cw11.empowereddoctor.com - cardiology

Caffeine During Pregnancy May Damage Fetus' Heart

2009-01-07

In our highly caffeinated American society, one class of people may be particularly at risk: expectant mothers and the fetuses they bear. Recent experimental evidence indicates that pregnant mice exposed to just a single dose of caffeine (the equivalent of two cups of coffee in humans) produce young that have flawed hearts, reduced cardiac function over their entire lifespan, and, among males, higher body fat.

Mitochondrial Breakdown Produces Heart Disease

2008-12-15

On the basis of a new study, scientists are suggesting that heart disease may be caused by degradation of tiny cellular components called mitochondria - and that the cure may be found in taking steps to rejuvenate the little ovoid bodies. Researchers who introduced a defect into the mitochondrial DNA in the egg cells of mice found that the animals born from the eggs developed severe heart disease in very early middle age.

"Silver Bullet" for Age-Related Diseases?

2008-12-08

A simple natural compound found in grape juice and red wine seems to have the potential to work on the common root of a variety of age-related illnesses and virtually cure them. And that compound, resveratrol, may become one in a new class of drugs that target the disorders, which include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and cardiovascular problems.

Little-Known Cause of Infertility

2008-12-01

A peculiar and destructive condition that afflicts as many as 10 percent of women is the most common cause of female infertility. Women with the disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), usually are overweight, miss or have irregular periods, have a profusion of small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in their ovaries, have high levels of male hormones (androgens) and suffer from excessive hair growth, especially facial hair.

The Medicine Called Sleep

2008-11-21

Deep, adequate sleep is like a healing medicine to the body. But the opposite is true, too. In fact, consistently poor or insufficient sleep can contribute to diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and weight gain, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic. Blood pressure, for example, rises and falls during sleep. But when sleep is interrupted, there can be an unhealthy impact on the blood pressure's normal variability, causing it to rise and setting off problems with the heart and arteries.

Chelation Therapy Would Be Great, if It Works

2008-11-13

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

Four Predictors of Long Life

2008-11-06

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.

Compound in Indian Curry Attenuates Strokes

2008-10-13

Curry may also be a pharmaceutical. Research that's being conducted at the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine is showing that curcumin, the biologically active compound in curry's main spice, turmeric, can diminish the size of blood clots in the brain. These clots form when a blood vessel bursts in the brain, causing a hemorrhagic stroke. These comprise 17 percent of strokes, according to the American Stroke Association. As a bonus, curcumin reduces one's chances of coming down with cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

The Healing Influence of Religiousness

2008-10-06

Study after study over the years has shown that practicing one's religion - with all of the persistence and sincerity that demands - inevitably leads to improved health and ability to recover from illness. For example, a 1987-95 research investigation of 21,000 Americans found that those who attended worship services more than once a week experienced a seven-year greater life span than their counterparts who never attended such services. Epidemiologist Jeff Levin, who wrote the book God, Faith and Health, conducted studies showing that older adults who thought of themselves as religious had better overall health than the faith-less.

As Goes Oral Health, So Goes General Health

2008-09-30

Many studies are showing a persistent connection between gum disease and other ailments that afflict corners of the body far afield from the teeth. Specifically, when gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) or full-blown periodontal disease is present, it's often the case that doctors find that a patient has diabetes, kidney disorders, preterm labor, certain types of cancer, osteoporosis or even Alzheimer's disease.