You already know that having high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and/or blood pressure raises your odds of having cardiovascular disease (CVD), which increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other problems that affect your heart and circulatory system—but you may not know just how much your odds drop when you
You may not hear much about vitamin E, but it more than pulls its weight when it comes to your health. It’s an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals (unstable molecules that occur naturally in the body). It boosts immunity, reduces the risk
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects 5.1 million Americans, and there is currently no cure. However, neurologist Sam Gandy, MD, PhD, director of Mount Sinai’s Center for Cognitive health and NFL Cognitive Care says that there are some hopeful developments in AD research—along with potentially promising data you may have seen reported
The management of cholesterol and cardiovascular (CV) risk has dramatically changed since the advent of statin drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor). In the past, patients had only diet and exercise to lower lipid levels. Now, with widespread use of statins, the “knee-jerk” response to hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) has been statin use.
Poor sleep predicts disability in older age, according to a recent study (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Sept. 14, 2016). Previous research has linked sleep problems to cardiovascular disease, heart attack and heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, obesity, depression, and cognitive issues. Daytime tiredness due to poor
Women who experience migraines, take note: Migraines were found to be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart attack, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Headache Society in July 2014. These findings are based on
Niacin ineffective at reducing cardiovascular events
Niacin is a B vitamin that has been used for many years to lower markers of cardiovascular risks, including LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides. However, taking niacin does not lower the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, according to study findings
Most of us don’t think twice about swallowing a couple of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers for back pain, muscle aches, or a headache. But, in recent years, research has revealed that these OTC products are not as benign as we once thought, and that long-term and/or excessive use actually may
The Mediterranean diet, the name used loosely to describe the dietary habits of countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece, Spain, and Italy, is characterized by foods such as olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, fish and poultry, whole grains, minimal red and processed meat intake, low intake of
Changes in Gait Can Predict Decline in Memory and Thinking.
A study by researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that certain factors involved in a person’s gait can predict declines in memory and thinking. The study involved 3,426 cognitively normal participants between ages 70 and 89. The researchers used gait criteria,