High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common disorder that, if left untreated, can lead to heart disease and stroke. Your blood pressure reading consists of an upper number, the systolic pressure caused by your heart beating, and a lower...
Red yeast rice, the product of rice fermented with yeast, is a staple food in Asian cultures. Widely known for its cholesterol-lowering benefits, recent research has revealed several other health-boosting effects. Red yeast rice is available...
When most people talk about thin blood, they mean the blood takes longer to clot. The actual thickness of the blood, or viscosity, does not change with normal exercise. The ability of your blood to form clot promoters, however, does change with...
Individuals interested in beverages with therapeutic properties may be intrigued by roasted barley tea, known in Japanese as mugicha or in Korean as boricha. Barley tea is available in loose grains, tea bags or prepared tea drinks. It is...
Diabetes is a medical condition in which blood sugar is poorly controlled due to insulin dysfunction or the absence of insulin. The two types of diabetes, though different in origin, share similarities in terms of health complications, even when...
Vertigo is a sensation that you or objects around you are spinning. It is a common form of dizziness caused by a malfunctioning of the nerves of the inner ear. The vestibular system is in charge of the inner ear's function, and is responsible for...
Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are nutrients your body requires to function normally. Since they are not produced or stored in the body, you need to eat foods that contain essential fatty acids. While there are many different essential fatty...
Taking CoQ10 for hypertension is a potential method of lowering high blood pressure. CoQ10 will potentially benefit people who have tried medications that didn't alleviate their symptoms as well as those who want to avoid side effects from...
According to the Sports Injury Info website, ice massage, a form of cryotherapy, is an effective treatment for musculoskeletal injuries. Ice massage, which may incorporate the use of ice cubes or ice packs, helps decrease pain, swelling and...
Stretching your muscles is vital before any sort of athletic performance to get both mentally and physically prepared for exercise or competition. According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), a well-designed and planned...
Fresh garlic makes a flavorful addition to a variety of dishes. When it's used regularly, garlic is more than just a flavor enhancer; it offers several health benefits. Garlic has been used for many years to treat medical conditions. When it comes...
Procrit, or epoietin alfa, mimics the erythropoietin hormone produced by the kidney, which stimulates bone marrow production of red blood cells. Physicians prescribe Procrit injections for people diagnosed with chronic anemia caused by cancer or...
Doctors classify cholesterol as a lipid because it cannot dissolve in water. Although it differs from fat, cholesterol contains a waxy surface, which means it must bind to specialized proteins known as lipoproteins to travel through the blood...
Taurine is an amino acid that your body produces and is also obtained by eating meats and seafood. Taurine is not used to make proteins. Instead, this amino acid is used by itself or as part of small chains of amino acids called peptides. Taurine...
Smoking is the main cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. Exposure to secondhand smoke--also known as passive smoking--carries many of the same health risks as regular smoking due to the harmful compounds in exhaled and side-stream...
When combined with an exercise program and a healthy diet, supplements can aid in increasing metabolism and burning fat. However, not all supplements are safe, and many fat-burning supplements contain stimulants which can be harmful if consumed...
Restless leg syndrome, RLS, causes jumpy, painful legs that tend to flare up at night, sometimes disturbing sleep. Its cause is not well understood but has been associated with iron deficiency and such conditions as diabetes, pregnancy and...
Qi gong (pronounced chee gung, as in lung), is an ancient Asian method of building and balancing energy. Some call it “meditation in motion.” Its origin is generally believed to be 5,000 years old, but the written history of Qi gong...
An electronic headband priced at nearly $500 promises to relax facial muscles and to remove wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. The gadget looks like something out of a science fiction movie, and according to the Beauty Brains, it's a...
Hypertension or high blood pressure, is known as the "silent killer" and has become a growing concern in the United States. Daily exercise along with a healthy, low-salt diet can have a tremendous impact on lowering high blood pressure.The...
Creatine is a compound that is naturally produced by your body and is synthesized from the three amino acids, L-arginine, L-glycine, and L-methionine in your pancreas and stored primarily in your skeletal muscles. Creatine is also manufactured and...
Ginkgo Biloba trees shaded the earth with their broad, fan-shaped leaves millions of years before the first Homo sapiens appeared on the scene. These living fossils have long been used as medicine, decorative foliage and Bonsai trees. Ginkgo trees...
Despite its purported benefits, L-arginine carries risks for cardiac patients. L-arginine is an amino acid found in red meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. It is primarily used to alleviate heart and blood vessel problems caused by congestive...
L-arginine and Toprol share a common purpose to improve cardiovascular health. Each one accomplishes this goal in different ways. Both can improve blood pressure through different mechanisms. L-arginine differs in that it is widely available in a...
Flaxseed and fish oil are both sources of omega-3 fatty acids, a form of polyunsaturated fat. Flaxseed is high in the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. Fish oil, on the other hand, contains the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic...
Poor circulation is a result of viscous blood attempting to flow through narrowed blood vessels. If blood flow is restricted, organs, muscles and joints will not receive nourishment and chronic damage may result. Circulatory problems can lead to...
Wheat germ and flax are nutritious and contain dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, protein and many vitamins and minerals although there are differences in their overall nutritional content. Both wheat germ and flax provide health benefits,...
A variety of herbal products show benefits for prevention and treatment of both high and low blood pressure. All parts of the world and most traditional medicine systems identify certain naturally occurring plants as useful for blood pressure...
Cardiac lipids are fatty acids such as fish oils that benefit your heart. According to a study that appeared in the 2006 "Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care," omega-3 fatty acids have a cardioprotective effect, mainly because of the omega-3...
