Did you make any New Year’s resolutions about your health this year to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke? If you are like many people, you decided that today you were going to take charge and make sweeping changes. Sugar, fat and salt are the enemy, and would no longer pass your lips. You would be going to the gym, if not every day, at least several times a week. Um, hmm…..How long did you last? Probably not too long. We really don’t like change, and it takes time for changes, even positive ones, to become a long-term habit. Rather than try to make several changes at once, a better idea is to start by making some adjustments to your lifestyle. One thing you can do that will lower your risk of heart attack and stroke is to cut back on your salt intake. Even making...

We all know by now that smoking increases the risk of heart disease. Despite the warnings that we have heard, kicking the cigarette habit can be challenging for many people. It’s not a question of lack of will power; the problem stems from the fact that nicotine is a highly-addictive substance. The cravings that a person who tries to quit smoking goes through are very real, and many people who manage to give up cigarettes find that they gain weight afterward. This may be caused by the fact that food tastes better after giving up the habit or perhaps the ex-smoker eats more in an effort to keep their mouth busy without lighting up again. Whatever the reason, gaining weight after giving up smoking may mean trading one risk factor for heart disease for another. Being overweight increase...

Do you remember your mother telling you that watching too much television wasn’t good for you? It appears as thought Mom may have been on to something. A group of researchers from Australia have found that every hour that a person spends watching TV increases a person’s chance of dying from cardiovascular disease by 18 percent! TV watching isn’t the problem, exactly. It’s the act of sitting down to watch it that’s to blame. Many people spend their lives moving from one chair to another instead of having a healthy, active lifestyle. The conclusion the researchers came to was that too much sitting is not good for one’s health. If you ever needed a reason to switch off the television and get off the couch, you’ve got one now. Instead of watching telev...

Doctors at the University of Illinois and Jesse Brown VA medical centers are offering cardiac patients an alternative to the standard angioplasty procedure where a catheter is placed in the femoral artery. With transradial angiography, the catheter is inserted into the radial artery in the wrist. The advantage to the patient is that the likelihood of bleeding (the most common complication of the procedure) is reduced. The transradial angiography is also more comfortable for the patient. When a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery, the patient must stay in bed on his or her back for between four and six hours following the procedure. Walking can be uncomfortable for a few days, as well. In contrast, a patient who has undergone a transradial angiography can sit up right away and walk...

The Journal of Clinical Hypertension has reported the results of another study indicating that high blood pressure and dementia are related. Dementia is a medical condition that causes a gradual decline in an individual’s social skills and intellectual abilities, and unfortunately the effects are irreversible. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia, and it affects approximately 5 percent of people over the age of 65. Vascular dementia is another form of this condition and is caused by stroke. For some seniors, the cause of their dementia is a combination of Alzheimer’s Disease and having experienced more than one stroke. Risk Factors for Dementia Like many other medical conditions, family history is one thing that determines an individual’s likelih...

We know that it’s important to stay active for general health, as well as to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. When the mercury plummets, it can be tempting to think that humans should adopt the hibernation idea and not come out until spring. With a bit of planning, we can dress for the weather and continue exercising out of doors. The layer of clothing closest to the body should be made of synthetic materials. The idea is choose a fabric that keeps moisture away from the body and that dries quickly. Socks made from synthetic fibers will help to keep feet warm and dry. The next layer of clothing helps to keep the body warm. Wear a long-sleeved T-shirt or sweatshirt, or a pullover made from fleece. Running pants can be worn for extra protection, if desired. Keeping the extre...

As of January 1, 2010, California restaurant owners are legally banned from using trans fats in their products. Bakeries are also required to comply with the legislation, but have until 2011 to stop using trans fats in their products. Trans fats are made from vegetable oil. Hydrogen is added to this ingredient, and the resulting compound is used in shortening, as well a number of prepared foods. The new California law specifically bans artificial trans fats from being used. Butter, which contains natural trans fats, is not included on the list. If you take a look at the ingredients in cookies and crackers, you will probably see the word “hydrogenated” on the list. Eating a diet high in trans fats (and there are some people who claim that we shouldn’t be consuming any) con...

Many people decide that one of their New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. Unfortunately, it seems to take a lot longer for the weight to come off than it did to put on the extra pounds we are concerned about after the Holidays. The following 4 weight loss tips that work will help you to make positive changes you can stick with throughout the year. 1. Start by Making Small Changes Resist the urge to slash your caloric intake in half and to never let anything that you consider “bad” past your lips for the rest of your life. No matter how motivated you are at the beginning, you are setting yourself up for failure. A better choice is to start by making small changes, like substituting a salad for fries with a meal or choosing lean meats and whole grains whenever possible...