Hypertension

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Checking cholesterol levels is an important aspect of health care as these can tell you a great deal about your health status. However, there are several types of cholesterol: high density-lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol, low density-lipoprotein (LDL), which is often considered "bad" cholesterol, as well as a third type, triglycerides. Why are higher LDL levels considered unhealthy and dangerous? LDL contributes to the build-up of a waxy, fat-like substance in the arteries. In turn, this can lead to atherosclerosis (a hardening of the arteries), which can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, and stroke among other serious health problems.   Many factors can cause LDL levels to climb. These include genetic factors (a family history of high LDL), being obese or overweight, lack of physical exercise, diet, and medications you're taking. It's important to understand these causes, as it can help you prevent and m...

High cholesterol has an infamous reputation because it slowly paves the way to trouble by clogging the arteries leading to the heart. And despite the rise of cholesterol-lowering statins, diet is still widely recognised as the cornerstone of cholesterol treatment. Research suggests that fenugreek could lower high cholesterol levels by as much as 30 percent, over the course of just eight weeks. Doctor Sarah Brewer, Healthspan Medical Director, breaks down the benefits and side effects of the spice. She cites one study that noted a significant reduction of LDL cholesterol of 23.5 percent, and a reduction of 13.6 percent in total cholesterol after a month of taking fenugreek with metformin medication. These lowering effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol occurred as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels increased. LDL cholesterol is harmful for the body because it latches on to the arterial walls, contributing to the formation of plaque. HDL cho...

Panic attacks are common with all ages, simple signs or symptoms include "doom and gloom" feelings, rapid or pounding heart rate, shortness of breath and tightness in your neck or chest and dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness. Typical attacks can last for 10 to 20 minutes. But severe ones can last for hours and, in any given year, 2.4 million Americans will develop a full-blown panic disorder. Psychologists also say that by having strong routines and rituals you can prevent future panic attacks. Exerts highly encourage putting a familiar ritual in place before panic-inducing activities to help achieve calm. 

Supplements are often used to help with a multitude of health conditions with some fairing better than others. A popular all-in-one daily pill could help to lower your blood pressure reading and further reduce hypertension risk. Magnesium is a mineral that's critical for many bodily functions, including blood pressure regulation. Studies show that magnesium supplements may help reduce blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide — a signalling molecule that helps relax blood vessels. A review of 10 studies in over 200,000 people suggested that greater dietary intake of magnesium may protect against high blood pressure in the first place. Every 100-mg daily increase in dietary magnesium was linked to a five percent reduction in high blood pressure risk. READ MORE: Pneumonia symptoms: Indications of lung inflammation following a Covid infection A study published in the National Library of Health looked at the effect of magnesium supplementati...

Share on Pinterest A review considers whether fasting might help treat diabetes. AleksandarGeorgiev/Getty Images Intermittent fasting involves a regular pattern of eating few or no calories for a fixed period, which can vary from 12 hours every day to 1 or more days each week. Some people follow these diets hoping to lose weight, improve their overall health, or both. A review of the available evidence suggests that these diets can also reduce or even remove the need for medication in people with type 2 diabetes. More research is necessary before doctors can recommend widespread use of the diets for people with the condition. In recent years, intermittent fasting has gained popularity as a way to lose weight, improve health, and enhance performance. Some studies suggest that this dietary approach may even extend healthy lifespan without the need for the severe caloric restriction that classic anti-aging diets entail. People who practice intermittent fasting eat few or no calories for ...

When it comes to keeping tabs on your health, your blood pressure is a vital sign of how you're doing. Advertising Policy Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy If it's too high or too low, it could be a sign there's something off with your health and could lead to serious conditions like chronic kidney disease, stroke and heart disease. In addition to getting your blood pressure checked at your doctor's office, you can also monitor it at home. Family medicine specialist Laura Distel, MD, shares with us why it's important to take your blood pressure at home and how to do it. Can you take your blood pressure at home? Yes, you can take your blood pressure at home. If you've had high readings at your doctor's office or experiencing sympto...

The long-term disruption and chronic stress brought on by the coronavirus pandemic have taken their toll on the American public in countless ways. Across the adult population, the aggregate health impact is showing up in the form of higher blood pressure readings, especially among women, and physicians now are concerned about long-term risks if their patients don't take concerted action to address the problem. A new, large-scale study from the Cleveland Clinic and Quest Diagnostics tracked the blood pressure readings of more than 464,500 U.S. workers and their spouses who participated in company wellness programs over a period of three years from 2018 through 2020. The research, published Monday in the journal Circulation, found that average readings jumped significantly between April 2020 and December 2020 compared to the previous year. Not surprisingly, those months overlap directly with the onset of the pandemic and dashed routines that saw many Americans abandon exercis...

