harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED
Very few blood tests require a period of fasting before the test. They include tests for blood glucose and triglycerides. It is permitted to drink water, coffee, or black tea before the tests.
Excessive sodium raises blood pressure, which raises cardiovascular risks. Reading nutrition labels, considering sodium in restaurant meals, getting adequate potassium, and reducing calorie consumption can lower dietary sodium intake.
Trans fats and saturated fats can raise LDL cholesterol levels. A diet rich in unsaturated fats, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables can lower them.
Coughing or gagging may help slow a very rapid heartbeat caused by supraventricular tachycardia. Known as vagal maneuvers, these techniques work by stimulating the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the abdomen.
About half of American adults take dietary supplements, including many who hope to prevent or treat heart disease.
Women with osteoporosis have many options for preserving bone strength and preventing fractures. The mainstays of treatment are bisphosphonate drugs.
Pro-inflammatory foods include fried foods, sodas, refined carbohydrates, and red meat. Green vegetables, berries, whole grains, and fatty fish are thought to combat the inflammatory process.
Making plaque disappear is not possible, but it is possible to shrink and stabilize it. Drugs called statins can help with this, and so can eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising, and quitting smoking.
The popular painkillers known as NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and the prescription drug celecoxib. All except aspirin may slightly increase the risk of a heart attack, but naproxen appears to be the least risky.
Experts recommend that everyone 60 and older get the vaccine for shingles, a painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus. The vaccine is safe, but can be costly if not covered by insurance.