Natural diuretic foods and drinks stimulate your kidneys to produce more urine, unloading excessive fluid and salt. Although they vary greatly in effectiveness, these foods and drinks allow you to take in healthy nutrients rather than prescription medications (“water pills”). You may be retaining too much fluid if there is … Read More
Close your eyes and sit up straight. Take a deep breath while you count to five, then count to five again as you exhale. Go ahead and try it right now for six breaths. It feels good, doesn’t it? Breathing to lower blood pressure can be an effective strategy. Here’s … Read More
What says "summer" more than freshly cut watermelon? A classic addition to any picnic or barbecue, watermelon is a summertime favorite. But is watermelon good for you? In terms of health benefits, it has a lot going for it. It’s sweet and tastes like a treat, but it’s also low … Read More
Did you know you may have historical wonder drugs in your cabinet that can help with high blood pressure and more? And we're not referring to your medicine cabinet. Consider your kitchen: Herbs and spices have been used as antidotes ever since mankind felt the first pangs of pain and … Read More
Learning different ways to control stress is essential to recovery from depression and keeping it away for good. It’s important to make some “stress safeguards” a part of your daily life. These safeguards are specific ways you have found that work for you in dealing with chronic stress day in … Read More
Hypertension—high blood pressure readings—is dangerous for your brain, especially in terms of stroke risk. (See "New Hypertension Guidelines: Re-evaluating Blood Pressure Standards.") In fact, of the top risk factors for what causes a stroke, Hypertension is the most powerful, according to results from the very large INTERSTROKE study published in … Read More
For thousands of years, humans have used the aloe vera plant in various ways—as a wound and burn dressing, as an embalming fluid, and as a beauty aid to help keep the skin soft. And in the U.S., the plant, which is thought to have originated in Egypt and the … Read More
We hear the term frequently but may not fully understand it: What is heart disease? Yet there is no simple way to define it, however, because it’s actually a broad term that refers to many conditions that affect the heart or your blood vessels. Among the types of cardiovascular diseases … Read More
While most heart conditions are of higher risk to older adults, a rare but especially sudden and severe heart problem is one that affects those in their 40s and 50s and even younger. It’s called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), and it can cause a heart attack. This injury to … Read More
For too many people, a heart attack is their first clue that they have heart disease. Or for people who perhaps knew they had risk factors for heart disease but didn’t realize how serious their condition was, symptoms or signs of a heart attack serve as late wake-up call that … Read More
