When faced with a teenager who may have major depression key issues must be considered as part of the diagnostic process before even reviewing treatment options. Adolescents with possible major depression deserve a thoughtful and careful evaluation. As part of this assessment several points are worth highlighting.
March 23, 2011 -- Regular exercise and a low-sodium diet are two lifestyle changes that are often recommended to lower high blood pressure.
Now a new study shows that one appears to influence the other.
Specifically, physical activity appears to help keep blood pressure from climbing after people eat eye-popping amounts of salt -- 18,000 milligrams a day to be exact. That’s about 10 times the recommended daily intake for sodium. As a visual aid, picture 18 salted soft pretzels like the kind sold at mall food courts.
March 23, 2011 -- Cocoa, used throughout history as a folk medicine, may actually have significant health benefits, according to a new study by Harvard researchers.
Their analysis of 21 studies with 2,575 participants shows that cocoa consumption is associated with decreased blood pressure, improved blood vessel health, and improvement in cholesterol levels, among other benefits.
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
Could you lower cholesterol levels with a bowl of oatmeal in the morning and a handful of nuts in the afternoon? It's certainly possible.
"Dietary changes can have powerful effects on cholesterol levels," says Edgar R. Miller III, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University. That's true even if you don't lose weight or exercise more, he says -- although obviously it's better to do those as well.
It's been proven that people who plan their meals and exercise everyday are more successful in meeting their healthy eating and weight goals then those who don't create a plan.
March 22, 2011 -- High intake of whole-grain cereal is linked to a lower risk of high blood pressure and hefty helpings of dietary fiber are linked to a lower risk of heart disease, especially for young and middle-aged adults, new studies show.
Breakfast cereal, in particular, may be an important way to fill up on both whole grains and dietary fiber.
