Younger Women Less Likely to Receive Preventive Care for Heart Disease
In a survey conducted by the American Heart Association, about half of the women interviewed knew that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet only 13% said it was their greatest personal health risk. Other survey data suggest that on a day-to-day basis, women still worry more about getting breast cancer, […]
Women Recover More Slowly from Cardiac Arrest than Men, Especially Women Who Live Alone
In this study, investigators sought to determine associations between heart-related quality of life (HRQL), marital status, and comorbid disorders in men and women following cardiac surgery. The authors examined data from a randomized, controlled trial that studied 416 individuals (23% women) who were scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery. The HRQL […]
When It Comes to Summer Veggies, Think Color!
Summer brings an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and local gardens, which means more opportunities to add tasty and heart- healthy foods to your everyday meals. To take full advantage of the summer’s healthy selections, concentrate on color! Deep green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce, […]
The Goodness of Gardening
The How (and Whys) of Growing Your Own Food “Eat your vegetables!”— Mothers worldwide have issued this command to their offspring for eons, probably as many times as there are grains of sand at the beach. And with good reason. Diets high in a variety of fruits and vegetables have been associated with reduced risk […]
Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease
Don’t smoke. Your chance of having a heart attack doubles if you smoke as few as one to four cigarettes per day. Even if you don’t smoke, regular exposure to someone else’s smoke can increase your risk. Be more active Get at least 30 minutes per day of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, most […]
Monitoring Your Pulse: An Important Heart-health Gauge
Your pulse can be used as a tool to help get a picture of your health. Even if you’re not an athlete, knowledge about your heart rate can help you monitor your fitness level—and it might even help you spot developing health problems. “Heart rate” is the number of times your heart beats per minute […]
Poor Sleep Habits Can Lead to Obesity
A study found that people who are genetically prone to obesity are more likely to become overweight if they don’t stick to normal sleeping patterns. Insufficient sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances both have been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes but the cause is unclear. To determine the impact of circadian rhythm disturbances on cardiovascular function […]
Individuals with Obesity who are Metabolically Healthy Still at Risk for Health Problems
Obesity is often the harbinger of numerous health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and cardiovascular disease. Some individuals with obesity, however, don’t exhibit any of the typical risk factors for heart disease or diabetes, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed information from about 1.3 million U.S. adults who were either […]
Heavy Drinking May Raise Cardiovascular Risk by Aging the Arteries
Alcohol abuse may increase the risk of heart attacks and other cardiac problems even in people who don’t have a family history of heart disease or other known risk factors, a study suggests. After accounting for established risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes, alcohol abuse was associated with a 40-percent […]
Freeze Excess Veggies From Your Garden
When your summer garden yields more fruits and veggies than you know what to do with, try freezing them. Here are some tips on freezing common summer produce. Cucumbers. Instead of using the typical blanching process, try freezing them in the same brine solution you’d use for pickling. When frozen this way, thawed cucumbers maintain […]
Digital Health and Diabetes
Researchers used text messaging as an educational and motivational tool to increase physical activity among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Study participants in the intervention arm received tailored text messages twice daily for six months and then were interviewed by the investigators regarding their level of satisfaction with the TTM model. Participants reported an […]
Diets High in Fruit and Vegetable Intake Can Lower Risk of Depression
Besides protecting your heart health, research has shown that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk for depression and for certain forms of cancer. A 2013 study published in the journal Preventive Medicine explored the link between a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and mental health. Canadian researchers, […]
