There is an ever-growing amount of research showing that prolonged sitting is bad for your health.

Extended sitting has become a staple of modern-day life. It’s an essential job requirement for many, while it’s also paramount to travel time, leisure time, and even socializing. What’s even scarier is that its hazardous effects even impact people who exercise regularly.

Clearly, everybody should sit less and move more. But how often should you get up from your chair, and for how long? Basically, what is the least amount of activity needed to counteract the impact of a day filled with sitting?

A study from Columbia University may have come up with the answer: just five minutes of walking every half hour during prolonged sitting can offset some of its most harmful effects.

Researchers looked at a variety of different intervals to decide which was best. All of the study participants sat in an ergonomic chair for 8 hours and had their activity and movement strictly monitored.
Walking for five minutes every 30 minutes was the only exercise interval that showed significant improvements in blood sugar and blood pressure. It also had a sizeable impact on how participants responded to meals and overall energy and mood.

All amounts of walking were found to drop blood pressure by 4 or 5 mmHg compared to sitting all day, while all the intervals – except for walking for one minute every hour – led to improved energy levels and mood.

The big difference came in blood sugar levels. People who walked for five minutes every half hour saw a 58% reduction in blood sugar levels compared to those who sat all day.

Moving for just five minutes every half hour may play a role in keeping blood sugar levels in check and helping to prevent type-2 diabetes.

If you do a lot of sitting, budget five minutes out of every 30 for a little movement. It could go a long way in protecting your health.

Yes, it is cold outside. And yes, letting cold air in will only end up boosting your heating bill. Despite this, it is a good idea to open your windows in the winter.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollutants can be higher than those found outdoors. And not just by a little, either. Estimates suggest that particulate matter and other pollutants could be two to five times higher inside your home than out.

Keeping the windows closed traps all of these pollutants inside. And what are these pollutants, and where do they come from? Virtually everywhere.

The materials in your furniture, paint, air fresheners, unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, cleaning products, personal care products, dust, and mold are all top offenders. Even your television and talking family create waste that can reduce air quality.
When your windows are closed, these pollutants are trapped, safe and warm, inside your home along with you. Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house; it is recycled.

Opening your window for just a few minutes every day can help reduce the number of pollutants. Some experts suggest that cracking a window for about five minutes per day, even in the winter, can help reduce pollutants and bring some fresh air into the space.

Along with opening the windows every day, you can improve the air quality in your home with HEPA air purifiers, using non-toxic cleaning products, and being sure to remove dust regularly. Clean sheets and vacuum carpets and sofas on a weekly basis.

Maybe opening the windows to start your day is a good strategy. Make a hot tea or coffee, crack the window, and let the cool air and caffeine kickstart your day!

Acid reflux is something a lot of people just kind of push to the side. It’s rather common, and popping a couple of pills when it arises is an easy enough fix.

Most people barely think about it all. But if it is ignored for too long, it could lead to serious complications.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is when there is acid and chemical damage to the lining of the esophagus. Although your stomach is built to withstand the effects of acid, the esophagus has less strength against its effects.

Heartburn is a key symptom of reflux disease, but the disease is much more involved than just that one symptom. Other symptoms can include feeling like you’ve got a lump in your throat, having difficulty swallowing, chest pain, coughing, or having worsening asthma-like symptoms.

Further complications of reflux disease can include esophagitis, which is inflammation at the bottom of the esophagus. If persistent, it can lead to scarring and restricted function.

It may lead to a condition called Barrett’s esophagus over time. That is when the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by acid reflux. It could lead to failure of the valve between the stomach and esophagus, which is supposed to keep acid in the stomach. The result could be further damage to the esophagus caused by acid and other chemicals.
People with Barrett’s disease are at higher risk for even more severe issues with no symptoms. Regular check-ups are a must.

Risks for the condition include being a white man over 50, having a family history of esophageal issues, and smoking. Other risk factors are excess abdominal fat or reflux disease lasting more than five years.

Treatment for the condition depends on the extent of the damage and a person’s overall health.

