On call: Causes of cold feet
Common causes of cold feet include clogged arteries in the legs (peripheral artery disease), low body fat, Raynaud’s syndrome, and nerve damage.
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Sleep problems may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke
Poor sleep is linked to poor heart health. That goes double for people with sleep apnea, who stop breathing many times during the night.
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Ask the doctors: Can surgery cause a heart attack?
Operations, even those that don’t directly concern the heart, put people with heart disease at risk of heart-related complications.
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In the journals: New eye vitamin mix for vision loss is no better than older one
Adding new ingredients to the cocktail of “eye vitamins” people take for age-related vision loss doesn’t improve the effect of the therapy.
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Top 5 ways to reduce crippling hand pain
The most common causes of hand pain include osteoarthritis, nerve conditions, and tendinitis. To help manage the pain and avoid surgery, doctors recommend splinting, corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatories, heat and cold applications, and hand exer
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Take a walk, reduce your risk of suffering a stroke
To begin a walking program, wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes; map out your route in advance; and keep track of your progress. Aim for 150 minutes per week of brisk walking each week.
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Quick start to a Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet includes generous quantities of olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish; limited portions of red meats or processed meats; and moderate amounts of cheese and wine. To switch to this eating style, start with small, gradual chan
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Rethinking fructose in your diet
Despite negative media attention, fructose itself isn’t unhealthy. Harvard experts say it’s the combination of fructose and glucose when they are added to foods in the form of sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, and other sweeteners.
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Ask the doctor: Are there new treatments for COPD?
Two new medications offer hope for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: indacaterol and roflumilast. They can improve lung function and help reduce flare-ups.
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Harvard Heart Advances: Had problems with statins? Try them again.
Statin drugs are very good at lowering cholesterol, but side effects such as muscle weakness or muscle pain can make the drugs hard to tolerate. Fortunately, there are several statin drugs on the market.
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