According to the Harvard School of Public Health, iron deficiency anemia affects from 4 to 5 million Americans. It is most common in children and women. Worldwide, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency. [1] Iron is essential for health because it is needed to form proteins called hemoglobin … Read More
If you’re starting to experience cold extremities more frequently these days, you may want to share those cold hands and feet symptoms with your doctor at your next visit. Chances are there is nothing seriously wrong with your health to trigger chilly fingers and toes. But because circulation problems may … Read More
A third or more of Americans have high blood pressure, or hypertension. What is high blood pressure? When the heart pumps, the pressure against the walls of your arteries is abnormally high. The excess pressure, if not controlled, puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and other serious … Read More
“Mom! You’ve got yellow finger disease again,” my daughter said as I emerged from a dip in the cool lake. I looked down and sure enough, four fingers on my left hand and two on my right were a pale yellow. A few of my toes had also lost their … Read More
The other night I elbowed my husband in the ribs, on purpose. As usual, he’d fallen asleep within seconds of hitting the pillow, a trait I’ve always envied. He was sleeping soundly on his back, in what he claims to be the best sleep position. Sweet, right? So why did … Read More
Physicians have been prescribing beta blockers for decades. Discovered by Scottish pharmacologist Dr. James Black, who earned a 1988 Nobel Prize for his work, beta blockers revolutionized the treatment of angina (chest pain). Today, the drug is used successfully for far more problems, including other cardiac abnormalities, high blood pressure, … Read More
Every time she talks to her sister Lucia on the phone, Lorena hears the same refrain: “I’m so tired!” It doesn’t matter if it’s Friday, after a long workweek, or Sunday, after a relaxing weekend—Lucia is always exhausted. Sometimes, when Lorena invites her to a family gathering, she makes an … Read More
With the advent of beta blockers, and compelling evidence of their effectiveness, recommendations for heart failure treatment have changed. In general, patients are now treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), plus a diuretic and a beta blocker, to which an aldosterone antagonist or digoxin … Read More
People with mild cognitive impairment (pre-dementia) may not have Alzheimer’s disease; in actuality, they may be suffering from vascular dementia. Experts also call this “vascular cognitive impairment.” It is due to chronic reduced blood flow in the brain, eventually resulting in dementia. Remember, just because you can breathe doesn’t mean … Read More