A good place to start is to avoid coffee, alcohol, and smoking. It may also be treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Barrett’s disease affects 10 to 15 percent of people with GERD.

Do you want to increase your intake of beneficial vegetables for type 2 diabetes but don’t know where to start? While we all have a tendency to go for the greens, it might be time to broaden our horizons and learn more about purple vegetables and tubers.

Not only are they beautiful in color, but they also provide many nutritional benefits, one of which is their anti-diabetic properties. In this blog post, we’ll explore why purple kitchen staples could be an important part of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle if you want or need to manage diabetes!

Anthocyanins are a class of water-soluble plant pigments found in berries, fruits, and vegetables with vibrant colors such as red, purple, and blue. These pigments have strong antioxidant properties that help protect cells from damage due to environmental pollutants like smoke and radiation. Anthocyanins may also boost the immune system, help reduce inflammation, and offer heart health benefits.

Studies have linked anthocyanins to positive effects on vision and cognitive function, while they’re thought to contribute to a healthier digestive tract too. In short, anthocyanins are naturally occurring substances providing an array of potential health benefits.

It is important to understand what fruits and vegetables contain a significant number of acylated anthocyanins as opposed to nonacylated anthocyanins. For example, purple potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, radishes, purple carrots, and red cabbages contain acylated anthocyanins, whereas bilberries and mulberries contain mostly nonacylated anthocyanins.

Acylated anthocyanins are not absorbed well in digestion, which may not sound like a good thing. However, paired with their probiotic properties, they can help to reduce the risk of diabetes more effectively than nonacylated anthocyanins.
A new review article comparing the results of anthocyanins showed that acylation affects how anthocyanins are absorbed and metabolized in addition to changing physical and chemical properties. The acylated anthocyanins were also found to be more effective antioxidants than the nonacylated anthocyanins, and they may also improve the absorption of necessary nutrients through the intestinal barrier. Furthermore, the acylated anthocyanins suppress pro-inflammatory pathways, maintain gut microbiota homeostasis, and modulate glucose and lipid metabolisms.

How Do Acylated Anthocyanins Work?

Acylated anthocyanins work by traveling through the body from the upper gastrointestinal tract to the colon, where the gut microbiota metabolizes them. Different glucose transporters are responsible for the absorption of acylated and nonacylated anthocyanins. The review also found that acylated and nonacylated anthocyanins have different impacts on the enzymes involved in metabolism.

So, for those concerned about type 2 diabetes and looking for a healthy and nutritious way to help prevent the disease, anthocyanin-rich fruits and vegetables may be the key! However, while consuming these types of foods can be helpful in reducing the risk of diabetes, many other lifestyle changes are needed to ensure healthy blood sugar. This list includes getting regular exercise, reducing processed and packaged foods and getting essential vitamins and nutrients the body requires to stay healthy.

Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Healthy Blood Sugar Support can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels using a number of ingredients that have been shown in clinical studies. The health benefits of this unique formula include supporting blood sugar metabolism and promoting healthy cholesterol and glucose levels already within the normal range. Healthy Blood Sugar Support can also help to reduce excessive hunger or increased appetite, fatigue, and blood glucose spikes after meals.

Plant-based diets, or at least the term plant-based diets, are all the rage these days. Although the style is nothing new, the terminology may be.

Vegetarianism, veganism, the Mediterranean diet, and the DASH diet, after all, are all plant-based.

Many people are turning towards plant-based diets to take advantage of potential health benefits. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the plant-based foods market has risen 29 percent in recent years.

The switch from a meat-rich diet to one that centers on plants can be challenging.

So what is a plant-based diet?

It basically means that 80 to 90 percent of the foods you’re eating are plant-based. Ideally, they are unprocessed whole foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, whole grains, and nuts.

But going plant-based doesn’t mean you have to give up animal-based foods entirely. Dairy like milk or yogurt, as well as nutrient-dense meats like fish, beef, and poultry, can be included on occasion to help round out nutritional needs.

You’ve probably heard various names for plant-based diets tossed around. There is vegan, which means zero animal products. It is typically grounded in ethical or environmental reasons. Vegetarians may have similar reasons but allow for some eggs or dairy of varying proportions.
But a Mediterranean style or DASH diet are plant-based as well, as are other diets that include eating meat rarely.

