Hypertension

DALLAS, Oct. 7, 2021 — People with hypertension, or high blood pressure, play a key role in whether they use medication appropriately to manage their blood pressure. However, a new American Heart Association scientific statement, published today in the Association's journal  Hypertension , suggests additional support is needed for patients from the broader health care system. The statement urges health care professionals, pharmacies and insurance companies to develop specific, evidence-based strategies addressing medication adherence and create solutions for blood pressure control at the personal level for individuals with high blood pressure. A scientific statement is an expert analysis of current research and may inform future guidelines and recommendations. The scientific statement, "Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Control", summarizes the existing knowledge about the impact of medication non-adherence to the national pre...

Headaches occur when there is pain in the head, face, or neck, which can be sharp, dull, or throbbing. Constipation occurs when a person has not had a bowel movement for more than three days. People with headaches may experience constipation at the same time. While both are common disorders on their own, studies do indicate they may occur together. Experiencing these two conditions simultaneously can indicate that another issue may be occurring. Read more about how studies show a link between these two symptoms in certain medical conditions. Violeta Stoimenova / Getty Images Headaches and Constipation Constipation appears to indirectly cause headaches. Researchers believe that constipation may play a key role in starting a headache, or possibly that both headaches and constipation share a common trigger that causes the body to react. This response includes both headaches and constipation. One study has indicated that for participants alre...

The US infant mortality rate of 5.67 per 1,000 live births is one of the highest rates among developed countries. 1 , 2 More than 21,000 infants died in 2018 alone. 1 Rates of infant mortality are higher among racial minority groups, 3 with the mortality rate of Black infants almost twice as high as the rate of White infants in 2018, 1 demonstrating a clear health disparity. The leading causes of infant mortality and morbidity include preterm birth, 4 , 5 low birthweight, 6 , 7 and intrauterine growth restriction. 8 Depression during pregnancy is another factor that affects detrimental birth outcomes and also exacerbates infant morbidity and mortality. A 2019 systematic review found that depression or elevated depressive symptoms during pregnancy are associated with higher likelihood of both hospitalization of infants and death of infants within the first year of life. 9 Depression during pregnancy may contribute to detrimental birth outcomes through adverse conditions such as p...

Chicken eggs are one of the most nutritious and affordable foods on the market today. Many diet trends embrace eggs, including keto, gluten-free, paleo, and Whole30. Eggs are one of my favorite breakfast foods because they always keep me full and satisfied — the best start to my day. Eggs are made up of: 11% shell 33% yolk 56% white The egg white consists mainly of water and protein ( 1 ). Because egg whites are a trusted source of muscle-building protein, some people — especially athletes and bodybuilders — drink them. And many prefer to drink them raw. People also use pasteurized raw eggs in several types of recipes, like hollandaise sauce and salad dressings. But is it safe to drink raw egg whites? Keep reading to find out. Liquid egg whites are usually stored in a carton and can be found in refrigerated sections of grocery stores. Before packaging, liquid egg whites are beaten and pasteurized to reduce bacterial exposure, so they are safe enough to eat. Whole eggs are available to ...

Cholesterol levels are often used as a factor in estimating your risk of cardiovascular disease. When you get your cholesterol checked, your healthcare professional may look at several different results. One of these is your cholesterol ratio. Cholesterol ratio is a comparison of your total cholesterol to your HDL cholesterol, which is then used as a tool to predict your risk of heart disease. blueshot / Getty Images What Are the Types of Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the cells of the body. You need cholesterol in order to perform different functions in your body, however not all cholesterol is created equal. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is considered the "good" type of cholesterol, while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is considered the "bad" type of cholesterol. Total cholesterol is a combined total measure of all the different types of cholesterol in your blood. ...