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Following a vegetarian or vegan diet may help lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol, according to a 2023 review of studies published over four decades.
If people see evidence of plaque buildup inside their arteries, it may motivate them to take better care of their heart health, according to a 2023 study.
Pregnancy and reproductive complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, pre-eclampsia, infertility, and stillbirth, are linked with higher cardiovascular risks in affected women many years later. Such complications affect 5% to 10% of pregnancies and are rising as obesity rates increase and more women postpone pregnancy. Ongoing preventive care and screenings are crucial for women who experienced pregnancy complications to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels and treat any irregularities aggressively.
Drinking apple cider vinegar before bedtime isn’t proven to curb appetite or promote weight loss. Doing so can also lead to heartburn or reflux and erode tooth enamel. To consume it more safely, people can blend apple cider vinegar with water or into salad dressings.
Postprandial hypotension—low blood pressure after eating—is common in older adults. It occurs when blood flow is diverted away from the body, including the heart and brain, and instead gets routed to the stomach and intestines during digestion.
About half the time, people alter how much, how often, or how long they take a prescribed medication, or they don’t take it at all. This phenomenon, called medication nonadherence, can gravely threaten people’s health, and is linked to about 125,000 deaths annually. People might not be able to comply with their drug regimen if they feel they take too many drugs, they don’t like the side effects, the prescriptions cost too much, or they have memory problems or depression. Doctors should review medication lists and remove what patients no longer need.
A new study found that eating an unhealthy diet high in processed food can affect people’s deep sleep, the stage when the pituitary gland in the brain releases hormones to build and repair muscles and bones as well help boost cognitive function and memory.
The FDA has approved an over-the-counter topical gel to treat erectile dysfunction that men apply immediately before intercourse. It works in approximately 10 minutes.
A 2023 study found that people who met guidelines for engaged weekly aerobic activity had a lower risk of dying from pneumonia or influenza than those who did no activity.
The general consensus is that healthy people who eat right need a vitamin or mineral supplement only if they have a diagnosed vitamin or mineral deficiency. Still, multivitamins may provide a safety net to fill dietary nutrition gaps even for people who mostly eat healthy. Studies have shown that taking multivitamins as prescribed usually doesn’t cause any serious issues, and many over-the-counter brands are relatively inexpensive. Some people also view taking a daily multivitamin as another way to support a healthy lifestyle.