There is evidence that plant-based eating can reduce the risk for metabolic disorders, improve heart health, and help control type-2 diabetes and obesity.

Starting a plant-based diet can be a challenge, but thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help you with ideas and recipes to bring variety and flavor to foods.

The key foods to a plant-based diet are:

• Leafy greens like spinach, turnips, green leaf lettuce, and kale
• Colorful veggies like bell peppers, carrots, corn, and potatoes
• Whole grains like brown rice, barley, wheat, and oats
• Fruits like apples, berries, oranges, etc.
• Unsaturated oils like olive oil
• A variety of plant-based proteins like beans, legumes, seeds, nuts, mushrooms
• Some dairy
• Limited amounts of protein from eat

Limiting processed plant-based foods is very important component of enjoying a plant-based diet. For example, French fries, chips, and even sugary candies are all plant-based but certainly not healthy.

Doctors pay attention to your vision and hearing as you age, and now researchers suggest they should be paying attention to another one of your senses.

A new study is linking sense of smell to frailty, indicating that a person’s ability to identify scents could be linked to frailty risk.

A sense of smell can play a big role in your life. Not only does it help you enjoy food and flowers, but it can alert you to potential dangers like gas, fire, or something burning.

The new study looked at 1,160 older adults enrolled in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project between 2015 and 2016. Their average age was 76, and each participant was exposed to five scents to measure olfactory identification and six scents to measure how sensitive their sense of smell was.

Results were then matched to a frailty score, which was based on five markers: weight loss; exhaustion; weakness; slow walking speeds, and low physical activity.
Researchers found that there was a significant and meaningful reduction on frailty status for every one-point increase on both olfactory (sense of smell) identification and sensitivity scores.

On the other hand, the worse a person’s sense of smell, the more frail a person was. The findings suggest, although they cannot prove, that loss of smell can be a measurable and potential risk factor for frailty in older adults.

The relationship between smell and unhealthy aging is unclear, but some of the consequences of losing the sense could include a loss of appetite, difficulty monitoring personal hygiene, depression, and the inability to detect toxic fumes.

These risks could translate into weight loss, weakness, malnutrition, potential injuries, and inadequate personal care.

There is little you can do to prevent losing your sense of smell. However, these findings do suggest it is something to be monitored. It can also indicate the importance of preventing frailty through measures like diet and exercise.

Stomach trouble can be a real life-changer. People with Crohn’s, colitis, and irritable bowel conditions can experience extreme symptoms that impact their ability to eat freely.

Even people with food intolerance sensitivities can go through discomfort that can ruin their day.

But at least these people all have diagnosed conditions about what’s causing their stomach troubles. What about people who experience stomach issues after eating without any identifiable cause?

What happens when your stomach doesn’t feel good after eating? You know it’s not heartburn, but instead, you may feel bloated, full, or have a burning pain. Maybe you feel nauseous and even need to vomit. The discomfort may kick in during a meal or shortly after,

What you may call an “upset stomach” or “indigestion” doctors call dyspepsia. If common tests can’t identify a cause, the issue is called functional dyspepsia. The good news is that lifestyle measures may help.

It is possible to reduce the impact of functional dyspepsia by adjusting diet, exercise habits, sleep routines and stress levels. Here are some things to consider:
Certain things, like caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, and spicy, acidic, or fatty foods can trigger dyspepsia. Watch your intake of these foods.

Smaller and more frequent meals may also make a difference. Smaller amounts of food limit stomach distension and are faster to empty.

Chewing food slowly and completely may also aid digestion. Also, try and avoid activities that result in inhaling excess air, like eating quickly, chewing gum, drinking carbonated beverages, and smoking.

Not lying down within two hours of eating may also help.

Getting exercise to help reduce stress may help, as well as trying relaxation therapies like yoga or mindfulness. Getting enough sleep, going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, and practicing good sleep hygiene may also help ease symptoms.

