10 major causes of heart disease according to the American Heart Association

How to Wreck Your Heart

What not to do for your heart's health.

1. Keep smoking.


A major cause of heart disease, smoking raises blood pressure, causes blood clots, and makes it harder to exercise. And it’s the number one preventable cause of premature death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association.


Even though it may be one of the most difficult habits to quit, the rewards of stopping smoking are perhaps the greatest and most immediate.

When you toss the smokes, your heart risk goes down within just a few days of quitting. Within a year, your risk is cut by half. After 10 years of living smoke-free, it’s as if you never smoked at all, says Nieca Goldberg, MD, cardiologist and director of the New York University Women’s Heart Program.

2. Ignore that chest pain.


When your heart literally aches and you don’t know why, it’s time to get checked out.


If you have chest pains while exercising, that’s a red flag. But if it happens after a heavy meal, it’s more likely to be your stomach causing trouble, says Goldberg, who is an American Heart Association spokeswoman and author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health.


If you feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest and you’re breaking out in a sweat, that’s an urgent matter; call 911.


Regardless of what you’re feeling or when, even a doctor can’t tell if you’re in real trouble over the phone. So you have to seek medical attention in person to get a definitive answer for chest pain.


3. Just accept that it’s in your genes.


Having a family history of heart disease is a strong risk factor for predicting your own chances of heart trouble.


Having a parent who has had an early heart attack doubles the risk for men having one; in women the risk goes up by about 70%, according to an American Heart Association report from December 2010.


“But heart disease isn’t just what you inherit. It’s also what you do about it,” Goldberg tells WebMD. You can still beat the odds and dramatically lower your risks by doing other heart-friendly things.


For example, lowering your LDL (that’s the bad form of cholesterol) by 50% will cut your risks in half, Goldberg says.


And a 1998 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that taking a cholesterol-lowering statin drug can help people with a family history of heart disease lower their risk to less than someone with zero family history. That means in some cases, you could erase your risk.


Bottom line: There’s no need to let your family history determine your destiny.



4. Skip your checkup.


When you don’t get checked out regularly by a doctor, you might not realize if you have some of the silent heart risk factors that are harder to detect, says Fonarow, who directs the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center.


Some of the most common, symptom-free cardiovascular issues are also some of the most easily treated, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.


If the cost of a checkup is holding you back, you may have more options than you think. Federally funded health centers allow patients to pay what they can. And local hospitals often offer information about clinics that accept sliding scale payments. Call your local health department for leads.


5. Be a couch potato.


“Being sedentary increases heart risks. Physical activity simply translates to living longer,” Fonarow says.


Exercise helps lower blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, encourages weight loss, benefits blood vessel function, and cuts stress, among other things.


Even if you haven’t been active for the last 20 years, it’s never too late to make an impact with exercise. Just be sure to talk to a doctor before you start a new fitness regimen. Tell your doctor exactly what you plan to do, or ask his advice, if you're looking for suggestions.


6. Stop taking your medications.


If you stop taking your heart medications, you may not feel better or worse afterward. But you could still be heading for a cardiac catastrophe.


“It’s only when you’re struck with a heart attack or stroke that many people think, ‘Oh, I should really keep taking my statin drug to lower my cholesterol,’” Fonarow says. He advises looking at heart medications as “insurance” against heart attack and stroke


7. Forget your growing waistline -- just buy some bigger pants.


If your belt size is slowly getting bigger, that’s something to worry about.


Excess fat tissue in the midsection -- giving you an apple-shaped figure -- could mean metabolic syndrome.


Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors that can lead to heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, through hardening of the arteries, insulin resistance, and inflammation.


A hefty waistline is linked to doubling your risk of heart disease, Goldberg says. That’s good reason to redouble your efforts to get in shape through a healthy lifestyle. It's not just about your clothes size.


8. Never mind when your heart flutters.


A fluttering feeling in your heart that causes chest discomfort, shortness of breath, the feeling you could faint, or actual fainting could be a sign of a heart arrhythmia. That’s an electrical problem with your heart, causing it to beat either too fast, too slow, or just irregularly.


If you feel a flutter for a second and it goes away, that’s no big deal, Goldberg tells WebMD. You can probably chalk that up to caffeine, chocolate, asthma, or maybe some cold medications you took. But if it happens frequently or is associated with other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.


9. Let your blood pressure run amok.


“A good way to wreck your heart is to leave your blood pressure elevated and untreated,” Fonarow says. Only about half of American adults with high blood pressure keep it under control, he says.