There are many ways to treat anxiety without medication, from various types of therapy to dietary and lifestyle factors. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 19.1% of adults had an anxiety disorder during the past year. Anxiety treatment without medication can and does work. It is important for people to work with a knowledgeable provider and discuss their specific concerns about medication. Keep reading to learn more about treating anxiety without medication, including through psychotherapy, diet, alternative therapies, and more. Exercise can help manage symptoms of anxiety and, in some people, may even be a substitute for other types of treatment. A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis found that aerobic exercise — especially high-intensity exercise — could be particularly beneficial. However, the authors of that study caution that the wide variability in types of exercise included in the review and th...

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety is a normal emotion; it is our brain's way of reacting to stress and alerting us of a potential danger ahead. Most people feel anxious now and then. For example, you may worry when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making any important decision. This kind of occasional anxiety is 'OK'. However, when this same anxiety increases beyond a point from where it is no longer advantageous but rather impedes one's functioning is not healthy. Also Read - 'Yes, You Can!' Rashmika Mandanna Inspires Fans With a Thoughtful Note Excessively increased amounts of fear and anxiety may lead to Panic Attacks. A panic attack is a sudden, unreasonable feeling of fear and anxiety that cause strong physical reactions in response to ordinary, nonthreatening situations. Some physical symptoms that may be experienced are chest pain, chills, choking or smoth...

Scientists often debate whether irritable bowel syndrome is a mental or physical issue. That's not much help for those who suffer from it. The New Mexican desert unrolled on either side of the highway like a canvas spangled at intervals by the smallest of towns. I was on a road trip with my 20-year-old son from our home in Los Angeles to his college in Michigan. Eli, trying to be patient, plowed down I-40 as daylight dimmed and I scrolled through my phone searching for a restaurant or dish that would not cause me pain. After years of carefully navigating dinners out and meals in, it had finally happened: There was nowhere I could eat. "I'm so sorry, honey," I said. "I feel really, really bad." And I did. I was on the verge of tears, as much out of self-pity and shame as any maternal concern. Eli shook his head. "It's OK, Mom. It's not your fault." But it was. Because of me — or, to be precise, my digestive system — we would not eat until we...

Share on Pinterest Some margarine products may be healthier now than butter, but experts say you should still watch portion sizes. Edalin/Getty Images A 2016 federal ban on trans fats has reduced the amount of unhealthy oils in some margarine products. Researchers say this change has made some margarine products healthier than butter. Experts say, however, that both types of spreads can raise cholesterol levels, so it's important to have moderate levels of them in your diet. You won't believe it's not butter but margarine that may be the healthier choice between the two spreads. A new study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition suggests that some margarine and margarine-like or whipped butter blends may be healthier than butter because federal regulators banned partially hydrogenated oil in 2016. The study was not funded by the margarine industry. Researchers in Minnesota examined 83 margarine and margarine-like or butter blend products as well as both salted and...

Like most drugs, Praluent may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Praluent may cause. These lists don't include all possible side effects. Keep in mind that the side effects of a drug can depend on: your age other health conditions you have other medications you take Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Praluent. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. Mild side effects Here's a short list of some of the mild side effects that Praluent can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Praluent's prescribing information. Mild side effects of Praluent that have been reported include: common cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat flu-like symptoms, such as body ache, fatigue (low energy), and fever urinary tract infection (UTI) diarrhea cough muscle spasm (tightening that you can'...

They are frequently sad or irritable. They don't want to do fun activities, like go out for ice cream. They eat more or less than they normally do. They have self-destructive behavior and get in trouble at school. They have a hard time focusing. They talk about feeling bad about themselves. They become frustrated or angry over small things, like spilling their water. They stop hanging out with their friends. They have trouble making decisions. They begin drinking or using drugs. We all remember being (understandably) moody as kids, but it's important to pay attention to really drastic behavior changes in a child or teen, according to Heidi L. Combs, M.D., a clinical psychiatrist and director of inpatient psychiatry at UW Health's Harborview Hospital in Seattle. For example, maybe they're suddenly not hanging out with friends, getting homework done, or going to sports practices. "These are all things that would start to perk up my sense that the person may be strugg...

23. "I had an ex-partner who wanted to change my entire sexual history that occurred before I even met him. Mind you, I never cheated or was unfaithful in any way, and I was incredibly verbally and physically expressive with my love. But no matter what I did, he needed to know every minute detail of my sexual history and spent so much time interrogating me because, as he would say, 'The truth has got to be better than the image in my mind.'" "Then he would treat me like a leper after I told him the truth. He was friends with all these people I went to high school with, and yeah, I got around then and in the years before I met him. So what? But because everyone was gossipy and immature even in my 20s, they would tell him all these things about me. It got so bad that whenever he'd ask, I'd lie because I was so anxious that he'd be disgusted by me. I had a note in my phone with all the lies I was tell...