If you’ve got stomach issues but can’t put your finger on the cause, try some of these lifestyle techniques to get things under control.

When it comes to treating certain health conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, traditional diet and exercise plans aren’t realistic options for everyone. Alternate-day fasting (ADF) is a safe and effective form of intermittent fasting that provides patients with an alternative approach to improving their overall health and well-being.

Here, we will explore what alternate-day fasting is all about and its potential benefits for those dealing with liver fat.

What is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when there is a build-up of oily fat deposits in the liver. To make matters worse, this accumulation of fat causes inflammation and can even lead to organ damage over time. Surprisingly, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease doesn’t have to be caused by excessive drinking — it can affect those who drink their alcoholic beverages in moderation or even abstain from alcohol altogether.

If left unchecked, NAFLD can lead to complications such as liver failure or cirrhosis. Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is sometimes linked to extreme obesity and type 2 diabetes, regular activity and healthy eating habits are important steps to reduce the risk of developing this condition.

What is Alternate Day Fasting?

Alternate-day fasting (ADF) has recently become a popular way to lose weight and improve overall health. It is a type of intermittent fasting where individuals fast every other day. During the days when an individual is fasting, they may eat little to no food, typically 500 calories or less on that day.

On the days when they are not fasting, they can eat normally. This way of dieting can provide many benefits due to short-term calorie restriction and reduced inflammation in the body. Studies have shown that alternate-day fasting can result in weight loss over time but also bring about improvements in overall health such as reductions in cholesterol levels and improved insulin sensitivity.
The Study

The study published in Cell Metabolism involved organizing participants into one of four groups; an alternate-day fasting group, an aerobic exercise group, a combined group, and a control group (where participants made no changes to their lifestyle behaviors). Participants in the exercise groups used an elliptical machine in a lab for one hour five days a week, and those in the diet groups tracked their food intake.

The conclusion of the study was said to be “pretty amazing” by study author Krista Varady.

“When we compared the results of our study groups, we saw clearly that the most improved patients were in the group that followed the alternate-day fasting diet and exercised five days a week. The people who only dieted or only exercised did not see the same improvements, which reinforces the importance of these two relatively inexpensive lifestyle modifications on overall health and on combating chronic diseases like fatty liver disease.”

Researchers also noted that there were no serious safety events during the trial and that all participants were able to maintain the exercise and diet for the three-month study. This may be a good indication that alternative fasting could be an excellent option for people with fatty liver disease who want to improve their health by losing weight and eating healthier without using medications.

Maximizing Liver Performance

As one of the most important organs in the human body, the liver works 24 hours a day to produce and process many of the chemicals the body requires. It processes over 500 functions, including hormone production, bile secretion, and converting sugars into glycogen.

Liver Rescue is a formula designed to support and maximize the performance of a healthy liver through its seven ingredients. These powerful ingredients can help fight free radicals, improve bile production, remove toxins, and give your liver the support it deserves.

There’s a lot of debate about the best way to lose weight. Is it about when you eat, how much, or what? Or will a fad diet get you where you want?

We can disregard the fad diets immediately. Plenty of research shows they are ineffective and often lead to future weight gain. Intermittent fasting, however, may be an exception to this rule.

Intermittent fasting – a dietary pattern when eating is restricted to a certain window during the day – has gained popularity in recent years. A growing body of work shows that it can lead to weight loss and other health benefits.

Now new research is showing that when it comes to sustainable weight loss, what seems to matter most is how often and how much you eat rather than when.

These results are a little bit surprising, largely because eating late at night is generally associated with poor sleep, which can add to weight gain.

This study is particularly interesting because the Johns Hopkins Medicine research team did not monitor its participants’ intentions, just their eating habits. They did not ask anyone to change their behavior or whether or not they were trying to lose weight.

All 547 participants used an app called “Daily24” that allowed them to record sleeping and eating routines on a daily basis for half a year and calculate meal habits. Participants went on to have their weight tracked for six years.
After assessing all the numbers, researchers found that regardless of current weight status, there was no apparent link between when people ate meals and any weight change.

