show little risk, and therefore doctors should continue to prescribe the medication.
An investigation was launched when a study found that long-term users of the drug were at high risk for heart attacks, heart failure and heart-related sudden death. However, a link does not mean causation, so consumers shouldn't be concerned just yet. Nonetheless, the news is expected to lead to lower sales.
Many people experience a rise in blood pressure in the morning, which steadily declines throughout the day and steadies out overnight. Is this normal, and should you be concerned? Research has shown that the greater the difference between your blood pressure readings throughout the day, the more likely you are to suffer from a stroke.
If you suspect your blood pressure might fluctuate throughout the day, you might want to consider investing in a device that monitors your blood pressure throughout the day. Once you've established how much your blood pressure changes, you can talk to your doctor about preventing a stroke.
Health news like this involving pregnancy makes me especially angry -- It's one thing for a mother to make an unhealthy choice for herself, but it is supremely selfish to force their bad habits onto their unborn children. It's sick and so wrong. What do you think?
Occasional chest pains can be frightening -- I know because I get them from time to time. I'm only in my mid-20s and I'm healthy so I doubt it's anything to worry about, but sometimes I can't help worrying about the state of my heart.
Chest pains are one of the most important things to share with your doctor, because it can provide him or her with valuable insights into what might be afflicting you. Chest pains can be a sign of a heart attack, angina, inflammation of the heart tissue or a multitude of other things. Chest pains can also be caused by acid reflux, which I suspect in the culprit in my case.
Diabetes drug Avandia has been raising a lot of controversy in the past few months because it's been linked to a high risk of heart attacks. And although the FDA has decided it will stay on the market, the FDA has made an official acknowledgment that the drug might cause a heart attack.
Furthermore, in a recent poll, only 9% of doctors said they would continue to prescribe Avandia to patients, so whether it's safe or not, the damage is done. Avandia will most likely have a black box warning on it, and I doubt any amount of publicity on the part of GlaxoSmithKline will make a difference to the fate of this drug. But I wonder ... if no one's prescribing it, why is it still on the market anyway?
Reducing your risk of heart disease could be as easy as changing up the type of carbs you eat -- from refined carbs to whole grains. In fact, according to recent studies, eating just one serving of whole grains can reduce your risk of high blood pressure by 4%. That might not seem like much, but it's a pretty promising result for such a small change in your lifestyle. Imagine the difference you could make to your heart health if you changed all of your grains to whole grains?
Now that many of us are under pressure to make our lifestyles healthier, many will opt for what they believe quick-fixes to their unhealthy habits, rather than making the effort to completely overhaul their lives. I think the increased use to vitamins is evidence of this -- rather than trade in french fries for 5-10 servings of fruits and veggies a day, people seem to instead opt to get their nutrients in pill form. 
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. But in individuals with heart troubles, too much exercise can be a bad thing too -- 
Cluster headaches are an especially painful form of headache that were hard to treat until a drug called Verapamil came on the market. But Verapamil isn't the wonder drug it seems -- it's been linked to cardiac irregularity, and 
When I was in school, it was pretty rare for my classmates to miss a day of school. If they did, they has either come down with the flu, broken a limb or were really good at faking it for their moms. Has much changed? I didn't think so, until 
Many people in my life suffer from asthma, myself included. It doesn't help that we live in a city of over a million people, but when I see the pollution that engulfs cities like Los Angeles, I'm grateful for the chance to see blue sky and not just a smoggy haze when I look out my window. 
Folic acid is an 
If you're worried about your heart, and even if your not, improving your health both today and in the long-run is as simple as taking four small steps. That's it. Only four changes. Want to know what they are?
On the heels of news that l
You may have heard of red yeast rice as a simple way to lower your cholesterol. After all, that's what some manufacturers want to believe. But don't fall for it -- 
Food and drug officials in the USA and Canada are reviewing the long-term effects of common stomach drugs Nexium and Prilosec to determine their safety. 
Blood pressure is an issue that typically plagues senior citizens, but studies are showing that it can affect younger people too -- in fact, it can affect the youngest group of people: Newborns. 
Occasional chest pains can be frightening -- I know because I get them from time to time. I'm only in my mid-20s and I'm healthy so I doubt it's anything to worry about, but sometimes I can't help worrying about the state of my heart. 
