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Source: Harvard Health Blog
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Total 81 results found since Jan 2013.
Nuts, seeds, beans are good steps toward a plant-based diet
A plant-based
diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy plant oils can help
men stay healthy and ward off heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and
other chronic conditions. Adding fresh fruits and vegetables is a no-brainer for
adopting a plant-based diet, but don't neglect nuts and seeds along with beans
and other legumes, recommends the December 2014 Harvard
Men's Health Watch.
Choosing the right portions is important, too. Nuts and
seeds are rich in vegetable oils, which pack nine calories per gram. That means
eating too many nuts and seeds in a day can deliver an overload of calories.
But it doesn'...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - November 24, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Treating gum disease may help the heart
Gum disease has long been linked to heart disease. New
research suggests that for people with both conditions, treating the gum
disease may lower their health care costs and the number of times they end up
in the hospital, reports the November 2014 Harvard
Heart Letter.
Gum disease begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film
known as plaque builds up around your teeth. Daily tooth brushing and flossing
and regular cleanings by a dentist or hygienist can prevent and even reverse
gingivitis, the earliest form of gum disease (also called periodontal disease).
Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into gum disease. The gums pull...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - October 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
How much alcohol is safe? It varies from one person to the next
A decent body of
research has made the phrases "consume alcohol in moderation" and
"good for the heart" go together like gin and tonic. But moderate
drinking may not be good for everyone, so a personalized approach is best,
reports the November 2014 Harvard Men's Health Watch.
"For some people, depending on what medications you are
taking and other factors, even light drinking might not be a good thing,"
says Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, associate professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "For other people, moderate drinking
could plausibly be beneficial." “Moderate” when applied...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - October 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Check the pulse to track irregular heartbeats after a stroke
The rapid, irregular heartbeat known as atrial
fibrillation is a key cause of stroke. New research suggests that it's to blame
for more strokes than doctors realized, and that simply measuring the pulse could
help detect unrecognized atrial fibrillation and avert a second stroke, reports
the October 2014 Harvard Heart Letter.
Atrial fibrillation can come and go,
lasting from a few seconds to several days. Some people have distressing
symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, or chest pressure. For many others, atrial
fibrillation passes silently. Either way, blood can pool in the heart's upper
chambers, or atria. This stag...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - September 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Daily aspirin is good for some men, not others
For men who have had a heart attack, stroke, or other
problem related to clogged arteries, the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh
the risks. In this group, the benefits include preventing a first or repeat
heart attack or stroke or dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease. But in
otherwise healthy men, the balance of benefits and risks shifts, according to
the October 2014 Harvard
Men's Health Watch.
The best research to date shows that men who have not been
diagnosed with cardiovascular disease glean no overall benefit to taking
aspirin every day—including men at higher risk, like those with diabetes.
In other...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - September 30, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
How to tame stubbornly high blood pressure
High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke
and heart disease. Dozens of medications and other therapies are available to
treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Yet many people can't
get their blood pressure under control even by taking multiple medications, reports
the September 2014 Harvard Heart Letter.
"When people have high blood pressure despite being on
three different medications, including a thiazide diuretic, they have what's
known as resistant hypertension," says Dr. Joshua Beckman, a cardiologist
at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Some people with resistant hypertension may...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - August 23, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Biomarkers aim to help predict heart disease risk
Wouldn't it be wonderful if a single blood test could gauge the heart's health? Medicine isn't quite yet at that point. But there are a few indicators that can signal where your cardiovascular health is headed and let you know whether you need to take action now to prevent a heart attack or stroke, according to the August 2014 Harvard Women's Health Watch.
Substances called biomarkers they reflect processes that are going on inside the body. "Biomarkers could be used both for predicting disease risk and for selecting those who would potentially benefit most from therapy," says Dr. Samia Mora, a cardiologist at Brigha...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - July 25, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Take common-sense steps to stay safe this summer
When the mercury rises, heat can strain the limits of the body's cooling system. Its driving engine, the heart, takes on a heavier load in hot weather to keep body temperature within norms, reports the July 2014 issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.
