From the NY Times:By Hannah Seo - Large swaths of the United States, and many parts of Europe, China, and other areas worldwide, are facing dangerous levels of heat. That means that many people who live in affected regions will need to be especially vigilant about keeping themselves safe and healthy. Here...
High body mass index was one of five risk factors identified by the study as having the potential to increase the risk of heart attack later in life. Five childhood risk factors, individually or combined, have been identified as predictors of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in adulthood. Body mass...
From Jacqueline Hargrove, Ph.D.Some stress is part of everyone’s life. But there are times when the daily demands of the job or school, the complications of home life, the pressure of living in the New York metropolitan area, and the state of the world, especially with the ongoing pandemic, can...
Imagine watching “The Batman” movie back-to-back four times every day or driving a whopping 390 miles each way on a daily commute. Either uncomfortable choice will take about 12 hours — or the same amount of time most Americans stay seated throughout any day. The dangerous consequences of prolonged...
Study underscores the brain’s role in deriving cardiovascular benefits from physical activity Researchers analyzed the health records of more than 50,000 patients, around 4,000 of whom suffered a significant heart-related event They assessed through a questionnaire the rate of coronary events in people who said they met the weekly recommended...
2 Servings of Avocado per Week May Cut Heart Disease Risk by 16%. New research finds that two servings of avocado a week may reduce cardiovascular risk. Researchers examined the relationship between avocado consumption and cardiovascular events. They found that eating 2 or more servings of avocado per week is linked...
Replacing margarine, butter, mayonnaise, and dairy fat with olive oil was associated with a lower mortality risk.Consuming more than 7 grams (>1/2 tablespoon) of olive oil per day is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, neurodegenerative disease mortality, and respiratory disease mortality, according to a...
UCSF Cardiology Researchers Report No Link Between Coffee Consumption and Arrhythmias In the largest study of its kind, an investigation by UC San Francisco has found no evidence that moderate coffee consumption can cause cardiac arrhythmias. In fact, each additional daily cup of coffee consumed among several hundred thousand...
Alcohol May Kindle Atrial Fibrillation, a Major Killer that Often Leads to Stroke Mardi Gras, Saturday nights, Super Bowl Sunday, and other days when more people consume more alcohol are also associated with more emergency room visits for atrial fibrillation, reported a new study led by UC San Francisco. The...
No one food is a magic bullet, and no one food will doom you. The reality is that most people eat both good and bad foods. Yet, even those of us not obsessed with eating a wholesome, balanced diet for every meal, often entertain a familiar inner dialogue about what...
You may know that vasovagal syncope is fainting caused by stressful triggers that can lead to sudden drops in blood pressure and heart rate. In patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope, yoga as adjunctive therapy was superior to standard therapy only for reducing the symptomatic burden and improving quality of life,...
If you have a pet, you already know the joy and love they can bring to your life. Now science is confirming just how good they really are for you — both mentally and physically. One theory is that pets boost our oxytocin levels. Also known as the "cuddle chemical," oxytocin enhances...
The holidays are full of gifts, parties, festive meals, and twinkling lights. Unfortunately, there are also awkward encounters with friends, family, or coworkers. Sometimes those folks comment on our bodies, or our food choices, in ways that make us feel uncomfortable. Sometimes they insist on talking about controversial or trendy...
From bad sleep to stress to your diet... It really can hurt your heart and wreck your health. There is good news and bad news when it comes to your risk of developing heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. The bad news is that...
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday, Nov. 29, that everyone over the age of 18 should get a booster shot. From the CDC: Choosing Your COVID-19 Booster Shot You may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people may prefer ...
Popular diet trend could reduce the risk of diabetes and heart diseaseEating your daily calories within a consistent window of 8-10 hours is a powerful strategy to prevent and manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, according to a new manuscript published in the Endocrine Society’s journal, Endocrine...
Everyone can feel anxious now and then. From tense social situations that make your stomach clench to the nervous sweat some may get going into a dentist or visiting the doctor, in the current culture, there are many situations where we can expect that wave of anxiety. And for many,...
A history of myocardial infarction was more frequently reported among young adults who recently used cannabis compared with those who did not use the substance, a cross-sectional study showed. Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows that such marijuana users were nearly twice as likely to suffer...
Eating nutritious, plant-based foods is downright heart-healthy according to two research studies published this month in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Both studies analyzed healthy plant food consumption, and researchers found that both young adults and postmenopausal women who ate more healthy plant-based foods had fewer heart attacks and...
COVID 19 Vaccine Booster Update Booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were authorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday, September 24—only for certain people age 18 years and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine more than six months ago.The CDC says these groups should get the...
A new study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, suggests that consuming lignans may lead to a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The authors explain that lignans, polyphenolic substances, are found in plant-based foods such as seeds, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee. The...
