On call: Chocolate and health
I’ve been called a “chocoholic” because I love chocolate and eat a piece after dinner every night. My weight is fine and my cholesterol is, too. Is there any reason to change my ways?
I’ve been called a “chocoholic” because I love chocolate and eat a piece after dinner every night. My weight is fine and my cholesterol is, too. Is there any reason to change my ways?
One morning last week I woke up hearing my heartbeat in my left ear. I hear it most clearly when I am in bed or sitting quietly. My health is good, and I was told after a recent cardiac workup that my heart was "perfect." Should I be worried?
While there is a risk of adverse effects from any pain reliever, most people can take them safely. Use common sense, and have your blood pressure checked regularly if you are in a higher risk group due to heart disease.
Researchers found that the blood thinner warfarin is more effective than aspirin at preventing strokes and blood clots, allaying concerns that it was too powerful to be taken safely by older people.
Researchers examining deaths during or soon after bypass surgery found that the surgeons and hospitals that did the most surgeries had the lowest death rates.
Two years ago, I had a lumpectomy and radiation for invasive early-stage breast cancer. My oncologist prescribed five years of tamoxifen. But I keep hearing about new drugs that might be better. Should I switch to one of these newer drugs?
Guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology offer advice on protecting the heart during noncardiac surgery.
An iPod or other digital music player held too close to the chest of a person with a pacemaker can interfere with the heart device’s function. Cell phones can also cause this interference.
People know that they can “prevent” heart disease by not smoking, losing weight, exercising, watching cholesterol and blood pressure, and eating right, but they still get heart disease. Is it really possible to prevent heart disease, or just slow it down?
At age 64 I had a severe heart attack that left me with a 20% ejection fraction. A recent echocardiogram showed that my heart is getting larger. I have no shortness of breath or swelling, but wonder how long I have before symptoms of heart failure appear?