On the other hand, regularly eating large meals (1,000 calories +) or medium-sized meals (500-1000 calories) was linked to a greater likelihood of weight gain. Eating fewer or more frequent smaller meals (less than 500 calories) was linked to weight loss.

If you’d like to lose weight to reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, joint pain, and more, it’s best to focus on overall eating habits. What you put in your body, not necessarily when, is the most important.

Focusing on nutrient-dense foods – which are often low-calorie and satiating – is the best solution to controlling weight and improving health, regardless of when you eat them.

Whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, olive oil, dairy, and unprocessed lean meats are the cornerstones of a healthy diet that promotes weight loss.

If you often find yourself struggling to sleep throughout the night, you may be at a higher risk for heart disease. Many adults have fallen victim to our society’s increasing inability to receive a good night’s rest.

Unfortunately, emerging research is now linking this lack of quality sleep with serious long-term health concerns, particularly an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Read on to learn more about how chronically disrupted sleep can jeopardize your heart and what steps you can take today to protect it.

The study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association followed 2,032 adults from six communities around the United States. The areas included St. Paul, Minnesota; Baltimore; Chicago; Forsyth County, North Carolina; Los Angeles County, California; and northern Manhattan and the Bronx, New York.

Participants who were shift workers were excluded as they were more likely to have irregular sleep patterns. Those with existing heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea (a known risk factor for coronary artery disease) were also excluded from the study.

After a seven-day monitoring period, participants with greater irregularity in their sleep duration were more likely to have a higher instance of coronary artery calcium, more plaque in their carotid arteries, and greater systemic atherosclerosis and stiffness in their blood vessels, which is commonly referred to as “hardening of the arteries.”
Study author Kelsie Full, Ph.D., MPH, explained, “These results suggest that maintaining regular or habitual sleep durations, or sleeping close to the same total amount of time each night, may play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease.”

Getting Optimal Sleep

Sleep Sure Plus is designed to help promote optimal sleep and restfulness through a variety of ingredients. One of the most important ingredients included in this unique formula is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone essential for regulating the circadian rhythm (the internal clock of the body). Sleep Sure Plus also contains valerian, one of the best natural ingredients for promoting rest and relaxation. These two essential ingredients are joined by another 6, which all work together to provide a better quality of sleep.

Although getting a good night’s sleep is important for heart health, many other factors go into ensuring healthy cardiovascular function. CoQ10 is a vital nutrient needed to maintain a healthy heart. However, research has shown that CoQ10 levels can decline with stress, age, and cholesterol-lowering statin use. Due to this decline, it is essential to help support and maintain CoQ10 levels.

The major issue with standard CoQ10 supplementation is that it is a large, fat-soluble molecule that is poorly absorbed in the body. However, CoQ10 Premium Gold gets around this issue by supplying a water-soluble form of CoQ10 for superior absorption by the body. This gives the body the CoQ10 it needs to support energy production and help maintain cardiovascular health.

Millions of people around the world are affected by high blood pressure, one of the leading causes of arterial stiffness and adverse health consequences. Luckily, a natural dietary option can help you manage your blood pressure and reduce your risk for long-term issues: Coconut sugar.

Read on to learn more about a new study that suggests adding this sweetener to your diet can bring down elevated blood pressure levels and decrease arterial stiffness!

As we age, our bodies naturally experience a variety of changes. But two risk factors present potentially serious medical challenges related to cardiovascular health: higher blood pressure and increased arterial stiffness.

Elevated blood pressure triggered by aging may pose an increased risk of cardiovascular disease while stiffening of the arteries due to aging can diminish the body’s ability to effectively deliver oxygen-rich blood to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Proactive monitoring and treatment for these risk factors may help mitigate their adverse effects on general health. Hence, seniors and those close to them need to recognize potential warning signs and take preventive steps accordingly.

For the new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers explored the effect of natural coconut sugar on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in middle-aged older adults.

