Daily aspirin prevents dangerous clots
For people who have had a heart attack or are at risk of having one, a daily aspirin can be an effective prevention measure.
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Month: December 2011
Zero exposure is the only safe bet with smoking
Smoking just a few cigarettes a day carries as much heart disease risk as smoking a pack a day, and secondhand smoke exposes nonsmokers to risk as well.
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Ask the doctor: Should I switch to generic Lipitor?
After a heart attack six years ago, I went on Lipitor because my doctor said it was proven to reduce the risk of a second heart attack. Three years ago, I switched to a generic to save money. Now that Lipitor is going generic, should I switch back?
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Why blood pressure matters so much
Blood pressure gets so much attention because uncontrolled hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
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Ask the doctor: What happens to the plastic beads injected during uterine artery embolization?
Ten years ago, I had uterine artery embolization to get rid of uterine fibroids. How long do the plastic particles they inject into the arteries stay in the body? Do they dissolve?
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Developing healthful eating habits is not so hard
Fruits and vegetables provide a foundation for healthy eating.
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Recognizing and managing delirium
As many as 20% of people over 65 experience delirium during illness or hospitalization. It can be caused by medication, infection, or injury.
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Ask the doctor: What is interpersonal therapy?
I got divorced a few months ago. Recently I was diagnosed with depression. A friend suggested I try interpersonal therapy. She thinks the problem is my relationship with my former husband. I’d never heard of this therapy. Could you tell me more about it?
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Taming the frenzy in your brain
The authors of the book Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life discuss the principles of organization and offer suggestions for getting started.
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Increase in Resting Pulse Risky for Heart
A rise in your resting pulse during middle age may indicate an increased risk of dying from heart disease, new research suggests. The study included more than 29,000 middle-aged adults. They did not have high blood pressure or heart disease when the study began. Researchers measured their resting heart rate at the start of the study and again 10 years later. They looked at what happened to people whose resting heart rate was under 70 beats per minute at the start of the study. Those whose heart rate rose to 85 or higher in 10 years had a 90% higher risk of heart-related death than those whose heart rate did not rise. The increase in risk was 80% for people who started out with a heart rate of 70 to 85 but had an increase to more than 85. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it December 20.
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