Bringing wholesome healthy tips
After weeks of experts telling us that we should not wear face masks to protect ourselves from the new coronavirus, the CDC has now reversed that recommendation. In fact, this most trusted source of information on combatting disease in our country is now saying that every person should wear some form of face covering when out in public (other than those who have trouble breathing or are under two years…
Diabetes is an epidemic in our country, spurred on by sedentary lifestyles and skyrocketing rates of obesity. And, once you have it, the rest of your health can quickly deteriorate, raising your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. That’s why your doctor will immediately recommend that you make major lifestyle changes to get your blood sugar under control to save your health and possibly your life — changes…
As a cardiologist, my heart skips a beat (figuratively, of course!) every time I read about research linking heart disease and COVID-19. What reassures me is knowing that most of my patients are safe at home, isolating and taking care of themselves, reducing their risk of acquiring coronavirus in the first place, while increasing their chances of a good outcome if they do contract it. Nevertheless, emerging data on heart…
I remember being shocked when I heard back in mid-March that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson had COVID-19. Things were just really starting to heat up with the virus in the U.S. and there still wasn’t anyone I knew (personally or celebrities) that had it. Rita Wilson gave an interview recently with Gayle King from CBS to talk about her experience, and she mentioned that she’d been treated with the…
It’s absolutely not news by now that following a Mediterranean diet is good for your heart. Just a few months ago, I wrote about how the Mediterranean diet may boost the effectiveness of statins, the widely-prescribed class of drugs that lowers “bad” cholesterol in an attempt to fight heart disease. So is it any wonder this diet is a natural way of eating in countries like Greece, Italy, Spain, and…
There’s been a lot of focus on keeping your hands and the surfaces in your house clean over the past few weeks — and for good reason. These simple actions can go a long way toward preventing the spread of COVID-19. But a topic I’ve heard a lot less about is your clothes, and I started wondering… can you catch the virus from your clothes? And if so, what hygiene…
One evening in March 2017, while posing for a family photo, Wanda Sturtz was suddenly hit with the worst headache of her life. “I had never had a headache like that,” she said. Wanda felt like she was about to pass out, and lost feeling on the right side of her body. Wanda had just become one of the nearly 800,000 Americans who suffer a stroke each year. Stroke kills…
With the coronavirus pandemic raging across the globe and from coast to coast here in the United States, it’s vital to remember that every time you step out your door, there is the potential to bring back the virus, not just in your body but on yourself and other objects that enter your home. And, during this time, the most likely item you’re walking into your home with is food…
Memory problems are often considered an unavoidable consequence of old age. “Senior moments” (as these memory slips have been labeled) are an expected and even comical part of getting older. We create memes, books and birthday cards about them. But even though most of us can laugh at this foible of aging, deep down, you don’t want it to happen to you. You feel embarrassed when you forget a word…
It could be this is one of your worst-case scenarios. Or, it’s possible that you’ve never imagined it happening, until now, it is. Your parent, friend or relative is in a nursing home or assisted living facility. And you’ve just been told that you’re no longer permitted to visit them. Of course, with the spread of COVID-19, you’re thankful for this precaution. But you’re also worried about your parent or…