Heart

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 »

Pessimists, beware: Your negative, half-empty outlook can be hazardous to your health.

According to a new study, people with so-called Type D personalities (“D” for “distress”) are at much greater risk for certain cardiovascular health issues than their more optimistic counterparts.

People who are prone to distress are three times as likely to suffer heart problems such … 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 »

September means fall, football, and, if you’re lucky, slightly cooler temperatures.

But it marks something else, too, and you might not be aware of it: September is National Cholesterol Education Month.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute division of the National Institutes of Health recommends that you use that designation as a good excuse to get … Continue Reading »

Would you like a statin with that fast food burger?

It might be a good idea, according to a new study.

Taking a cholesterol-lowering statin drug along with your fast food lunch could help offset the potential cardiovascular damage from your fat-packed meal, say Imperial College London researchers.

Statins have been shown to effectively reduce LDL cholesterol (the … Continue Reading »

If you’re like most Americans, instant (or at least imminent) gratification is what you’ve come to expect.

You don’t even have to wait through commercials to get back to your favorite TV show anymore; DVRs allow you to watch on your own schedule and fast-forward through the boring stuff.

But weight loss is another story.

Time and time … Continue Reading »

You know work-related stress is unhealthy for your employees, but it can be far worse than you might even imagine: It can kill.

Stress is a common condition, universal among people no matter what their work and life situations.

And at its most severe, studies have shown, it can cause a number of health problems.

Job stress … 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 »

One of the keys to heart health could be right in your office break room.

The results of a recent study conducted in the Netherlands show that two workplace beverage staples, coffee and tea, can cut your risk of heart disease.

The study found benefits associated with moderate to high consumption of tea and moderate consumption of … Continue Reading »