Many people who exercise focus on aerobic activities that get the heart pumping and overlook strength-building exercise. They preserve the ability to perform most ordinary activities and therefore maintain an active and independent lifestyle.
Memory lapses like forgetting someone’s name may spark anxiety but don’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Taking time, avoiding multitasking, rehearsing names, learn memorization tricks and other strategies can help improve memory.
Antioxidants from food-not from pills-can protect arteries and other tissues from damage caused by highly reactive compounds created when oxygen combines with other molecules. Colorful fruits and vegetables are great sources of antioxidants.
Conflicting recommendations and study results are sowing confusion about whether or not to take calcium and vitamin D supplements. While it’s best to get all nutrients from food, the decision to take supplements should be individualized based on your diet
Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra) may also help ease heart failure. These drugs cause arteries to relax, which could help a failing heart pump more effectively.
Many people who don’t need a drug-eluting stent during angioplasty get one anyway. More appropriate use would save $200 million a year in the cost of the stents plus the medications that must be taken afterwards.
A growing number of people with failing hearts are being given total artificial hearts as they wait for donor hearts to become available.
People with naturally high levels of protective HDL cholesterol have lower rates of cardiovascular disease. New studies suggest that boosting low HDL with medication may not pay off as much as lowering harmful LDL cholesterol.
If you have high blood pressure, it makes sense to buy a blood pressure monitor and check your blood pressure at home. This gives a more accurate view of your blood pressure than intermittent office-based readings or the occasional check.