Coconut sap powder is derived from coconut sugar and is rich in vitamins B and C as well as calcium, iron, and potassium. It also contains nitrate and flavonoids, which have previously been shown to contribute to blood vessel health. Coconut sap is also known for its levels of inulin, a prebiotic soluble fiber that can help regulate blood sugar. With such an extensive list of health benefits, it is easy to see why researchers would be eager to conduct more research to find its effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

For the study, researchers analyzed a group of volunteers with an average age of 55 who took either a coconut sap powder supplement or placebo every day for eight weeks. All participants have their resting heart rate, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, markers of inflammation and arterial stiffness measured before and after the study.

It was found that the group who took the coconut sap powder supplement had lower systolic blood pressure when measured in the arm but not in the carotid artery. However, stiffness in the most common carotid artery was reduced. Blood markers of oxidative stress and inflammation did not change with the consumption of coconut sap powder.

Researchers concluded that coconut sap’s effect on blood pressure and arterial stiffness provides insight into a new treatment to target age-related cardiovascular dysfunction and disease potentially.

Protecting Arteries and Heart Health

As you age, your arteries may need a helping hand to stay strong and healthy. Clinical Strength Artery Support is designed to give your arteries the circulation support it needs. Through a powerful combination of traditional and modern ingredients, including L-citrulline, green coffee extract, and green tea extract, Clinical Artery Support helps to improve circulation and cardiovascular health.

By maintaining healthy blood pressure, you can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help support overall heart health. Healthy Blood Pressure Support has been shown in human clinical studies to help support healthy blood pressure making it an excellent choice for those looking to promote healthy blood pressure. In addition, Healthy Blood Pressure Support also supports healthy cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health.

It’s possible that more than 50 million U.S. adults – that’s about one in five – experience chronic pain. The pain can fluctuate during the day, but for some, it is at its worst at night.

There is some data that suggest churning pain worsens at night, and in some cases, it can drastically interfere with sleep.

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for two to three months, usually long after the initial onset of pain caused by an injury or illness. Sometimes the pain may even become permanent.

The pain can impact individual joints or muscles or certain parts of the body, like the back or neck. Persistent pain from conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia may be even more difficult to deal with.

Symptoms of chronic pain can vary but often include a dull ache, shooting, burning, stabbing, shock-like pain, and sensations like tingling or numbness.

Hormones could play a role in why pain gets worse at night. Your body produces less cortisol at night, which is a hormone that has anti-inflammatory effects. Another factor could be that pain may follow a circadian rhythm, like your body’s internal 24-hour clock.
Nighttime pain is particularly problematic because it impacts sleep. Not getting sleep can make pain management much more difficult. Not getting enough sleep can lead to increased cytokine production, which can make the body more sensitive to pain.

There are some strategies that may help reduce pain at night.

Implementing a pre-bedtime relaxation routine may help prepare your mind and body for sleep. Spend at least 20 minutes before bed dedicated to relaxation to slow your heart and breathing rate to reduce flare-us risk.

A warm or cold shower, gentle stretches, yoga poses, or several minutes of deep breathing are worth a try.

Reframing thoughts may also help. If you are worried about the pain or when it will flare up, it can increase stress and anxiety when you should be getting ready for sleep.

Lastly, try to create a comfortable dark and cool sleeping environment.

If you’re awakened by pain, give your body some time to recover so you can fall back asleep. Listen to soft music or read (from a book or magazine, not a blue-light screen) to help you sleep. Counting your breaths may help, too.

If you or anyone you know is an ischemic stroke survivor, you may be aware of the severe long-term health complications. Unfortunately, a new study suggests 20% of those affected by ischemic strokes suffer from irregular heart rhythms that can increase the likelihood of further disability or death.

In this blog post, we will discuss what an ischemic stroke is; the signs and symptoms to watch for; who it affects most often, and how to reduce your risks for a potentially devastating second event with preventative measures like monitoring yourself for irregular heartbeat patterns.

What Is Ischemic Stroke?

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common types of stroke. It’s caused by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain, depriving part of the brain of oxygen and nutrients necessary for normal functioning. A blood clot typically causes this, but it can also be due to plaque build-up in the arteries, leading to narrowing or blocking of the arteries.

