Post mastectomy breast reconstruction is one of the most important factors for breast cancer patients’ overall well-being and long-term health. Yet while rates of breast reconstruction in the U.S. have increased over time, they still remain relatively low. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, less than 20% of women who require mastectomy elect… Continue reading Mistaken Beliefs about Breast Cancer Restruction
Author: Jane Farrell
Rashes: When to Go to The Doctor
To the untrained eye, all rashes may look alike and seem easily treatable with over-the-counter oral antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream. However, it is not always so simple, say dermatologists. Rashes can appear as blotches, welts, or blisters; they can be red, itchy, scaly, or dry; and they can occur in one area of skin or… Continue reading Rashes: When to Go to The Doctor
Heart Disease Deaths in The COVID Era
The number of people dying of cardiovascular disease (CVD) during the COVID-19 pandemic rose from 874,613 CVD-related deaths recorded in 2019 to 928,741 in 2020. The rise in the number of CVD deaths in 2020 represents the largest single-year increase since 2015 and topped the previous high of 910,000 recorded in 2003, according to the… Continue reading Heart Disease Deaths in The COVID Era
Cancer Care and Heart Disease
After a cancer diagnosis, patients and their doctors work together to develop a plan to find the best treatments to eradicate their disease. But there is often another life-threatening health issue developing throughout the course of treatment. Cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy each cause unique and serious damage to the heart. As… Continue reading Cancer Care and Heart Disease
Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss
The frequency and size of meals was a stronger determinant of weight loss or gain than the time between first and last meal, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. According to the senior study author Wendy L.… Continue reading Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss
Racial Inequity in Epilepsy Care
Among people with epilepsy, Black, Latino and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander people are less likely to be prescribed newer drugs than white people, which can be a marker of the quality of care, according to a study published in the January 11, 2023, online issue of Neurology® Clinical Practice, an official journal of… Continue reading Racial Inequity in Epilepsy Care
Covid-19 and Epilepsy
People who have a COVID-19 infection are more likely to develop seizures or epilepsy within the six months following infection than are people who have an influenza infection, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The increased risk was more noticeable… Continue reading Covid-19 and Epilepsy
A Simple Lifesaver
Reformulating packaged foods in Australia to contain less sodium might save about 1,700 lives per year and prevent nearly 7,000 annual diagnoses of heart disease, kidney disease and stomach cancer, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association (AHA) journal. The statistics were contained in a news release from the AHA.… Continue reading A Simple Lifesaver
Understanding The Different Kinds of Protein
Proteins are vital to the health and function of our bodies. That makes it important to understand what they are and how they fit into the diet. In a column from UCLA Health, Elizabeth Ko, MD and Eve Glazier, MD, explain the differences between various proteins. Dietary protein, along with carbohydrates and fats, is what… Continue reading Understanding The Different Kinds of Protein
Climate Change and Heart Disease
Extremely hot or cold temperatures are linked to an increased risk of death among people with cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease (heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries), stroke, heart failure and arrhythmia, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation. Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive failure,… Continue reading Climate Change and Heart Disease
How Much Does Age Matter when Treating Heart Problems?
For people ages 75 and older, age-related changes in general health and in the heart and blood vessels require consideration and likely modifications in how heart attacks and heart disease are treated, according to a new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement published today in the Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation. The new statement, “Management… Continue reading How Much Does Age Matter when Treating Heart Problems?
What You Can Do About Your Back Pain
Whether we’re commuting to the office, working at a desk or hunched over a computer or other device, these activities have one thing in common: We do them while sitting. But all of this sitting can take a huge toll on our spines, resulting in acute or chronic back pain, according to Dr. Kaliq Chang,… Continue reading What You Can Do About Your Back Pain
The Power of Optimism
Optimism is linked to a longer lifespan in women from diverse racial and ethnic groups, and to better emotional health in older men, according to two studies funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). One study showed that the previously established link between optimism and longevity applies to racially and ethnically diverse populations of… Continue reading The Power of Optimism
Coffee and hypertension
Drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease among people with severe high blood pressure (160/100 mm Hg or higher) but not people with high blood pressure not considered severe, according to research published in December 22 in the Journal of the American Heart Association,… Continue reading Coffee and hypertension
Can I Prevent Dementia?
A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease. Some risk factors can be controlled while others cannot. For example, a person is not able to control their age, which is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Another uncontrollable risk factor is a person’s genes. Genes… Continue reading Can I Prevent Dementia?
Have A Heart-Healthy Holiday
The joy of the winter holiday season is often marred for many, since research shows that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year. The American Heart Association (AHA), the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, says being aware… Continue reading Have A Heart-Healthy Holiday
Memory and Aging
Many older adults worry about their memory and other thinking abilities. For example, they might be concerned about taking longer than before to learn new things, or they may sometimes forget to pay a bill. These changes are usually signs of mild forgetfulness — often a normal part of aging — not serious memory problems.… Continue reading Memory and Aging
Which micronutrients are best?
We know that healthy diets are rich in antioxidants like amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C, but exactly how beneficial these micronutrients are for heart health has long been controversial. Now a new meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides some clarity. According to a news release from… Continue reading Which micronutrients are best?