Nitroglycerin, which relieves the chest pain known as angina, can be taken as a short-acting tablet or spray, or longer-acting pill or skin patch. By reducing the heart’s workload, nitroglycerin also helps ease symptoms of heart failure.
Doing active projects around the home and garden may lower a person’s risk of a heart attack or stroke by 27%.
Even after many years of not exercising, there are compelling reasons to get active. People who increase their activity in mid- to late life reap benefits in terms of longer life and lower heart disease risk.
Although a study found higher rates of breast cancer among women who took calcium-channel blockers for 10 or more years, this type of study doesn’t prove these medications (which effectively treat blood pressure) caused the cancers.
One in six people worldwide will have a stroke in his or her lifetime. Learn to recognize a “brain attack.”
Men with prostate cancer may live longer if they have surgery rather than “watchful waiting,” a long-term study suggests. The benefit was strongest for younger men and those with medium-risk tumors. At the time the study began, the PSA test was not widely used. Most men were diagnosed because they had symptoms or a lump in the prostate. The study included nearly 700 Swedish men with prostate cancer. They were randomly assigned to receive prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) or no immediate treatment. In the next 23 years, 56% of the men in the surgery group and 69% in the watchful-waiting group died. Prostate cancer was the cause of death for 18% of the surgery group and 29% of the other group. Men in the surgery group also were less likely to have their cancer spread or to need anti-hormone treatments. The most benefit occurred among men who were under age 65 when diagnosed.
Eating lots of healthy high‑fiber foods but battling embarrassing gas? Learn which ingredients may be to blame and simple ways to cut it down.