SavantMD: Health and Wellness » Healthy Body

5 Bad Habits for Your Heart Health ~Wellness & Health Tip

SavantMD — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:41 +0000

Here are the 5 habits that are most detrimental to your heart health.

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With February being National Heart month I thought I’d just give you a quick reminder about the 5 habits that are most detrimental to your heart health. They are smoking, inactivity, being overweight, eating poorly, and drinking too much alcohol. Now, of course, you could say that they’re all related which is exactly the point. But studies have shown that even changing one of these habits will have significant benefits to your health, ie., live a longer, more comfortable life while avoiding a stroke, heart attack, or diabetes. In an upcoming tip I’ll talk about some specific strategies on how to change these habits for the better.

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5 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health ~ Wellness & Health Tip

SavantMD — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:02 +0000

5 ways to improve your heart health.

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Ok, to review, the 5 habits that are most detrimental to your heart health are smoking, inactivity, being overweight, eating poorly and drinking too much alcohol. For the first one I know you don’t need me to tell you to stop smoking,…..but I will anyway because it’s so important. Stop smoking. Now for the second one you’re probably thinking ‘be more active’ which is true and I apologize for being the master of the obvious but I’ll try to be a little more specific. Ideally, a vigorous aerobic activity like walking, biking, running, or swimming for 30 minutes five times per week is what you should be doing. In reality, any increase in movement is a good place to start. Get your butt off the couch or away from the computer and move. Regarding weight I think most people know that carrying extra pounds, especially around your midsection, will have a negative impact on your health. To lose weight you need to move more, eat less and eat better. Which leads us to number 4. An easy way to improve your diet is to first drink water, 6-8 8 oz glasses or 1.5-2 liters per day, and to concentrate on eating 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Also include more whole grains and legumes and lean, grass fed, pasture raised meat, for those who eat meat. And finally, if you drink alcohol limit your intake to 1-2 drinks daily for men, 1 daily for women

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February is National Heart Health Month ~ Heart & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:56 +0000

february-is-national-heart-health-month-heart-wellness-tip

Heart Disease is preventable so make changes today!!

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February is national heart month so I just wanted to remind you that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the US. Of course, I don’t mean to sound so pessimistic since much of the heart disease that occurs is preventable. Even making small changes in your life like walking more frequently and eating your fruits and vegetables can have a significant impact in improving your health and lowering your risk for heart disease. The idea is to be able to have a long, healthy, and comfortable life and not to become a prisoner of your body.

Helpful Links:

American Heart Month

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Make Sure Your Doctor Uses A Clean Stethoscope ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:33 +0000

A clean stethoscope is essential when seeing a health professional.

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When I was in medical school we had to meet with the infection control nurse to remind us about how infections are transmitted before we started our hospital rotations. And we learned that the two main ways that infections are passed on are by the hands and the stethoscope. Most doctors are good about washing their hands between patients but will often forget to clean their stethoscopes, too. A quick swipe with an antibacterial wipe or gel will get the job done so don’t feel bad about asking your doctors to wipe down their stethoscopes. I will wipe mine between seeing patients.

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Fast Food & Children ~ Health & Nutrition Tip

SavantMD — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

In San Francisco a Happy Meal for children will no longer have a toy in it.

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So here in San Francisco a Happy Meal for children will no longer have a toy in it and parents will have to pay 10 cents if they want to get it. Can you legislate health? Certainly a difficult question with lots of opinions but I think the most important point about this whole debate is that obesity, especially childhood obesity, is a real problem in the United States. We eat way too much fat, salt, sugar and starches and many of us get this from fast food. I’m always trying to get my patients to cook more of their own food, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to stay more active. It’s quality over quantity. If you’re going to have a burger it’s better to make your own from better quality meat and have less of it.

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Symptoms and Treatment of ADHD ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:34 +0000

More and more we are seeing adults who are being treated for ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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More and more we are seeing adults who are being treated for ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This disorder is characterized by a lack of focus such that a person can never finish any project or concentrate long enough to complete a task. Depression and insomnia are also commonly seen in people with ADHD also. The treatment is to use medications that are stimulants like Ritalin, Adderall or Conerta. As stimulants these medications can raise a person’s blood pressure and heart rate but can they also increase someone’s risk for heart attacks and strokes? A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests not; that there is no increased risk. This is good news. All the same, for my patients on medication for ADHD I like to check their blood pressures routinely to stay on top of their heart health.

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Symptoms and Treatment of Athlete’s Foot ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:43 +0000

How to prevent and treat Athlete’s Foot.

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If you exercise regularly, go to the gym, or just spend a lot of time in your shoes you’ve probably experienced the burning, itching, and cracked skin of athlete’s foot to some degree. When your feet stay in a hot, moist environment it’s a perfect opportunity for fungus to thrive. The fungus will live in your shoes and then get into your skin, typically between your toes. The best way to prevent a fungal infection of your feet is to wear socks made from natural materials like cotton or wool and to not stay in your shoes too long after exercise. It’s also important to wash and dry your feet regularly. If you do end up getting athlete’s foot many of the over the counter antifungal preparations in creams or sprays are effective. You just have to make sure that you keep good foot hygiene and use the medication for at least two weeks, even if the symptoms go away after a few days. The symptoms will disappear before the fungus is completely gone.

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Memory Loss Can Happen During Middle Age ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:12 +0000

Memory Loss Can Happen During Middle Age

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We always think about memory loss happening in elderly people but a recent study published in the British Medical Journal showed signs of memory loss in people as young as 45. So what does this mean for all of us? What we do know is that leading a healthy lifestyle by eating right, staying physically active and staying mentally involved and engaged can help keep a person younger and more mentally sharp for a longer period of time over the course of their lifetime. So eat your vegetables, get off the couch, and read regularly.

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Women, Blood Pressure & Exercise ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:29:11 +0000

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Even though you probably don’t need to have another example of exercise being good for your health a recent study showed that even moderate exercise in obese, sedentary women helped lower their exercise blood pressure, which can decrease the risk for cardiac events like heart attacks. When you exercise your blood pressure rises naturally but in people who don’t get much activity it will rise rapidly and much higher thus causing a greater risk for a heart attack. In the study all the women who increased their level of exercise, even just a little, saw the benefits in their lower blood pressure. So you don’t have to join a gym or run a marathon. Just get up and take a walk around the block regularly. Of course, it’s always best to check with your doctor first before starting an exercise program.

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Diabetes Update ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:04 +0000

here’s an alarming statistic.br />
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So here’s an alarming statistic. The Center for Disease Control predicts that by the year 2020 half of all Americans will develop diabetes or pre-diabetes if current trends in obesity continue. Right now 1 in 4 children is diagnosed with diabetes, much of which is type 2 diabetes, the kind that is generally linked to obesity. Diabetes prevention starts early with some very basic healthy habits: eating healthfully and exercising regularly. So do what your mother told you and eat your vegetables and get your kids and yourself off the couch and outside playing.

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