Hypertension

Introduction Hypertension is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, directly causing around 7.5 million deaths worldwide yearly, accounting for 12.8% of all deaths and 3.7% of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). 1 Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the most common cause of death worldwide. 2 In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), one-third of all deaths are related to CVDs, with one-half of them being due to high systolic blood pressure 3 Furthermore, the age-standardized DALY rate for CVDs was found to be considerably higher in the EMR than the global average. 3 The risk factors and predictors of hypertension in the general population are well established, with increasing age, male gender, and higher weight being important predictors. 4 The prevalence of hypertension in the Arab world is reported to be 29.5%, higher than the USA and Sub-Saharan Africa. 5 Prevalence of hypertension in the general Jordani...

Eggs aren't necessarily bad for cholesterol, even though they contain a lot of dietary cholesterol.  Eggs are often paired with bacon, sausage, and buttered toast in American diets, and these saturated and trans fat are much more likely to cause high cholesterol.  In fact, research has found that eating one egg per day does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.  This article was reviewed by Steven Reisman, MD, a cardiologist and the director of the New York Cardiac Diagnostic Center.  This article is part of Insider's guide to High Cholesterol.  The food you eat plays an important role in your heart health. Certain foods can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries, causing atherosclerosis and potentially leading to high cholesterol or serious heart problems.  While it's common to limit foods that are high in cholesterol  — like eggs — ...

Depression is the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide, per the  World Health Organization (WHO) . And while depression can affect anyone, a growing body of research shows people of color in the United States are often hit hardest by this condition. Marginalized racial and ethnic communities, such as Black and Hispanic Americans, are more apt to experience severe and debilitating symptoms of depression and are less apt to receive beneficial treatments, according to a May 2022 report from the  Blue Cross Blue Shield Association , a federation of American health insurance companies. Without treatment, depression often worsens, increasing the risk for other serious health issues like  chronic pain , substance abuse, self-harm, or suicide , warn experts at  Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The causes and contributors of these unfair and preventable differences in the burdens of depression and other mental health conditions are multifa...

If you're often waking up in a panic, you may need to talk with a therapist. Image Credit: Motortion/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Nighttime panic attacks typically only last for a few minutes. But that doesn't make them any less frightening and uncomfortable, thanks to their intense physical symptoms and impending sense of doom. Video of the Day "Nocturnal panic attacks can be distressing and debilitating," says Seattle-based licensed psychologist Jennifer Chain, PhD. Sleep deprivation caused by the attack itself can leave you tired in the morning. And if you're anxious about future attacks, you might start to have trouble falling or staying asleep for nights to come. There's some reassuring news, though. While a nighttime panic attack can't be stopped once it's started, there are steps you can take to make getting through the attack easier — and even reduce the risk for future ones. ...

In addition to their role in providing energy, carbs also help regulate blood sugar, insulin metabolism and support cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. When there is an overabundance of carbohydrates in the diet, these bodily functions can be thrown out of whack. Dietary carbs can be divided into the following categories: Simple carbs , such as soda and candy, which cause a rapid rise in blood sugar Complex carbs , such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which have a more gradual effect on blood sugars due to their fiber and nutrients Fiber , the non-digestible part of complex carbs that supports gut health Dietary guidelines recommend individuals fill 45-65% of their diet with carbohydrates, with a focus on having an optimal fiber intake and limiting simple carbs. Low-carb diets typically provide around 20 to 130 grams of carbs per day and anywhere from less than 10% to 44% of calories from carbs. Some of the more popular low-carb diets include the following:...

While everyone should meet their daily target of 3,500 mg of potassium a day, the expert shared many don't get enough. "Most of us are guilty of not always getting the right nutrients from our diets as many of us find it hard to eat the recommended five fruit and vegetables a day," she noted. Furthermore, research and data from a recent HSIS report - Diet Disasters For The Seven Ages Of Women: How Nutritional Gaps Are Putting Women's Health Under Threat Across The Lifecycle - further backs this claim. The research found that 24 percent of women between the ages of 19 and 64 years score below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake ("the level below which deficiency could occur"). 

Nocturnal hypertension is elevated blood pressure that occurs at night. Normally, blood pressure varies by circadian rhythm and is 10–20% lower at night. This phenomenon is known as "nocturnal dipping." The absence of the normal dipping pattern and high blood pressure at night have both been linked to complications like kidney damage and cardiovascular disease. Read on to learn about nocturnal hypertension and its symptoms, causes, and management. invizbk / Getty Images Nocturnal Hypertension Definition Daytime blood pressure higher than 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury, a measurement unit of pressure) is considered elevated. Nighttime blood pressure is typically lower than daytime. Nocturnal hypertension refers to any blood pressure above 110/65 mmHg at night. Patterns of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Nocturnal blood pressure can also be described by patterns of blood pressure changes throughout a 24-hour cycle: "Dipp...