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When we think of electrolytes, it’s often in the form of a bottle of a sports’ energy drink after a hard workout or drinking a rehydration beverage when we’re sick. Those are great methods for hydration, but keeping your electrolytes balanced is also a way to support your heart’s health and well-being. Here are five electrolytes that have been shown to boost heart health—no blue liquid required: Calcium regulates and maintains heart rhythm and blood pressure. Foods high in calcium include dairy, dark le...
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The CDC reports that over 34 million American adults have diabetes. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can cause long-term health complications like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, gum infections and even eye problems. Hyperglycemia can also damage blood vessels, thereby increasing the likelihood of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Because 1 in 3 adults have pre-diabetes (most of which don’t know it), we all can benefit from lower glucose levels to help lose weight, reduce blood pressure...
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The first thing that comes to mind for many when they hear diabetes is sugar. While sugar plays a big part in this disease, there’s much more to this chronic condition. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning it affects how the body breaks down food to create energy through insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Food is converted into glucose when you eat. As the amount of glucose in the blood rises, beta cells in the pancreas trigger insulin release. This hormone acts like a key, unlocking and ...
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As a new mother, it can be hard to find your footing. According to the Pew Research Center, 45 percent of moms with kids younger than 6 years say parenting is tiring all or most of the time. How can you make the adjustment easier? You took breastfeeding and prenatal classes, read every book you could get your hands on, and soaked up all the advice you could get from friends and family. However, all of that pales in comparison to the reality of caring for a newborn. How can you handle this new world of m...
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There’s both good and bad news in the United Health Foundation’s annual report. Unfortunately, millions of Americans live with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. We’ve also reached a new national high. Obesity increased 15% between 2011 and 2019 and now affects more than 70.4 million adults. But the good news is that many of our health problems are preventable or treatable. The percentage of adults with three or more chronic conditions declined between 2018 and 2019. More people...
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there was enough wheat flour in 2019 for each American citizen to consume 131.1 pounds each. But in a world where we’re concerned about gluten and brown grains versus white grains, are the modern forms of these foods better? Modern grains, like wheat, corn and rice, have been processed, hybridized and genetically modified. Don’t be concerned about the name—ancient grains aren’t foods that have stayed in your pantry too long. Instead, the name is a marketi...
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You’re going about your day, working, exercising or spending time with family, when all of a sudden you feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your abdomen. You’ve been nauseated and haven’t had much of an appetite all day. If you’ve ever felt this way, don’t just dismiss it as something simple as overeating.These are all signs that you have appendicitis or inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis occurs due to infection, parasites or when the tube that joins your large intestine and appendix is blocked by tr...
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Maybe your significant other teases you about how cold your hands (or feet) are. Or perhaps you must wear socks whether it’s winter or not, and you’re still chilly no matter how many hot beverages you drink. If that sounds like you, maybe it’s time to figure out if there’s a reason why you are so cold. There could be a medical reason you’re feeling physically frigid and ways to treat the root of the matter, such as: Problem #1: Low Body Weight If you have a BMI of 18.5 or less or are 15% or more below t...
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When you think of a typical heart attack patient, there’s a good chance the person who comes to mind is an older man in his 50s or 60s, clutching his chest in sudden pain. That doesn’t always align with reality, however. Which of these people do you think is most at risk for a heart attack? SCENARIO #1: A 65-year-old woman with a family history of heart disease is overweight but gets a moderate amount of exercise and tries to follow a healthy diet. She is aware that her weight and family history put her...
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The metaphor of a broken heart to describe intense emotional pain has been a favorite among poets and jilted lovers since the beginning of time. In 1990, Japanese scientists discovered that the hurt felt after a messy breakup or the loss of a loved one affects the heart—but it doesn't necessarily break it. Sudden turmoil temporarily enlarges a part of the heart and prevents it from pumping efficiently, yet the rest of your heart maintains normal function. The Cleveland Clinic reports that Takotsubo card...
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