Heart Disease, Cholesterol, & Stroke
Exercise Helps Older People Stay Sharp and Remember More
Exercise has so many health benefits, but did you know that it is also a fountain of youth for our brains? Some research suggests that, just by being active, seniors can improve their ability to think, focus, plan, and recall words, as well as perform many other brain activities. Read More
Flaxseed: What is it and can they keep you healthy?
Suddenly, everyone is talking about adding flaxseed to your diet. What is flaxseed and how can eating it make you healthier? Read More
Choosing Wisely: Physician Groups Make Recommendations to Reduce Healthcare Costs
Does an 18-year-old female need a pap smear? Should a patient with a mild sinus infection be given antibiotics? You might be surprised that the answer to both questions is NO according to leading physicians. Read More
Are Bisphenol A (BPA) Plastic Products Safe?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make plastics. It is frequently used in sports equipment, water bottles, medical devices, as a coating or lining in food and beverage cans, and in credit card receipts. It leaches out of plastic into liquids and foods, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found measurable amounts of BPA in the bodies of 93% of the U.S. population studied. While early concerns about BPA’s health effects were based primarily on animal studies and research on cells, there is increasing evidence from studies in humans that BPA can cause serious harm, such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and sexual dysfunction. Read More
Recall of Device to Treat Irregular Heartbeats is Worrying Patients Who Have Them in Their Bodies
Defibrillators are medical devices that treat irregular heartbeats and can prevent sudden cardiac arrest. The 79,000 Americans who were implanted with the Riata or Riata ST Silicone implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads made by St. Jude Medical are left wondering what to do now that the FDA recalled the device in December 2011. This recall was announced a year after the company stopped their sales of the product. Read More
Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) and the New Safety Warnings: What It Means for You
The FDA issued new safety warnings for statins in February 2012 about the increased risk for diabetes, memory loss and muscle pain, symptoms that we have been warning patients about for some time. Read More
A Guide to Cholesterol Medication
NRC for Women & Families reviews the cholesterol medications currently on the market and provides a comprehensive guide to cholesterol and choosing your cholesterol medication. Read More
Are Processed Meats More Dangerous Than Other Red Meats? Yes and No!
You have probably heard it many times already–whether from your doctor, a health magazine, or a health promotion poster: don’t eat too much red meat. Red meat has been linked to health problems such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. But, the latest research tells a somewhat different story. Red meat-beef, pork, and lamb-may not deserve its bad rap for those diseases. It’s possibly processed red meats, like bacon, hot dogs, and salami, that are the bigger problem. Read More
Are Bisphenol A (BPA) Plastic Products Safe for Infants and Children?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make plastics, and is frequently used in baby bottles, sports equipment, water bottles, medical devices, and as a coating in food and beverage cans. Read More
Vytorin and Zetia Lower Cholesterol But Do Not Improve Health
There are many cholesterol-lowering medications on the market today, but just because a drug lowers cholesterol doesn’t necessarily mean that it will improve health or save lives. So, DO cholesterol medications improve health and save lives? Several recent studies seek to answer this question by looking at Vytorin and Zetia–two of the most popular (and expensive) cholesterol medications. Read More