For otherwise fit, active men, handling the heat requires no more than knowing their limits and drinking enough fluids. But what about men with heart conditions? "They are going to be more sensitive to the heat," says Dr. Joanne Foody, director of cardiovascular wellness services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. "They may just need to limit their activitie...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - June 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Personalizing "lower is better" for blood pressure treatment
Many men with high blood pressure were surprised—and a little confused—when a panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health recommended a change in the treatment goal for people over age 60. Instead of taking medications to lower pressures to 140/90, they can now settle for a target of 150/90. Several factors come into play when deciding on the best blood pressure target, reports the May 2014 Harvard Men's Health Watch.
The ideal blood pressure is under 120/80. As it rises above that threshold, the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems follows. Above 140/90, doctors generall...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - April 29, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Are there "superfoods" for heart health?
Myth or reality: eating certain superfoods can strengthen the heart and protect against heart attack and stroke? It's mostly just myth and wishful thinking, reports the March 2014 Harvard Heart Letter.
There's no question that some foods are rich in nutrients that may help keep arteries clear and the heartbeat stable. It's great to eat them. But what's really important is eating a variety of fresh, unprocessed foods that deliver all of the nutrients needed to keep the heart healthy, not just those in a few so-called superfoods.
"It's really about the whole package—the combination of nutrients and micronutrients that ...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - February 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Treat a mini-stroke as seriously as a big one
The term mini-stroke is often used to describe transient ischemic attack (TIA), a type of stroke. The "mini" has led to a lot of confusion about the true severity of this condition, according to the March 2014 Harvard Women's Health Watch.
"Because of what the term implies, everybody thinks it's just a tiny stroke. The truth is, the symptoms can be pretty severe," says Dr. Natalia Rost, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Acute Stroke Service at Massachusetts General Hospital.
A TIA and a stroke are essentially the same thing—an interruption in blood flow to part of the brai...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - February 27, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Daily low-dose aspirin can prevent heart attack and stroke but is often misused
Aspirin is often hailed as a wonder drug, thanks to its ability to help stave off heart attacks and clot-caused strokes. But fewer than half of people who could benefit from a daily low-dose aspirin take it, while many others take it when they shouldn't, reports the January 2014 Harvard Heart Letter.
If you don't have heart disease, but do have high blood pressure, diabetes, or other risk factors for heart disease, don't automatically assume that taking aspirin every day is a good idea. "A lot of people take aspirin who really shouldn't," says Dr. Christopher Cannon, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and profe...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - December 20, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Don't brush off early warning signs of a stroke
It's important to recognize the signs of a stroke and get to a hospital fast. Time is brain: the longer the gap between the start of stroke symptoms and treatment, the more brain cells die, reports the December 2013 issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.
Experts have developed the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) mnemonic device to highlight some of the more obvious signs of a brain attack. A more detailed list includes:
Face drooping. One side of the face goes slack. A smile appears uneven.
One arm is weak. When raising both arms, one arm drifts downward.
Numbness. Loss of feeling on one side of the body, or one part of...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - November 30, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Not taking necessary medications can sabotage health
Up to 80% of people—including more than half of those who've recently had a heart attack—don't take their medications as prescribed, reports the November 2013 Harvard Heart Letter.
There are many different ways people fail to take their medications. Some take their pills erratically, forgetting to take the proper dosages or deliberately taking their pills every other day. Some take their medications like clockwork for a while, and then stop. Others never even get their prescriptions filled.
Cost is a big part of the problem. "Affordability—what people pay out of pocket—is a big barrier," says Dr. Ni...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - November 3, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Better food choices for better heart health: simple substitutions improve the diet
It's easier to follow a heart-healthy diet than you think. All it takes are some simple changes in food choices, reports the October 2013 Harvard Heart Letter.
Wholesale changes aren't necessarily needed. Instead, small changes can make a big difference, says registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the department of nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
"The typical American diet contains a large proportion of unhealthy fats, too few fruits and vegetables, too much sugar and sodium, and too little fiber," she says. "This contributes to risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity."
The Harva...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - September 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
