Eating potassium-rich foods like avocados, sweet potatoes, spinach, beans, bananas — and even coffee — could be key to lowering blood pressure, according to new research. “Decreasing sodium intake is a well-established way to lower blood pressure,” said Alicia McDonough, PhD, professor of cell and neurobiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “But… Continue reading Potassium May Help Reduce Hypertension
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A Simple Blood Test to Detect Dehydration
Inexpensive blood tests already in use can diagnose dangerous dehydration in older people, a new study says. The best test for diagnosing dehydration, known as a serum osmolality test, is expensive .But new research published today reveals how routine blood tests for sodium, potassium, urea and glucose could be used to screen for dehydration, which… Continue reading A Simple Blood Test to Detect Dehydration
Managing Kidney Illness
People with kidney disease can continue to live productive lives. But you’ll probably have to make some diet and lifestyle changes to help you live a healthier and even longer life. Here, from the experts at NIH Senior Health, a division of the National Institutes of Health, are some steps you can take: Lifestyle Changes… Continue reading Managing Kidney Illness
Potassium May Save Lives for Heart Patients on Diuretics
Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that patients taking prescription potassium supplements together with loop diuretics for heart failure have better survival rates than patients taking diuretics without the potassium. The degree of benefit increases with higher diuretic doses. The team, including senior author Sean Hennessy, PharmD, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology in Penn’s Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), report their findings in a study published online July 16th 2014 in PLoS ONE.