Credit: iStock/designer491 Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America, taking more lives per year than cancer and accidents combined. That’s frightening, but there is cause for optimism. For decades, statin drugs have been the gold standard in cholesterol management. Statins block the liver enzyme responsible for producing cholesterol, lower “bad” LDL levels by … Continue reading Spotlight On: Statins
Heart Health
The Irony of Exercise and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Credit: iStock/PonyWang The irony of exercise is that while it works wonders for heart health, it actually increases short-term risk for experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while you’re working out. The acute risk of SCA is higher when you’re unfit, when you’re engaging in high-intensity exercise, and you have underlying cardiovascular disease. How does fitness … Continue reading The Irony of Exercise and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
American Physiology Summit attendees view scientific posters. Credit: Erica Roth From record-breaking running speeds set by a 91-year-old to how your body responds to climate shifts, the American Physiology Summit brought together researchers exploring the science of health and life itself. Here’s how their findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society could … Continue reading From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
Credit: iStock/money business images Think back to the last time you had a checkup with your health care provider. They likely weighed you, asked your height and measured your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing. The medical team probably also asked questions about your health history, current medications and if you had any pain. … Continue reading Using Physical Activity Levels as a Health Vital Sign
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Spotlighting Women’s Heart Health on World Heart Day
Credit: iStock/FatCamera Scientists used to believe that men and women had the same physiology. With that line of thinking, if a physiological change was found in men, it just had to be the same in women. We now know this to be far from true. Unfortunately, until recently, most of the heart research has been … Continue reading Spotlighting Women’s Heart Health on World Heart Day
Mississippi’s Heart Beats for the Jackson Heart Study
Credit: iStock/ibusca Mississippi has had its moments in the spotlight: the 2022 water crisis, political scandals and its continued thread of racism. Despite the grim persona the state often reflects at the national level, Mississippi has several opportunities that could help it overcome this negative identity. As a biased Alabamian-turned-Mississippian, I tend to see Mississippi … Continue reading Mississippi’s Heart Beats for the Jackson Heart Study
Exercise and Healthspan Go Hand in Hand
Conference attendees listen intently at a 2024 American Physiology Summit session. “Healthspan” is a new buzzword recently added to our vocabulary. It reflects the length of time we stay healthy rather than simply being alive. While the average lifespan in the U.S. is around 79 years, the average healthspan (the age at which someone develops … Continue reading Exercise and Healthspan Go Hand in Hand
Spotlight On: Coronary Artery Disease
Credit: iStock/Michail_Petrov-96 Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease. CAD affects 1 in 20 adults. When the vessels that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood and vital nutrients (called coronary arteries) become narrowed or obstructed over time, this is referred to as coronary artery disease. The narrowing of vessels is … Continue reading Spotlight On: Coronary Artery Disease
Physiology Continues to Help You Protect Your Health
American Physiology Summit attendees attend the poster reception in April 2023. Scientists who study physiology are gathering in Long Beach, California, this week for the 2024 American Physiology Summit—a conference dedicated to sharing discoveries on the cutting-edge of bioscience. Studies highlighted at the Summit span from racial differences in small artery disease in prostate cancer … Continue reading Physiology Continues to Help You Protect Your Health