5 Signs of a “Mini-Stroke” in an Older Adult A mini-stroke is usually called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It causes stroke-like symptoms when blood flow to part of the brain is temporarily blocked. Even if the symptoms disappear, a TIA is a medical emergency and an important warning of possible stroke. W www.stroke.org +1 …
Visible Veins in Your Hands: Should You Be Worried? Usually, no. Prominent veins on the hands are often completely normal, particularly with aging, lower body fat, exercise, heat, or thinner skin. As skin loses thickness and elasticity with age, superficial veins can become much easier to see. C Cleveland Clinic +1 Visible hand veins do …
“Be Your Own Dentist” and Remove Tartar at Home? Be Careful The important distinction is between plaque and tartar (calculus). Plaque is the soft bacterial film that you can remove at home with proper brushing and cleaning between your teeth. Tartar is hardened plaque. Once it has mineralized, a toothbrush or floss won’t remove it …
Drinking Water on an Empty Stomach: What Does It Actually Do? Drinking water when you wake up is perfectly fine, but there’s no strong evidence that drinking it on an empty stomach “detoxes” your body, melts fat, or cures disease. What it can do is help you start the day hydrated, especially if you haven’t …
A Cardiologist’s “Number One” Exercise for Heart Attack Prevention There isn’t one exercise that can guarantee prevention of a heart attack. But if you want one simple exercise with strong evidence behind it, brisk walking is an excellent choice. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Brisk …
12 Things That Can Make You Look Older Without Realizing It Aging is completely normal, and there’s no need to “look younger” to be healthy or attractive. But if you’re interested in looking more rested and polished, a few everyday habits can influence how you appear. Chronic sleep deprivation — tired eyes and duller-looking skin …
Pharmacist Warning About Vitamin D: What You Actually Need to Know Vitamin D is important for bone health and calcium absorption, but more isn’t necessarily better. The main concern is taking unnecessarily high doses of vitamin D supplements for long periods. Excess vitamin D can cause dangerously high calcium levels and, in severe cases, kidney …
10 Warning Signs of a Blood Clot in the Leg A blood clot in a deep vein is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It most often occurs in the leg and can become dangerous if part of the clot travels to the lungs. Importantly, about half of DVTs cause no symptoms at all, so symptoms …
“Popular Blood Pressure Drug Linked to Increased Cardiac Arrest Risk” — What’s the Story? This headline refers to nifedipine, a calcium-channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure and angina. A study presented at the European Heart Rhythm Association meeting reported an association between high-dose, short-acting nifedipine and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Importantly, this was an …
Metoprolol: The Good, the Bad, and the “Ugly” Metoprolol is a beta blocker that slows the heart rate and reduces the heart’s workload. It’s commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, angina, certain abnormal heart rhythms, and some other heart conditions. N nhs.uk +1 Most people tolerate it well, and many side effects are mild or …
