Heart Disease

Feeling depressed? Take a closer look at your diet.

A recent study found that consumption of trans fats, known to be bad for the heart, may also raise your risk for depression.

Trans fats carry with them a well-earned bad reputation, as they simultaneously raise bad (LDL) cholesterol and lower good (HDL) cholesterol. That leaves you at … Continue Reading »

Wouldn’t it be nice if the human body came equipped with its own alarm system to let you know when something isn’t right?

Some potentially deadly medical problems have no symptoms, or ones so mild they slip under the radar of even people who are well attuned to their bodies.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know what’s going … Continue Reading »

You’ve heard the five-a-day rule of thumb when it comes to eating fruits and vegetables. Turns out that might not cut it.

New research shows that eight servings instead of five may be needed to lower your risk of dying from heart disease.

That sounds like an awful lot of grapes, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, and spinach … Continue Reading »

Money isn’t everything, but when it comes to your health, it may matter more than you think.

New findings by the Harvard School of Public Health point to a correlation between the condition of the economy and the physical health of people with chronic medical conditions.

It seems that the economic downturn has many Americans feeling worse, … Continue Reading »

Americans love their salt shakers.

They are staples on restaurant tables from fine-dining establishments to truck-stop diners, not to mention your own kitchen.

Open the grease-stained paper bag your fries came in and you’ll likely see a tiny packet of salt put there in case you feel the need to add some to your already-oversalted fast-food fare.

Are … Continue Reading »

In honor of Halloween, we bring you a topic that strikes fear in the hearts of burger-and-fries lovers everywhere: Cholesterol.

The word may sound scary, and the medical implications are, too.

Too much LDL (bad) cholesterol or too little HDL (good) cholesterol can lead to buildup of plaque in the arteries, or athersclerosis.

This condition can … Continue Reading »

New research shows that triathletes seem to have the right idea when it comes to heart health.

The study found that the heart adapts by working more efficiently in response to a combination of resistance and endurance training, such as that required in triathlon activities.

Triathlons combine running, cycling, and swimming in a physical fitness challenge that … Continue Reading »

Everyone knows at least one of them: those calm, cool, unflappable people who just seem to have it all together.

And while they might appear enviably laid-back on the surface, not even these polished few are immune to the occasional bout of palm-sweating, stomach-clenching, sleep-stealing anxiety.

Whether it’s a looming project deadline or a mile-long to-do … Continue Reading »

Listen up, soda-holics: Cutting back on your favorite thirst quencher may be just what the doctor ordered.

Recent research has shown that reducing your intake of sugary beverages may help lower blood pressure.

Combined with previous findings linking sweet drinks to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, this new information adds another compelling reason to reach … Continue Reading »

Summer is here, and with it long weekends at the lake and lazy days by the pool.

But wait … does last year’s swimsuit still fit? And where did that spare tire come from? Is this scale right?

The season’s heat and more-revealing summer wardrobes tend to get people thinking about their bodies, which may have been … Continue Reading »