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Four Predictors of Long Life
Evidence is mounting that some rather surprising attributes and habits of a person's life can pretty well foretell whether that man or woman will live to a ripe old age. Here are four of them: -- Having strong legs. Leg strength translates into good flexibility, balance and endurance, which are crucial for avoiding the falls and other accidents that shorten so many seniors' lives. It's good to do squats, lunges and stair climbing to kill two birds with one stone: losing weight and gaining strength. (Read more about Four Predictors of Long Life)
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Exercise Shields Blood Vessels From Fatty Meals' Influence
If you exercise vigorously before eating a fatty meal, your arteries will likely still be able to dilate normally in response to the body's requirement for increased blood flow, a recent study has found.
It was already known that intense exercise helps artery linings - called the vascular endothelium - to work better. But a recent investigation published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology points to the role exercise can play in keeping endothelial cells and arteries supple following a fatty meal. (Read more about Exercise Shields Blood Vessels From Fatty Meals' Influence)
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Chelation Therapy Would Be Great, if It Works
Chelation therapy, in which a chemical agent improves one's health by latching on to excess metal atoms in the body, forming complexes that are then excreted in the urine, so far has only limited proven effectiveness. Claims are often made that chelation therapy is a good treatment for cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, mercury poisoning, chronic fatigue syndrome and other long-term conditions. But there is no scientific evidence for any of these (Read more about Chelation Therapy Would Be Great, if It Works)
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The Paradoxical Vulnerability of Men
Dr. Marriane Legato discusses what she believes to be one of the most interesting issues concerning men. At any age, from birth to 85 years, men die at a greater number than women. Their vulnerability in the womb is very interesting. About 250 male fetuses are conceived for every 100 females fetuses and, yet, the birthing average is a one to one ratio. So why are those male fetuses dying at a greater number in the womb? Why are they less developed than girls at birth? They're about six weeks behind their sisters when they're born. And if they're premature and have a low birth weight, they're much more likely to die than girls. (Read more about The Paradoxical Vulnerability of Men)
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Aspirin Has Little Benefit for Many With Heart Disease
Close to 20 percent of patients taking aspirin to lower the risk of suffering a second cerebrovascular event do not have an anti platelet response from aspirin, the effect expected to be protective. The University of Buffalo conducted a strictly controlled study over 29 months with 653 patients to confirm the 20 percent rate of aspirin resistance. Lead researcher, Francis Gengo, states, "Millions of people use low-dose aspirin for prevention of a second stroke, second heart attack, or second episode of peripheral artery disease. In those indications, it's crystal clear that aspirin reduces the risk of a second heart attack or stroke in most patients. But we have known for years that in some stroke and heart attack patients, aspirin has no preventative effect." (Read more about Aspirin Has Little Benefit for Many With Heart Disease)
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Gender Differences in Coronary Artery Disease
Dr. Marianne Legato discusses how she evaluates patients being screened for cardiovascular disease. She says that one of the things she looks for are the signs of early coronary artery disease in men, as well as the unique symptoms in women. Women also experience coronary artery spasm, which does not affect men, that can cause angina even in the presence of non-obstructive coronary disease. They can have clean coronaries and still experience chest pain. (Read more about Gender Differences in Coronary Artery Disease)
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What is the Polypill?
Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses the Polypill. The Polypill is being developed in response to an important reality surrounding cardiovascular disease. There are three important drugs that can help prevent heart disease (statins, ACE inhibitors, and aspirin). These drugs are not taken for two major reasons. First, the drugs are simply too expensive for much of the world, including countries as developed as Russia. And secondly, in developed nations where the drugs are affordable patients too often fail to comply - after three years 70% of patients do not take the medications as prescribed. (Read more about What is the Polypill?)
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What Are the Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease?
Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses the 6 causes or risk factors behind coronary artery disease. There are two physical risk factors: high blood pressure and size of the waist (or abdominal obesity). There are two chemical risk factors: cholesterol levels in the blood and blood glucose (diabetes). And finally, there are two lifestyle risk factors: smoking and exercise. (Read more about What Are the Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease?)
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What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Dr. Valentin Fuster, one of the world's leading cardiologists, discusses the basics of coronary heart disease. Dr. Fuster than describes the symptoms of a heart attack and how to differentiate these symptoms from other conditions. Most importantly, he urges viewers to pay attention to these symptoms and the importance of getting medical treatment as soon as possible, even if one has the least suspicion of a coronary incident. Getting treatment in the first hour or two can minimize damage to heart muscle. (Read more about What is Coronary Artery Disease?)
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What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Dr. Sattesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses Peripheral Arterial Disease, who is at risk, why it is important to be screened and current treatments. Pad is essentially a blockage of the arteries in the lower extremities. That is what we mean by peripheral arteries -- leg arteries blocked by hardening of the arteries, buildup of cholesterol, plaque and calcium. This in part is a process of aging, but certainly also brought on by smoking. Diabetes is another risk factor, as is hypertension. (Read more about What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?)
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