Category Archives: Heart Health

If you’re like me, you’ve found yourself in the midst of a heated debate. If you’re married, you can relate, I’m sure. Fights with our spouses, relatives, friends or neighbors are almost inevitable. These angry moments are stressful at the time, but have you ever stopped to consider the long-term outcome associated with arguing? A ...click here to read more

Whether they are smokers, drinkers or over-eaters, millions of lives could be saved with a few simple lifestyle changes. In fact, at least 37 million deaths could be prevented by 2025 by the reduction of six common risk factors, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO sets targets each year to reduce premature deaths ...click here to read more

Over the years, over-the-counter and prescription painkillers have come alongside a number of precautions and health warnings. I’m always counseling patients about alternative natural methods for pain relief to try first given these concerns. Because new research has shown that they could lead to heart trouble. A study published this April in BMJ Open found that patients ...click here to read more

The next time you crave some salt on your potatoes (or those fresh garden tomatoes), live a little! Grab that salt shaker for a quick sprinkling. Recommended levels of sodium are now considered lower than what’s necessary, and the lower amounts are even linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Sodium Guidelines Too Restrictive ...click here to read more

Health regulators are bringing the dangers surrounding testosterone drugs to the forefront. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), men who take prescription testosterone drugs are at greater risk of experiencing a stroke, heart attack and even death. Heads-up! A recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE suggests the risk of cardiovascular disease ...click here to read more

Rejoice chocolate lovers! How about getting your chocolate fix without taking in all the fat and sugar? No more chocolate guilt and stealing secret bites. Too good to be true? Researchers are working on a chocolate pill to prevent heart attacks and stroke, thanks to chocolate’s health-promoting properties. Now that’s a pill-full of medicine we ...click here to read more

How’s your heart these days? Beating strong and filled with love and joy might be the goal, but the odds are against you when it comes to heart health. By the year 2020, in fact, medical experts estimate that almost 40 percent of all deaths worldwide will be related to cardiovascular disease. So the push ...click here to read more

There’s at least one more reason to incorporate omega-3 into your everyday diet. A new study by the University of Oxford’s Learning and Behaviour lab revealed that higher levels of omega-3 DHA – the group of fatty acids commonly found in algae and seafood – are linked to better sleep. In their pilot, randomized trial, researchers looked ...click here to read more

Have you ever been angry about your partner’s habitual lateness? How about your grandkid’s messy bedroom or the guy who cut you off in the grocery parking lot? So steamed that you’re ready to blow your top? You need to de-stress and find yourself some zen. Not just for your sanity, but for your heart. ...click here to read more

Don’t worry about your breath after eating garlic. Chew a little minty gum and give thanks to your heart! Consuming fresh, raw garlic has long been touted an ideal way to lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure and heart disease risk. But wait – a new study reveals that sprouting garlic, in particular, has even more antioxidants beneficial ...click here to read more

For a lot of us, our diet revolves around convenience food. Out on a small errand? Grab yourself a Big Mac and you’re good to go. Home late from work? Pull out a frozen dinner and pop it in the microwave. No matter how quick and easy, these eating habits damage your health. They expose ...click here to read more

What makes up a person? We all have bones, muscles, ligaments, organs, veins and arteries (and so on!) that are connected to create a functioning body. We move our fingers and toes without thinking about it, we speak to tell stories and offer advice, and our inner workings help transport blood, oxygen and other signals so ...click here to read more

Have you had your seasonal flu booster yet? Well, academics have just learned that it could reduce your risk of suffering a stroke in addition to sickness. Researchers from the U.K.’s University of Lincoln and The University of Nottingham found that patients vaccinated against influenza were less likely to suffer a stroke during the same ...click here to read more

Olives, fish and fruits and vegetables, please, fill my plate! More and more, scientists are finding that people who adopt a Mediterranean diet experience a lower risk of cardiovascular-related death than those who follow a strictly low-fat diet. In a recent study published this February in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers analyzed data on ...click here to read more