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All Hypertension and Stroke Alerts
Understanding the Two Types of Stroke
Strokes fall into two broad categories: ischemic (caused by clots or other obstructions in blood vessels) and hemorrhagic (the result of ruptures or tears in blood vessels). The vast majority of strokes are ischemic. Heres a brief explanation of each type of stroke. More...
Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
Middle-aged and older men with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have more than double the risk of experiencing an ischemic stroke when compared with their counterparts who don't have obstructive sleep apnea, a recent study finds. More...
Another Reason to Rev Up Your Exercise Regimen
A study in theonline edition of Neurology suggests that performing moderate to vigorous activity such as bicycling, swimming, jogging, hiking and playing tennis and racquetball can lower your risk of "silent" stroke. It's estimated that about 10 percent of middle-aged and older adults in the United States have had a silent stroke -- with many of them unaware of it. More...
Where Do Migraines Come From?
The short answer is easy: migraine headaches come from the brain. Migraine is an inherited tendency to have a hypersensitive brain, one that reacts adversely to certain internal and external stimuli by unleashing an onslaught of pain and accompanying symptoms from the brainstem's "headache generator." More...
Research: Blood Pressure Fluctuations Linked to Stroke Signs
Older people with elevated blood pressure or large fluctuations in blood pressure are at increased risk for signs of stroke, according to a study reported in the Archives of Neurology (Volume 67, page 564). More...
How Worried Should You Be About a Stroke?
Americans are much less worried about having a stroke than they are about heart attacks. A recent survey found that only 1 percent of respondents mentioned stroke as a leading health concern. By comparison, 13 percent listed heart disease and 33 percent mentioned cancer. Even in individuals who had experienced a stroke or knew someone who had a stroke, only 2 percent said that strokes were a major health worry. More...
Can Moderate Alcohol Consumption Prevent Hypertension?
Many people partake in a daily glass of red wine to help ward off coronary heart disease. However, can that glass of wine -- or any other type of alcoholic beverage -- help protect against hypertension as well? According to the latest research, it depends on a number of factors, including your gender and your drinking patterns. More...
Research Update: Fewer Sugary Drinks Lowers Blood Pressure
Lifestyle measures can help lower blood pressure and keep it at a healthy level. These changes include losing weight if you are overweight; following an eating plan that is low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains; reducing intake of salt; increasing potassium intake; engaging in regular physical activity and moderating alcohol consumption. Quitting smoking is important as well, particularly for heart disease prevention. Incorporating these changes into your lifestyle and continuing them over the long term can have a significant effect on your ability to prevent and treat high blood pressure. More...
How to Prevent a First Time Stroke
New stroke prevention guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) set forth more finely tuned prevention strategies for specific groups of people and certain situations than did the associations previous report in 2006. In addition, the guidelines reinforce the benefits that stroke prevention strategies can extend to older adults. More...
Research: Exercise Plus DASH Diet Lowers Blood Pressure More
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can effectively reduce high blood pressure. Adhering to an exercise and weight loss program along with the DASH diet may lower blood pressure and cardiovascular markers even further, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (Volume 170, page 126). More...
How Hypertension Can Put Your Vision at Risk
If you have ever experienced love at first sight, you know that the heart and the eyes share an intimate connection. Unfortunately, the eyes and the heart are also linked in a less romantic way: through hypertension, or high blood pressure. More...
Exercising Your Way to Lower Blood Pressure
Exercise plays a role in controlling blood pressure, but it may take a while before you see results. A reader recently asked us: Ive been walking every day for a month, but my blood pressure is not going down. Whats going on? Heres our advice More...
Diuretics: A NEW Look at an OLD Medicine
Very few medicines have been studied as intently or used as successfully for as many years as diuretics. Whether they are taken alone or in combination with other hypertension drugs, diuretics have consistently been shown to be safe and effective -- and relatively inexpensive. More...
Preparing for a Carotid Endarterectomy: Key Questions to Ask
If your doctor recommends a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to remove plaque buildup in one of your carotid arteries, you may feel some trepidation about what seems like a delicate and risky procedure. However a CEA is actually a common, relatively safe and highly effective surgery, especially when performed in appropriate patients by an experienced surgeon. More...
Salt Shakedown: How to Reduce Salt in Your Diet
If you have hypertension, lifestyle measures such as reducing your intake of salt can help you lower your blood pressure. Recently a reader asked: My doctor told me to aim for less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day. What's the best way to do this? Heres our advice. More...
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Health Topic Pages
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Arthritis
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- Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia: Should You Try It?
- Tackling B Cells to Fight Lupus
- Does Complementary Medicine Work for Osteoarthritis? Heres What We Know
- Research Report: Aquatic Exercise Aids Recovery After Knee Replacement
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Back Pain
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Cancer
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Caregivers | Caregiving
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Colon Cancer
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Complementary Medicine
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Depression and Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder Type 1 or 2: How to Tell the Difference
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- Research on Vitamins B6 and B12 and Depression
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- When Electroconvulsive Therapy Is the Right Choice
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Diabetes
- Which Comes First: Diabetes or Depression?
