Brief updates on a drug combination that may cause muscle damage, a blood test for rejection after a heart transplant, a possible link between retinopathy and heart disease, and running for heart health and longevity.
Brief updates on the benefit of the Maze procedure, St. John’s wort’s interference with statins, the safety of angioplasty performed through the radial artery, and the cardiac risks of newer antipsychotic drugs.
While attention to cholesterol has largely focused on lowering LDL through the use of statins, raising HDL is equally important, if not more so. Niacin boosts HDL, but its side effects can be tricky, so some people try exercise and dietary changes.
People with peripheral artery disease will most likely benefit from an exercise regimen, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing the leg pain that frequently accompanies the condition.
A study suggests that high soy consumption may lower sperm count, though the test subjects who ate the most soy were still considered fertile, and eating soy products has other health benefits.
A researcher has determined that the recommended “moderate intensity” exercise level can be accomplished by walking at least 100 steps per minute. An inexpensive pedometer can help you determine your walking speed.
Floaters and flashes in the eyes are fairly common among older people, but sometimes they can indicate a retinal tear, which, if not treated promptly, can lead to retinal detachment.
Preparation for a colonoscopy involves taking a substance the day before the procedure that induces bowel-clearing diarrhea. It’s unpleasant and takes several hours, but adequate preparation can make the process somewhat easier to endure.
Tai chi is gentle and not strenuous, but it has been shown to have a positive effect on muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, and it can be practiced by people in nearly any state of health or physical condition.
The American Heart Association examined a number of studies involving omega-6 fatty acids and concluded that earlier concerns about their role in inflammation were unwarranted, and that omega-6s are beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease.