Do you know how well your kidneys are functioning? Primary care physicians may be failing to diagnose kidney problems in women soon enough.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more likely to go undiagnosed in women than men, says Maya Rao, MD, of Columbia University.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, warning signs of CKD include high blood pressure, puffiness around eyes, and swelling of hands and feet. Other signs include frequent urination, particularly at night, and painful or difficult urination. Tests may show blood or protein in the urine. Around 19 million Americans are affected by CKD.
Rao’s paper, being presented at the …read more

Are you bothered by traffic noise near your home or work? If so, that annoyance could be causing your blood pressure to rise.
I don’t hear much traffic noise near my home, but my rattling refrigerator is certainly annoying and sly. (It was so silent for the repair guy.)

A new study by Swedish researchers found that people exposed to noisy roads are more likely to suffer from hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
The study, published in Environmental Health, analyzed the link between living close to noisy roads and suffering from high blood pressure. Physical changes in response to noise exposure …read more

If you’re middle-aged and have high blood pressure, anywhere from 140/90 or higher, you may have trouble with your memory as well.
An interesting study, published in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology, found that people over the age of 45 years who had a high lower blood pressure number, the diastolic number had a higher chance of having memory or cognitive problems than those who are normotensive, or have normal diastolic blood pressure numbers.
Researchers looked at almost 20,000 people who were over 45 years old. According to a press release from American Academy of Neurology,
For every 10 …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

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

Dealing with insomnia each night may cause you more harm than just a groggy morning after. Two new studies point to a “rise in blood pressure” and an “increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior” as part of the possible outcomes that can occur when you don’t get enough sleep.

People that had insomnia for a year or longer and slept less than five hours a night were “five times as likely to have high blood pressure.” This confirms that the power is sleep is important. If you are having trouble that you think might be insomnia, seek …read more

If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, you may want to avoid drinking the so-called energy drinks that have become so popular. The energy drinks aren’t the same thing as sports drinks, like Gatorade though. These are the ones that promise “to give you wings” or keep you awake all night.
A study that was published online on Wednesday in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy , has found that healthy adults who drank two cans a day of a popular energy drink had an increase in both blood pressure and heart rate. The researchers did point out though, …read more

CRP or an inflammatory marker is a protein that is made when there is inflammation present in the body. CRP inflammation can be caused by high blood pressure, high blood sugar or smoking, it is also the way your body reacts to injury or infection.
CRP(C-reactive protein) inflammation encourages plaque to form in the blood vessels. This plaque will eventually cause the blood vessels to rupture causing a heart attack or stroke.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is often shortened to CPR. When your health care provider is explaining your disorder they will usually use the term CRP.  You will see CRP in …read more

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner you may want to consider giving your love, a heart healthy treat.
For those of us with partner’s that have high blood pressure or heart problems that love their sweets, this article is a great find. Dark chocolate may be just what the answer you are looking for.
Do you know that cocoa is actually a fruit? We all know that fruits are good for us.
Researchers have found a link that shows cocoa and dark chocolate aid in the fight against cardiovascular disease.  The studies show reduced risk for blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.
Food …read more

A young healthy 6 foot 8 inch swimmer, in his sophomore in college, called his stepmother to tell her that he could not swim until he had seen a doctor.
The couch at his new college Fordham University in New York had taken his blood pressure and stated that it was too high.
Like most young people Danny Thrall thought he was young and athletic what could be wrong with him, other than something minor.
His test revealed that his aorta was greatly enlarged; this was due to a leaky valve. The doctor advised Danny that the surgery would have to be …read more