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- Diabetes and Sex: Dont Give Up Hope
- Carbohydrates: How Low Should You Go?
- How to Recognize the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
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- Prediabetes: Meeting an Epidemic With New Treatment Goals
- Looking Out for Number One: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
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- Understanding How Insulin Regulates Blood Glucose
- The Role of Insulin in Blood Glucose Control
- Getting a Better Look at Blood Sugar Levels
- Making Sense of Type 2 Diabetes Medications
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Digestive Health
- Ask the Doctor About GERD
- Depression & Celiac Disease: A Growing Problem
- Signs and Symptoms of Gallstones
- Six Strategies to Protect Against Esophageal Cancer
- Primer on Hiatal Hernia
- Whats So Great About Fiber?
- Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer: What to Expect
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- On the Horizon: Two New Surgical Treatments for GERD
- Focus on Peptic Ulcers
- Life Without a Gallbladder
- 7 Tips to Help You Reduce Bloating
- How Your Gut Can Affect Your Bones
- What to Expect From Your Endoscopy
- Four Relaxation Techniques to Soothe Your Digestive Discomfort
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Enlarged Prostate
- Should You Try Saw Palmetto for Your BPH Symptoms? What We Recommend
- Should You Have a PSA Screening Test? Johns Hopkins Responds to Recent USPSTF Recommendations
- How Severe Is Your BPH? Take This Prostate Symptom Questionnaire to Find Out
- Which Is It: Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)?
- Keeping Enlarged Prostate in Check
- A Look at the UPOINT System
- Should You Try an ED Drug for BPH?
- More Alerts...
- Two-Drug Options for BPH
- Do You Have BPH? Take This Prostate Symptom Questionnaire to Find Out
- PVP or TURP for BPH?
- In the Pipeline: New Treatments for BPH
- BPH: New Discoveries May Lead to Better Treatment
- What Does It Mean? PSA Terminology Explained
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Exercise and Fitness
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Healthy Living
- Research on Compression Stockings to Prevent Blood Clots
- Advice to Help You Stay Healthy When You Travel
- Guidelines on Alcohol Consumption: How Much Is Too Much?
- Male Stoicism: Bad for the Health
- Fluzone High-Dose: A Flu Vaccine for Older Adults
- Fighting Pancreatic Cancer: Treatments on the Horizon
- 9 Dos and Donts for Older Drivers
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- Do You Have a Thyroid Disorder?
- Impulse Control: The Link Between Parkinson's and Gambling
- The Pain-Mood Connection
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Heart Health
- 10 Steps to Lower Triglycerides
- Migraines Linked to Risk of Heart Attacks
- Grapefruit Interactions: Advice to Help You Stay Safe
- After a Heart Attack: Nine Important Steps to Follow
- Angina Basics
- Gum Disease and Heart Disease: Whats the Link?
- Heart Attacks Decreasing Survival Increasing
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- The Research on Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Disease
- Cardiac Rehab Works: Heres How
- Protecting Your Heart With Whole Grains
- What You Should Know About C-Reactive Protein
- Zapping Abnormal Heart Rhythms
- Ways to Boost Your HDL Cholesterol
- The Best Screening Tests for People Without Symptoms of Heart Disease
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Hypertension and Stroke
- Understanding the Two Types of Stroke
- Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
- Another Reason to Rev Up Your Exercise Regimen
- Where Do Migraines Come From?
- Research: Blood Pressure Fluctuations Linked to Stroke Signs
- How Worried Should You Be About a Stroke?
- Can Moderate Alcohol Consumption Prevent Hypertension?
- More Alerts...
- Hypertension and Your Sex Life
- Are You At Risk For Vascular Dementia?
- Can You Pass the Stroke Symptom Test?
- Controlling Difficult-to-Control Hypertension
- When Your Heart Feels Like It's Skipping a Beat
- Guidelines on Controlling Pain Without Raising Your Blood Pressure
- Get Moving To Lower Your Blood Pressure
- More Special Reports...
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Knee Replacement Surgery
- Is Age an Obstacle to Knee Replacement Surgery?
- Weighing the Pros and Cons of Knee Replacement Surgery
- Resuming Physical Activities After Your Knee Replacement
- Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Surgery
- Female Knee Replacements
- After Knee Replacement Surgery: Rehab and Recovery
- What Happens During Knee Replacement
- More Special Reports...
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Lung Disorders
- Lung Cancer: When Nonsmokers Are Affected
- Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
- Fluzone High-Dose: A Flu Vaccine for Older Adults
- Research on Smoking and Prostate Cancer
- Asthma in Older Adults: Misdiagnosed and Undertreated
- E-cigarettes: Another Option to Help You Quit Smoking?