The ischemic stroke symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness on one side, confusion or trouble speaking, difficulty swallowing and unequal pupils in both eyes. Treatment is focused on restoring blood flow to the affected area as soon as possible and is often successful if identified and treated quickly enough.

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and usually affects people aged 60 or older. Other risk factors for ischemic stroke include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, oral contraceptives, and smoking.

The Study

The new three-year study from Harvard Medical School included nearly 500 ischemic stroke survivors of an average age of 67 with no previous atrial fibrillation diagnosis. Participants were divided into two groups. The first received an insertable cardiac monitor that recorded heart rhythms 24 hours a day for three years. The second group received standard medical treatment, which did not include continuous heart monitoring. Follow-up care was given every six months for three years.

Researchers found that the continuous cardiac monitoring device detected a-fib in more than 20% of the participants during the study’s three years. A-fib was only detected in the standard treatment group in 2.5% of participants. In patients with a-fib, an episode of 10 minutes or more was found, and more than two-thirds had an episode lasting more than one hour.

Most patients in the study reported no signs of atrial fibrillation, but symptoms can include
heart palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

“Relying on routine monitoring strategies is not sufficient, and neither is placing a 30-day continuous monitor on the patient. Even if fibrillation is ruled out in the first 30 days, most of the cases are missed—because, as we found, more than 80% of the episodes are first detected more than 30 days after the stroke,” explained lead author Dr. Lee Schwamm.
Researchers hope this study will drive healthcare providers to understand the risk of future strokes better to help prevent them in the future.

While ischemic stroke is often associated with genetics and aging, there are measures people can take to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. One way is through diet and exercise, which help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Smoking is another factor that should be addressed – quitting smoking is necessary to improve cardiovascular health.

Additionally, keeping blood sugar levels in check is vital for reducing ischemic stroke risks; if diabetes is present, managing it becomes even more important. Finally, regular checkups with your doctor can help identify any existing high-risk factors that may need to be addressed to prevent ischemic stroke.

Maintaining Brain Function and Heart Health

Many factors can take a toll on the brain, and suffering an ischemic stroke can be one of them. It can often affect concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function. The Smart Pill can help counteract these effects through nine ingredients that help support, nourish, and maximize brain health and cognitive function. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. This unique formula helps boost circulation, fight free radicals, and help to promote clear thinking.

Keeping the heart strong and healthy is vital for enjoying a high quality of life as you age. Heart Rescue was designed to help support and promote cardiovascular health using a variety of ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, magnesium, and hawthorn extract. This formula’s health benefits can help strengthen the heart muscle, support circulation, and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Could losing your hearing be a sign of things to come?

Specifically, dementia?

Maybe, suggests some new research that found older people who had trouble hearing were more likely to develop dementia down the road.

However, there is some good news: hearing aids, which are now available over the counter at much lower prices, may reduce the risk.

There is evidence that hearing loss can cause structural brain changes. It is possible that missing out on sound can limit input needed to keep the brain robust, potentially leading to atrophy and dementia.

Further, the constant struggle to hear can make your brain work even harder, causing fatigue that could potentially lead to trouble with thinking and memory.

Even more, people with hearing loss may withdraw from social events, and staying engaged with the world and the people around you is known to help stave off dementia. Social isolation can lead to further and faster degradation of cognitive function.

About one million Americans between the ages of 65 and 74, and half of those who are older, have hearing loss that is severe enough to effect their quality of life, according to the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The majority of people, however, do not use hearing aids.
The new study looked at more than 2,400 seniors, half of which were over 80. It found a clear link between hearing loss severity and dementia.

Results showed that people with moderate-to-severe hearing loss had a 61 percent higher risk for developing dementia than those with normal hearing. It also found that people with moderate-to-severe hearing loss, that used hearing aids, had a 32 percent lower risk of dementia than those who did not use a hearing aid.

Hearing aids may be a valuable tool in helping to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of dementia for people struggling with hearing. Staying socially active can also play a role in maintaining cognition.

If you notice you’re beginning to experience some hearing difficulty in settings where it normally was not a problem, go have your hearing checked. Getting a hearing aid is easier – and cheaper – than it’s ever been.