If you are a middle-aged or a senior woman who experiences migraines with auras (flashing lights or an aroma that indicates an episode is imminent), your risk of heart disease or stroke is higher than for women who don’t get migraines. A new study indicates that frequent migraines (more than once a month) may be a risk factor for these medical conditions. The study, conducted by Dr. Tobias Kurth, of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, followed 27,798 female health professionals ages 45 and older for 12 years. Women who had migraines with auras once a week were four times more likely to have had a stroke during the time they participated in the study than women who didn’t have frequent migraines. Women who had migraines less than once a month were ...

We may be able to avoid thinking about the risks of heart disease as we go about our busy lives, but when a celebrity like Michael Jackson dies of a heart attack at age 50, we can’t help but be shaken by the news. For some reason, this kind of event has a bigger impact on our lives than reading about the risk factors in a newspaper, magazine or even on a blog. Heart disease is the Number One cause of death in North America, and we can make good lifestyle decisions to lower our risk. We can’t do anything about MJ’s early exit, but we can start taking better care of ourselves, starting today. Get regular exercise. Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Lower your fat intake by choosing lean protein. See your doctor for regular check-ups. ...

Many of us remember peanut butter sandwiches as a quick, simple option for lunch. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that eating peanuts or consuming peanut butter a minimum of five times a week will cut your risk of heart heart attack by a whopping 50 percent. The reason why eating peanut butter lowers the risk is because peanut products are high in mono and polyunsaturated fats and low in saturated fat. Food that are high in mono and polyunsaturated fats will lower LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) levels in the body. The results of the study also indicated that eating peanut butter may help to lower inflammation in the body. You don’t have to start slathering peanut butter on everything you eat to get the health benefits of peanuts. A serving is a table...

When a person’s heart is damaged to the extent that it cannot pump sufficient blood throughout the body, this condition is called cardiogenic shock. The damage may be caused by a disorder affecting the heart valves, the heart’s electrical system, or the heart muscle itself. Symptoms of cardiogenic shock include: Confusion Inability to concentrate Lack of urine production Pallor Rapid breathing Rapid pulse Restlessness Sweating Weakness or fatigue When cardiogenic shock occurs, it is a medical emergency. The individual needs to be taken to a hospital immediately. Medical staff will attempt to save the patient’s life and diagnose the underlying cause of the cardiogenic shock. Even when the person with cardiogenic shock is taken to hospital immediately, the odds of surviva...

Experts have linked obesity and the risk of heart disease for some time. The results of a new study have been released, and the results are surprising. Being a bit chubby can help you live longer. If you happen to be slightly overweight at the age of 40, you will live an average of six-seven years longer than a person who is very thin. Japanese researchers from Tohoku University followed 50,000 people between the ages of 40 and 79 for 12 years. The idea that thin people have shorter a shorter lifespan due to illness or smoking was debunked by the study. Skinny people have shorter don’t live as long because they are more likely to get diseases like pneumonia and the research showed they have more fragile blood vessels. ...

You can now add psoriasis to the ever-growing list of medical conditions that have been linked to heart disease. Dr. Robert S. Kirsner, vice chairman of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and co-author of the study stated, “Psoriasis imposes the same level of risk as high blood lipids and smoking.” The chronic inflammation associated with psoriasis is responsible for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Over time, the inflammation damages the blood vessels. The news isn’t all doom and gloom though: the level of risk is related to the severity of the individual’s psoriasis. Treating the psoriasis (and reducing the level of inflammation in the body) will lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Psoriasis is a skin disorder that...

A chemical used to in coatings applied to the interior of food and beverage containers and clear plastic bottles has been linked to heart disease, and women are especially at risk. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered that bisphenol A (BPA) may be responsible for arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). BPA is used in several items that we use on a regular basis, including bottle tops and baby bottles. In use for the past 50 years, it is also found in dental fillings and sealants. This material has previously been linked to prostate cancer, breast cancer, and certain neurological defects. The current study, conducted on mice, showed that BPA acts on the heart in the same way as estrogen does; it changes the concentration of free calcium in the heart muscle and causes it t...

High blood pressure affects your body in a number of ways, and none of them are good for your health. If your blood pressure is elevated, it can lead to bleeding in the brain caused by weakened blood vessels. Having a stroke can cause weakness, trouble with balance, difficulty swallowing, poor judgment, and depression. Some vision problems can be caused by high blood pressure. If the high blood pressure is not brought down to a healthier level, it can cause blood vessels in the eye to bleed or even burst. Blurred vision or even blindness may result. Kidney damage can also be caused by high blood pressure. The blood vessels supplying the kidneys can become narrowed and as a result, the kidneys are less efficient at filtering out fluid. Waste products are not eliminated from the body, leadin...

The results of a study conducted by researchers at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona are in, and shed new light on why smoking and heart disease are related. Nicotine, a highly-addictive substance in cigarettes, promotes insulin resistance, which is a pre-diabetic condition. People with insulin resistance have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, and diabetes is recognized as a risk factor for heart disease. Even though individuals who are insulin resistant have blood sugar levels that are elevated, their levels aren’t high enough to cause diabetes. People who smoke tend to have higher rates of diabetes, but research hasn’t yet determined whether smoking is the cause or other factors are...

A variation of the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet lowers the risk of developing heart disease, according to Canadian researchers. Dr. David Jenkins of St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto in Ontario led the team conducting research into the effectiveness of the Eco-Atkins diet. The study involved 44 participants who were all overweight and had high levels of LDL cholesterol. They were divided into two groups. The first one ate the Eco-Atkins diet and the second one followed a diet high in carbs and low in fat. After four weeks, participants had each lost approximately the same amount of weight but the group who ate the Eco-Atkins diet had higher levels of HDL (the “good” cholesterol). The researchers caution that studies tracking the long-term effects of the...