- COPD and Sleep Disorders: Common and Serious
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- Bronchoscopy: Taking a Closer Look
- Planning Ahead: The Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney
- On the Horizon: A New Treatment for COPD
- Four Steps to Better Asthma Control
- COPD: Catching the Silent Killer
- Home Monitoring for Sleep Apnea
- Looking At How The Lungs Work
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Memory
- Research Shows That Having a Purpose in Life May Lower Alzheimer's Risk
- Advice to Keep Dementia at Bay
- Mild Cognitive Impairment: Is It a Sign of Alzheimers?
- How Dr. Folstein Created the MMSE
- Unraveling the Mystery of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinsons Disease Patients
- Research Update: Dementia Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
- Does Namenda Work? Dr. Rabins Addresses a Difficult Question
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- Food for Thought
- Your Aging Brain: Whats Normal, Whats Not
- Does Light Therapy Help Alzheimers Patients Sleep?
- Habilitation: A Better Caregiving Approach
- Guarding Your Memory
- Activities to Engage the Dementia Patient
- Caregivers -- The Hidden Patients
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Men's Health
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Nutrition and Weight Control
- BMI Isnt the Only Way To Evaluate Your Weight: Here Are Others
- Gaining Weight? It Could Be Your Medication
- Advice to Help You Kick-Start Your Metabolism
- Research: Exercise Plus DASH Diet Lowers Blood Pressure More
- Understanding Why Metabolism Matters
- Research on Vitamins B6 and B12 and Depression
- Fight Disease With Phytochemicals
- More Alerts...
- Making Sense of Health Claims
- 7 Easy and Effective Weight-Loss Strategies
- The Wisdom of Cutting Back on Salt
- The Psychology of Mindless Eating
- 7 Strategies to Rev Up Your Aging Metabolism
- Changing Behavior to Lose Weight
- Dietary Supplements: Yea or Nay?
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Osteoporosis
- Recovering From a Hip Fracture: What to Expect
- Personalizing Your Fracture Risk with FRAX
- The Sobering Facts About Hip Fracture
- Rethinking the Role of Protein-Rich Diets in Osteoporosis Prevention
- Osteoporosis Screening: When Should You Start?
- What Does Osteopenia Really Mean?
- How Long Can You Safely Take Bisphosphonate Medication for Osteoporosis?
- More Alerts...
- Talking About Hip Fractures with Dr. Bellantoni
- Osteoporosis: Not Just a Womans Disease
- Osteopenia: To Treat or Not to Treat?
- Osteoporosis and Digestive Disorders
- Is it Ever Okay To Discontinue Your Osteoporosis Medication?
- 6 Exercises To Help Build Bone Strength and Help Prevent Osteoporosis
- Calcium Supplements Still Count
- More Special Reports...
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Prescription Drugs
- In the Trash? Down the Drain? Whats the Safest Way to Dispose of Unused Meds?
- Straight Talk on the Health Risks of Herbal Supplements
- Why Is Prescription Medication So Costly?
- Your Pharmacist: An Underutilized Resource
- Safely Disposing of Unused Medications: Advice from the FDA
- Antibiotics: How They Can Cause Diarrhea
- How Oral Drugs Are Metabolized in the Body
- More Alerts...
- How a New Healthcare Initiative Could Lead to Better Treatment
- Drug Abuse and the Elderly
- The Wait for Generic Biologic Drugs
- How Antibiotics and Other Drugs Work
- What Is Pharmacogenics and Can It Help You?
- The Life Cycle of a Pill
- Will This Medication Work? Look to Your Genes
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Prostate Disorders
- Urinary Incontinence: A Common Side Effect of Prostate Cancer Treatment
- Understanding the TNM Prostate Cancer Staging System
- True or False: Prostate Cancer Growth Is Faster in Black Men?
- Using Nomograms to Predict Prostate Cancer Risk
- Research on Smoking and Prostate Cancer
- "Plan B: Cryotherapy as Salvage Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Hormone Therapy Before Brachytherapy
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- A New Look at Cryosurgery
- Planning Ahead: The Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney
- Should You Take Proscar to Prevent Prostate Cancer?
- Proton Beam Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer
- Taxotere: Chemotherapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer
- Testosterone-Replacement Therapy: Does It Increase Prostate Cancer Risk?
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Sexual Health
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Vision
- Drugs for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Are They Too Expensive?
- How Diabetic Retinopathy Affects Vision
- New Technologies to Brighten Low Vision
- Lowering IOP Through Exercise
- A Look at Two Alternative Treatments for AMD
- How to Make the Most of Limited Vision and Mobility
- Staying on Track With Your Glaucoma Regimen
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- Glaucoma and Your Genes
- Your Glaucoma Treatment Options
- What You Should Expect After Cataract Surgery
- 4 Promising Treatments for AMD
- Glaucoma: A Family Matter
- How the Eye Works
- Advice To Help You See Better When You Drive
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Womens Health
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