Are you one of those guys who can’t remember the last time you stepped foot in a doctor’s office? Sure, maybe you’ve gotten in for something urgent, but what about scheduling an annual exam or screening tests? Maybe you simply forget, think you already have healthy habits, or insist that you “feel just fine.” Sorry, guys…. Not quite good enough. [...]
May is the month when many women celebrate Mother’s Day. Maybe breakfast in bed, homemade cards, extra hugs….? It’s pretty wonderful to feel so cared for. But how well do you take care of yourself—whether or not you’re a mother? One big piece of self-care involves regular screening tests, which can prevent many health problems—or help you nip them in [...]
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, happens when this force is too high. Healthcare workers check blood pressure readings the same way for children, teens and adults. They use a gauge, stethoscope or electronic sensor, and a blood-pressure cuff. With this [...]
As you started into the new year, did you resolve to have healthier habits? Many people do. But a long-term study found that Americans are not doing as well as they were 20 years ago in maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle.1 And that increases their chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or heart disease.2 Life’s Simple 7. In the study, the percentage [...]
It’s certainly not a cure-all. But it’s pretty impressive. Exercise is one of the few things that can help prevent or slow the development of most—if not all—major health problems. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, bone loss—to name a few. Topping things off, exercise can help ease the aging process, for example, by [...]
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are nicotine-delivery devices. They are battery operated, but are designed to look and feel like a cigarette. The nicotine in them is derived from tobacco plants. The potential user is led to believe that e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes and can be used to help stop smoking. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration [...]
There’s more than one way to tackle the risk of high cholesterol. That’s a type of fat that can clog up your arteries and block blood flow.1 Check it out. Without being tested, though, you can’t be certain about your risk. Yes, you might be in good company being in the dark: For example, nearly half of Hispanics in the U.S. [...]