Cycling is fantastic exercise, benefiting your overall health and fitness. As a regular activity, cycling can be exceptionally good for cardiovascular fitness, as well as toning muscles, improving physique, and boosting body image. And it can help to improve muscle tone and strength, especially in one's core. For substantial health...
With the recent explosion of vaping, adolescents are among those most vulnerable to its siren call. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is especially harmful to a young person's developing mind because it can harm the part of the brain responsible for memory, attention, and learning. This part of the brain...
Findings from a new observational study show that eating 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings per day is associated with a lower risk of death related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory disease. Starchy vegetables and fruit juices, however, did not appear to contribute to the reduction in risk. Nutritionists...
We continue to hear stories about how confusing and inaccessible the process is just to get to a website that actually works and lets one schedule an appointment. As of yet, there seems to be very little coordination between all of the different systems and organizations, governments, and hospitals. There...
New research out of Harvard helping us further understand the link between positive emotions and good health. It's shedding more light on often-asked questions like: Can a more optimistic outlook mean less heart disease? Can hope protect against hypertension? Do happier people live longer? There is already a vast amount...
New Yorkers in Phase 1a & 1b ARE NOW eligible,those groups include the following: Age 65 and older A patient in a Nursing home regulated by the NYS Department of Health (DOH). Residential program or hospital certified or operated by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office for People...
'Tis the season of giving and receiving, holiday gatherings and overindulgences. The combination can create what Dr. Philip Ettinger described as "Holiday heart syndrome" (HHS) for the first time in 1978. It's one explanation for the sudden increase in emergency room visits during the holidays due to irregular heart rhythms,...
While wearing a face mask during a workout is not the most comfortable experience, two new studies out this month indicate that a mask won't be detrimental to your breathing during your activity. A recent University of Saskatchewan study has found that exercise performance and blood and muscle oxygen levels...
A new study of older adults shows how making some lifestyle changes such as changing diet and increasing physical activity can lower the risk of dementia, even if the person already has been diagnosed with and is experiencing cognitive decline. The term dementia describes a collection of disorders that are...
Findings Underscore Need to Get a Flu Shot Early, Lead Researcher Says. People with heart disease and those who have had a stroke are at higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu. If you're in that group, it is especially important that you get a flu vaccine every...
COVID-19 lockdowns are easing across the U.S., and there is a lot to process as these restrictions begin to end and transition. What is the new safe? Can we return to the gym? Can we schedule regular medical appointments again? What should we include on our post-quarantine list of health...
It’s a beautiful, sunny morning, and spring is in the air. There should be a bounce to your step as you prepare to decamp from your home, meet your friends for coffee, head into the office, and begin another wonderful day. But then it comes to you: there is still...
There is new research out that suggests that first-time marathon runners could help reduce their vascular age — the age of one’s arteries — by up to four years. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073510971938369X?via%3Dihub) The study's purpose was to determine whether the rigorous training for a first-time marathon can reverse stiffening of the aorta...
A recent NY Times article cited a number of recent long-term studies that linked greater optimism to a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other chronic ailments, and to fostering "exceptional longevity." (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/well/mind/optimism-health-longevity.html) Optimism, the psychological attribute characterized as the general expectation that good things will happen, or the...
It's turning out that cannabis may not be the panacea many once had professed it to be. While recreational consumption still appears to have a fairly low level of health risk for the average person, a new study suggests that there's a potential cardiovascular impact for those managing heart disease....
In 2017, Stanford University researchers began a study sponsored by Apple that looked at the effectiveness of cardiac apps installed in the Apple Watch. Last month, those researchers published their paper in the New England Journal of Medicine. Previously, though, they had released the study's preliminary results which concluded that,...
I have attached a link to a recent review of intermittent fasting, published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Many of you have asked me about this method of weight loss. In animal models, and in smaller studies of predominantly overweight young and middle-aged adults, there appear to be...
Getting a good night's rest is one of the best ways to maintain heart health. A Rarely Mentioned Yet Controllable Risk Factor One of the least mentioned factors that can contribute to heart disease is sleep. There are several risk factors that people can’t control such as age, gender, race/ethnicity,...
Sitting while working is the most commonly overlooked sitting most people do. Sitting for long periods is a near daily occurrence for millions of people in modern society due to office jobs and other lifestyle circumstances. Sadly, this situation does not feed into your hopes of promoting good health. On...
It's harder to get enough exercise than one would think. How much do you get? Staying active is one of the best ways to keep our bodies healthy. Most Americans don’t get enough exercise and, therefore, don’t reap the health benefits. In addition to helping prevent heart disease, exercise is...
Focus on the positives. Write them down, and review the list. You will undoubtedly find that you have much to be grateful for, and you will smile. Hello, and welcome to my blog. With a new website, and new office (soon), and the fact that my children keep telling me...