There's much you can do to prevent problems down the line. These facts can mobilize you to take steps to strengthen your heart, and maybe even save your life.
FACT:
High blood pressure raises your risk of heart attack and stroke.
The American Heart Association (AHA) refers to high blood pressure (HBP) as a "silent killer," because usually there are no symptoms. That's why a key heart health step is to get your blood pressure checked on the regular. This is especially important for Black people, the AHA says, because in the U.S. they have a higher rate of HBP than other racial and ethnic groups; it also tends to be more severe in them, and certain meds may be less effective. If the condition isn't detected or controlled it can wreak havoc on blood vessels and the heart as well as on the brain, eyes, and kidneys.
DO THIS: Get your blood pressure checked regularly, and talk to your doctor about how often it should be monitored. If yours turns out to be on the high side, discuss ways to help bring it to a healthy level. Many things mentioned in this guide can help, including healthy eating, monitoring weight, easing stress, and exercising regularly. Also important, according to the Mayo Clinic: Watch your sodium levels and alcohol intake.
FACT:
Sitting too much puts your heart at risk.
Studies have shown that sitting on your duff for prolonged periods increases heart disease risk by raising both blood pressure and blood sugar. Here's why: When we sit or lie down, our legs and gluteus muscles (the body's largest muscles) don't contract much and thus don't do their usual jobs of taking sugar from the bloodstream and helping break down fatty acids in the blood. Bingo: Too much sugar and too many fatty acids build up.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2024-Ausgabe von Prevention US.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2024-Ausgabe von Prevention US.
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Ease Your Allergies - These holistic remedies may provide relief from seasonal symptoms.
For people with seasonal allergies, sniffling and sneezing are just the tip of the drippy, itchy iceberg. And symptoms can range from mildly annoying to truly debilitating.Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, are allergic reactions to airborne allergens like pollen and mold spores, says Katie Marks-Cogan, M.D., an allergist at Clear Allergy in Culver City, CA. Normally harmless, certain allergens can prompt an immune response in some people, leading to itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; runny nose; congestion; coughing; and shortness of breath.
Mammogram Confusion, Solved! - It's the rare woman who doesn't vividly remember certain firsts
It's her first period, first bra, first use of a tampon, first kiss, and, yes, first mammogram. But for most women, the age at which they should get that first screening test has changed. Earlier this year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued new breast cancer screening guidelines suggesting that women get a mammogram every two years starting at age 40.
5 Myths About Arthritis- Creaky joints are a pain, but some facts” about them are pretty twisted.
Arthritis isn't the only culprit when it comes to achy joints. Infection, injury, bursitis (swelling of the fluid-filled pads that cushion the joints), and tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons that attach muscle to bone) are all reasons they might hurt, says Kirsten Ambrose, M.S., associate director of the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance at the University of North Carolina Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Joint pain is also a symptom of autoimmune diseases like lupus and Hashimoto's disease. So how can you tell if it's osteoarthritis? Get it checked. To diagnose arthritis, doctors typically rely on a patient's history (family background, injuries, and symptoms); a physical exam (looking for bony enlargements or swelling); or imaging like an X-ray or an MRI, Ambrose says. Blood test can show markers of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. If it is osteoarthritis, over-the-counter pain medication, physical therapy, and general movement can ease symptoms.
What's Up With...Smelly Gas - You can blame it on the dog, but it happens to everyone.
The average person toots around 14 times a day-it's how your body releases the extra gas that accumulates when you swallow air and digest food, says Shilpa Ravella, M.D., author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet, and Disease. If you chew gum or smoke, you'll have even more gas buildup, she adds.
WHAT'S UP WITH ...EARWORMS
When a song gets stuck in your head, here's how to shake it off.
A Solo Trip at 55 Boosted My Confidence
When I retired, a big, beautiful world opened up to me.
NUTRITION for Healthy Breasts
YOU KNOW THAT EATING MORE CALORIES THAN YOU BURN can cause your body to accumulate fat.
Make Your BREAST GUESS
No.two breasts not even your own!) are identical in shape, size, or feel. But it’s important to pay attention to what makes each one of yours unique so you can spot peculiarities early and start conversations with your health care providers if need be. Consider this your friendly guide to what changes to expect through the years and. what to do if something feels or looks unusual so you can take steps toward better breast health.
come as you are
We all deserve quality health care, but people in bigger bodies are often shut out. That's why some providers have worked out a new approach that aims to treat the person actually sitting in their exam room rather than the one they would be if only they lost weight.
WALK AWAY PAIN
One of the best things you can do to ease joint and back pain and ward off future ouches is so very simple: JUST TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.
