If you have leg pain during exercise, it’s time to take notice.
Peripheral artery disease – PAD – results from narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to your legs. PAD is dangerous since it could lead to complications like heart disease, stroke or (yikes!) lower limb amputation.
None of that sounds like much fun. The good news is that screening for the disease is simple. Doctors compare the blood pressure in the feet or leg to that of the arm. If an abnormal ratio is found, additional tests like an ultrasound or MRI may be performed.

“People don’t recognize that leg cramps …read more

If you find the park or even your backyard refreshing, you’re not alone. And the benefits may be stronger than you think.
If your world is all concrete and steel, could be more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, as well as other health problems. Dutch researchers studied more than 300,000 Dutch adults and children, and discovered that those living close to more green spaces had slightly lower rates of different health conditions like asthma, heart disease, migraine, diabetes, and chronic neck and back pain.

The strongest health association was between lack of green spaces and people suffering from depression and …read more

More countries are beginning to ban smoking within certain types of buildings. There was a lot of resistance to smoking bans, particularly from bar and pub owners who felt they would be losing business if their patrons wouldn’t be allowed to smoke. While it may be true that some businesses suffered, others did well because non-smokers now could come in and be comfortable.
But do the bans affect health? Are people healthier because their access to smoking may be less than it was before. According to researchers, yes.
In a study, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, North American …read more

Avandia (rosiglitazone), a medication for people with type 2 diabetes, has been the subject of studies evaluating its safety and the results aren’t what Glaxo (the manufacturer) had hoped for. According to researchers in Toronto, Canada, elderly people who take Avandia may have an increased risk of heart failure and death.
The researchers didn’t, however, find the same results that American researchers found two years earlier, which suggested that Avandia also increased the risk of heart attacks. The Canadian researchers found no difference between patients who took Avandia and another type of medication, Actos (pioglitazone), and the rate of heart attacks …read more

Overall, I feel like I’m an optimistic person, and that may lower my risk of heart disease or just help me live longer in general. New research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association indicates that optimistic women have a lower risk of heart disease compared to pessimistic women.
It gets better: Women who look on the bright side also have a lower risk of dying from any cause, not just heart disease.

It’s a good time to have a positive outlook! At least don’t be cynical. Researchers say that women with a high degree of cynical hostility are at …read more

Doctors and researchers have been noticing a decline in vitamin D levels in children for a while now but the problem is getting worse. With the increasingly sedentary and inside-the-home lifestyle of many American children, and the high use of sun block for those who do go outside, many just aren’t getting sufficient levels of vitamin D from the best source, the sun.
Although we know it’s important to protect our skin from the sun to reduce the risk of skin cancer, as with everything, moderation and common sense needs to take hold. Unless their skin is very fragile, five to …read more

Fans of the fabulous writer E. Lynn Harris were saddened to learn that he had passed away last week. Now, a coroner’s report confirms that he died of heart disease combined with high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. He was only 54.

At first the official report was that he died of natural causes. But natural causes at 54? I’m glad they did an autopsy and found the real reason.
Harris, for those of you that don’t know, was a pioneer in writing. He had ten New York Times best sellers, and over …read more

Why not honor your mom all while toasting all women? On behalf of WomenHeart and Clos du Bois Winery, and in support of the site, www.ToastToWomen.com, Blisstree is offering a fun, heart-healthy giveaway!
Valued at $150, the winner of this giveaway will take home:

A portable pedometer to keep track of her movement
A personal yoga mat to keep her flexible
A durable water bottle to keep her hydrated
An MP3 player to keep her toes tapping
A plush gym towel to keep her dry

This giveaway is one of the ways to support www.ToastToWomen.com, a site created by WomenHeart and Clos du Bois Winery to help …read more

I’ve never thought those energy drinks were a very good idea anyway, but now research suggests that they can be especially bad for people with high blood pressure or heart disease. Research showed that “the subjects’ average heart rate increased 7.8 percent the first day and 11 percent the seventh day. Blood pressure increased at least 7 percent the first and seventh days.” So if you already have high blood pressure, this could prove problematic.

Researchers were quick to point out that energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks. Sports drinks help “replenish carbohydrates and electrolytes” …read more

While most of us are aware that pain or pressure in the chest is a symptom of a heart attack, not many women realize that female heart attack symptoms can be different. While chest pain may be a symptom, women are also likely to have atypical heart attack symptoms.
Heart Attack Symptoms for Females:
• Pain in one or both arms, upper back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Discomfort or pressure in the chest
• Nausea or vomiting
• Trouble breathing
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Inability to sleep
• Unusual fatigue
• Paleness or clammy skin
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
(Source: Sister to Sister: The Women’s Heart …read more