Credit: Julius Nielsen and Holly Shiels The U.S. just had its birthday, which means it’s been 244 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What if I told you that in the Arctic Ocean, there are sharks swimming around today who were alive in 1776? And before you ask, yes, the very same … Continue reading What Can Greenland Sharks Teach Us about (a Long) Life?
Heart Disease
Scientists Are Creating Miniature Hearts to Help Treat Heart Disease
Credit: iStock The heart is responsible for continuously pumping blood throughout your body, which delivers nutrients to your organs and takes away waste. When your heart isn’t working the way it should, the rest of your body can’t function properly either. Unfortunately, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in adults in the … Continue reading Scientists Are Creating Miniature Hearts to Help Treat Heart Disease
Heff Peff: When Filling the Heart Fails
Credit: iStock Heart failure is a common disease in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body. Many people may have heard of heart failure that prevents the heart from contracting properly or pumping enough blood. The measure most commonly used to calculate how well the heart contracts is … Continue reading Heff Peff: When Filling the Heart Fails
Tart Cherries Are Sweet for Blood Vessel Health
Now that it’s officially spring, you may be looking forward to the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables that will soon be available in grocery stores, farmers markets and perhaps even your own garden. The Montmorency cherry, tucked into the colorful landscape of the produce aisle, is tasty and healthy. The Montmorency cherry is a … Continue reading Tart Cherries Are Sweet for Blood Vessel Health
Why Being an ‘Active Couch Potato’ Is Bad for Your Health
Did you know that even if you exercise regularly, you may be what researchers call an “active couch potato?” Consider this: If you exercise 30 to 45 minutes a day—completing your daily workout all at one time—it is easy to still spend 80 to 90 percent of your waking hours sitting. A study in England … Continue reading Why Being an ‘Active Couch Potato’ Is Bad for Your Health
Spotlight On: Circadian Rhythm
The phrase “circadian rhythm” seems to appear with increasing frequency in the news. The study of circadian rhythm also got a boost when the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three pioneering researchers in this area. But many people may not understand what it means and why it’s important. All biological … Continue reading Spotlight On: Circadian Rhythm
Spotlight On: Hypertension
You may hear the word “hypertension” a lot: in a medical clinic, on the news and in passing conversation. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means, read on. Simply put, hypertension means high blood pressure, a condition that people of all ages, races and ethnicities can develop. Blood pressure is the measurement of blood … Continue reading Spotlight On: Hypertension
Cardiovascular Consequences of Wildfires and Climate Change
This week, there’s been nonstop media coverage of the massive wildfires in California—including the Mendocino Complex fire, now considered the largest fire in state history. In California alone, more than 13,000 firefighters are battling flames that have scorched more than 600,000 acres. The U.S. is not the only country experiencing an uptick in catastrophic fire … Continue reading Cardiovascular Consequences of Wildfires and Climate Change
The Fat-blocking Powers of Fiber
An estimated 610,000 people in the U.S. die from heart disease each year. One common cause of heart disease is the narrowing of blood vessels due to the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque). Many factors—including eating a lot of fatty foods—can lead to plaque buildup in blood vessels. Your liver processes excess fat by packaging … Continue reading The Fat-blocking Powers of Fiber
The Heart Adapts to the Sex of Heart Transplant Recipients
Whether you are male or female can play a role in your health when it comes to how well you recover and thrive after an organ transplant. Because donated organs are in high demand, the sex of the donor is not taken into consideration when assessing compatibility. However, men and women who receive donated organs … Continue reading The Heart Adapts to the Sex of Heart Transplant Recipients