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Read More about Are you taking too many supplements?
Are you taking too many supplements?

Are you taking too many supplements?
Taking too many dietary supplements can lead to potential problems. Examples include medication interference, difficulty managing a complicated regimen, missed prescription medication doses, and overdoing it on nutrient intake. It’s not that all supplements are without benefits. For some people, specific supplements may offer some chance of benefit, and little risk. But going overboard can be risky. It’s important to speak with a doctor before starting a supplement to make sure it won’t interfere with one’s health or current medications.
Read More about When pain slows your new walking regimen
When pain slows your new walking regimen

When pain slows your new walking regimen
There are lots of aches and pains that can slow down a new walking regimen. Examples include heel pain from plantar fasciitis, shin pain from spinal stenosis, and joint pain from osteoarthritis. Treatment varies, depending on the cause. Once pain has been addressed, it’s important to set realistic goals for a walking routine, starting with five or 10 minutes per day and gradually increasing the time. Doctors recommend an ultimate goal of 30 minutes of daily brisk walking.
Read More about Sensing abnormal heart rhythms with a smart speaker?
Sensing abnormal heart rhythms with a smart speaker?

Sensing abnormal heart rhythms with a smart speaker?
Using artificial intelligence, smart speakers can be programmed to detect and monitor abnormal heart rhythms in people sitting within one to two feet of the speakers.
Read More about Alternatives to warfarin may be safer, more effective for afib
Alternatives to warfarin may be safer, more effective for afib

Alternatives to warfarin may be safer, more effective for afib
For people with certain types of valvular atrial fibrillation, drugs known as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may be safer and more effective than warfarin (Coumadin). DOACs include apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), and rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
Read More about Treating sleep apnea: Good for your heart and mind?
Treating sleep apnea: Good for your heart and mind?

Treating sleep apnea: Good for your heart and mind?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissue at the back of the throat temporarily blocks the airway during sleep. People with sleep apnea face a heightened risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The condition can also affect mood, and some people diagnosed with depression may actually have sleep apnea. Treating apnea with positive airway pressure improves both high blood pressure and depression.
Read More about Diastolic blood pressure: Worth a second look?
Diastolic blood pressure: Worth a second look?

Diastolic blood pressure: Worth a second look?
A diastolic blood pressure reading lower than 60 mm Hg may be linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in people at high cardiovascular risk. Diastolic pressure tends to fall with age. Some people with a low reading have a leaky aortic valve, which interferes with normal blood circulation throughout the heart and causes diastolic pressure to fall. But in people with healthy aortic valves who can be physically active without any symptoms (such as chest pressure, shortness of breath, or lightheadedness), a low diastolic blood pressure should not pose a problem.
Read More about Common questions about medical cannabis
Common questions about medical cannabis

Common questions about medical cannabis
While cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, more than two-thirds of US states have made it partly or fully legal for medical purposes. People who decide to use marijuana for a medical condition often have questions about its safety and proper use — the same considerations doctors weigh when determining whether it should be prescribed for a particular patient.
Read More about American Heart Association issues statement on cardiovascular side effects from hormonal therapy for prostate cancer
American Heart Association issues statement on cardiovascular side effects from hormonal therapy for prostate cancer

American Heart Association issues statement on cardiovascular side effects from hormonal therapy for prostate cancer
The American Heart Association issued a statement addressing cardiovascular risks from hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, emphasizing the need to identify men with pre-existing cardiac risk factors or a family history of cardiovascular diseases who should be monitored closely during treatment.
Read More about What's causing the ringing sound in my ear?
What's causing the ringing sound in my ear?

What's causing the ringing sound in my ear?

A ringing sound in one or both ears is usually a form of an annoying condition called tinnitus. When tinnitus persists, treatment  such as cognitive behavioral therapy, tinnitus retraining therapy or biofeedback, can ease symptoms.

Read More about Implanted heart device? Beware of newer smartphones and wearables
Implanted heart device? Beware of newer smartphones and wearables

Implanted heart device? Beware of newer smartphones and wearables

Research we're watching

People who have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker should avoid the iPhone 12 as well as wearable tech products — such as the Fitbit and Apple Watch — that use magnetic chargers. The magnets in these gadgets can interfere with implanted cardiac devices, possibly rendering them useless, say two recent reports.

A 55-year-old woman wearing an Apple Watch while sleeping was awakened by several beeps from her ICD. A next-day check showed the watch's magnet had deactivated her device, as noted Dec. 12, 2020, in HeartRhythm Case Reports. In the Jan. 4, 2021 HeartRhythm, doctors described how bringing an iPhone 12 near the chest of a person with an ICD immediately disabled the device.

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