Author: Jane Farrell

The Importance of Summer Safety

Kids need protection too Young children and teenagers should also wear sunglasses and hats or caps to protect against the harmful rays of the sun.

Summer brings rest, relaxation and fun, but it can also be a time of increased risk for our hearts. Extreme heat may increase incidents of cardiac arrest, and an average of 33 drownings occur in the U.S. each day, one-third of which are fatal. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA] occur in… Continue reading The Importance of Summer Safety

Heart Disease And The Risk of Falls

A new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement addresses ways to prevent falls among adults with cardiovascular disease. The statement was published on May 19, 2022, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an AHA journal. The highlights of the statement, as published in an AHA news release, including the following: *Falls and fear of… Continue reading Heart Disease And The Risk of Falls

There’s More than One Kind of Fiber

Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. High fiber diets have been linked to health benefits such as improved metabolism and heart health. However, as little as 5% of the U.S. population consumes the recommended level of fiber. Fiber supplementation could help close this gap, but the health effects of purified fiber supplements… Continue reading There’s More than One Kind of Fiber

Inequity in The ER?

Hispanic people who went to the emergency room (ER) reporting chest pain waited longer than non-Hispanic people to be treated, admitted to the hospital or discharged from the ER, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2022. The meeting was held Friday… Continue reading Inequity in The ER?

Toward a Better Understanding of Long COVID

A research team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified characteristics of people with long COVID and those likely to have it. Scientists analyzed an unprecedented collection of electronic health records (EHRs) available for COVID-19 research to better identify who has long COVID. Exploring “de-identified” EHR data in the National COVID Cohort… Continue reading Toward a Better Understanding of Long COVID

What “FDA-Approved” Really Means

Maybe you saw “FDA-Approved” on a company’s website or in a commercial promoting a product or treatment. Some marketers may say their products are “FDA approved.” But how can you know for sure what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved? The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by regulating human drugs and… Continue reading What “FDA-Approved” Really Means

A Simpler Way to Detect Alzheimer’s

A new blood test can accurately predict the presence of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, making a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s easier, according to a new study funded in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Published in Neurology, the study analyzed the ability of a blood test to predict the presence of Alzheimer’s disease-associated… Continue reading A Simpler Way to Detect Alzheimer’s

Understanding Parkinson’s

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is life changing. This brain disorder causes slow and rigid body movements. People can experience tremors, stiffness, or shaking. Eventually, they may have difficulty walking and talking. Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease. That means it gets worse over time. It develops when a certain type of nerve cell stops working… Continue reading Understanding Parkinson’s

Childhood Abuse and High Cholesterol

A new study found risk factors for heart disease and stroke were higher among adults who said they experienced childhood abuse and varied by race and gender. However, those who described their family life as well-managed and had family members involved in their lives during childhood were less likely to have increased cardiovascular risk factors… Continue reading Childhood Abuse and High Cholesterol

Is Aspirin Right for You?

A panel of medical professors has issued a final recommendation on taking aspirin as a preventive measure against heart attack or stroke, saying the drug should not be automatically prescribed to certain groups of patients. The recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said that people aged 40 to 59 who are at higher… Continue reading Is Aspirin Right for You?

How to Use A Home Blood Pressure Monitor

Puzzled or intimidated by taking your blood pressure at home? The American Heart Association (AHA) offers the following tips: Be still. Don’t smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Empty your bladder and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before measurements. Sit correctly. Sit with your… Continue reading How to Use A Home Blood Pressure Monitor

How Does Your Environment Affect Your Skin?

Whether you’re hiking in the woods, gardening, or swimming in a lake or ocean, the bugs, plants, and water creatures you’re exposed to can cause irritating skin conditions. While some of these conditions are minor, others can cause more severe problems that can take months to heal. Board-certified dermatologists can diagnose and treat these types… Continue reading How Does Your Environment Affect Your Skin?

Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What’s Better for Your Loved One?

Hospice or palliative care? Many people think they are one and the same, but that is not exactly accurate. Each type of care helps patients at specific times and may have different insurance coverage options. What is hospice? According to the National Institute on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human… Continue reading Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What’s Better for Your Loved One?

Is Your Pet’s Medicine Safe?

Anyone who’s ever had to give a cat a dose of medicine, you know that it can go sideways quickly. While no cat enjoys the process, some might be more cooperative depending on how the drug is given. For example, some cats tolerate taking pills easier than liquid, while others make the pill-giving process into… Continue reading Is Your Pet’s Medicine Safe?

Becoming More Resilient

Everyone goes through tough times in life. But many things can help you survive—and even thrive—during stressful periods. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Learning healthy ways to cope and how to draw from resources in your community can help you build resilience. “Resilience is the extent to which we can bounce back from adverse events, cope… Continue reading Becoming More Resilient

Walking and Stroke Risk

Whether you’re taking a leisurely stroll through your neighborhood or a power-walk in the park, experts from the American Heart Association (AHA) say that taking part in physical activity, no matter what your speed, is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and boost your mood. Improved technology… Continue reading Walking and Stroke Risk

Racial Disparities Found in Pediatric Asthma Care

Black children with asthma accessed community health centers (CHCs) less than white children, while Latino children (who prefer to speak either English or Spanish) were more likely to visit CHCs for acute, chronic, and preventive care overall, according to a new, large study. The pattern of low clinic utilization by Black children was accompanied by… Continue reading Racial Disparities Found in Pediatric Asthma Care