Allowing blood pressure to get out of hand makes the heart work harder and enlarge, leading to heart failure. It can also cause hardened arteries, raising your risks for heart attack, stroke, and other problems.


Even though symptoms of high blood pressure are rare, it’s relatively easy to diagnose. You can even check it yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Diet, exercise, and medications (if needed) can treat high blood pressure.


10. Eat with abandon.


Being overweight or obese contributes to heart disease, heart failure, and a shorter lifespan, Fonarow says.


No doubt, lasting weight loss is tough to accomplish. But the good news is, even moderate weight loss can improve heart risk factors.


Aim for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts; low in saturated fat and cholesterol; and with almost no trans fats. This does not mean you need to avoid fat altogether. Fats found in fish, olives and olive oil, nuts, and avocados are heart-healthy and should be eaten in moderation.

Understanding Blood Pressure ~ Silent Killer -

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure.^[1] The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries.

Notes for the above BP table :



1. Why did I do this? I searched high and low on the Internet, and I could find nothing like this in one place - a Summary of human BP range, the Averages, and the Comments relating to each BP level.

2. How did I get the numbers? I started with the commonly seen "Systolic/ Diastolic pairs" seen in the literature - 200/120, 160/100, 140/90, 120/80 and 90/60. From there, I interpolated and extrapolated all the other numbers. Note that these are AVERAGE relationships. For instance, instead of 140/90, your BP may be 140/100, or 140/80. Each individual will have a unique systolic-diastolic relationship. If your S/D difference varies significantly from the averages shown above, this can be helpful in assessing your particular cardiovascular condition.

3. For comparison purposes, I added the "delta" column, which is the difference between the Systolic and Diastolic pressure readings. This relationship is almost linear, with the exceptions of the 40 delta, the 30 delta, and the 15 delta.

4. As for the comments, I have "averaged" the references made in the literature, since not all doctors agree upon the pressures at which to treat, and how aggressively to treat (multiple medications, type of meds, etc.). You can rest assured that the pharmaceutical companies prefer that you take medication at 135/80, since they sell the meds. Most doctors are not so aggressive. Remember that ALL medications have side effects. Heart medications have more serious side effects than any other class of prescription drugs.


5. Be aware of the "Circadian Rhythm" cycle. Your Blood Pressure is highly influenced by the time of day. For normal people, the highest BP occurs about midday, and the lowest at about 3-4 AM in the morning. For some people, described as "non-dippers", this early morning BP dip does not occur. For these people, highest blood pressure usually occurs around 6 AM to 9 AM in the morning. Some doctors are not aware of this, and make erroneous assumptions. A non-dipper may see 150/95 in the morning, and 130/85 in the evening. Non-dipping is usually associated with abnormal sleep conditions, such as sleep apnea, heavy snoring, drug and alcohol abuse, etc.

6. One blood pressure reading means very little. The advice to "Have your blood pressure checked once a year" is useless. What time of day? Had you eaten less salty foods recently? Were you relaxed that day, when you are usually much more stressed? Had you recently exercised vigorously? You must check your BP far more often than once a year, especially if you show "borderline" readings. I can produce a very low, or very high blood pressure AT WILL, based upon what I do during the 24 hours prior to the measurement.

7. Beware of "white coat syndrome", which results in a much higher BP reading than normal, due to the authoritative doctor, the foreboding, sterile exam room, and the smells such as alcohol and disinfectant. All this is not relaxing. Some unaware doctors may prescribe medication, when in fact, you don't need it at all. As soon as you leave the office, your BP returns to normal. This is another great reason to use your own automatic BP wrist monitor, so that you come to know your own body, and the effects of stress, food, mood, sleep, and time of day.

8. MAP = Mean Arterial Pressure. Three formulas are used to compute MAP. All three produce very similar results.


Above, I used Method #1 -
MAP = DP + (1/3 (SP - DP))
Ideal Mean Arterial Pressure is defined as 93 mm of mercury, which corresponds to 120/80.

Alternative Method #2 -
Also, MAP = (2/3 DP) + (1/3 SP)






Alternative Method #3
MAP = ((2*DP) + SP) / 3
where SP= Systolic Pressure,
and DP= Diastolic Pressure

Quick Reference Guide to all the most common (and some uncommon) herbs and spices! Cooking Creatively...

Ever get coriander confused with cumin? Or wonder if saffron is really essential to the flavor of a dish? As much for our benefit as for yours, we've put together this quick reference guide to all the most common (and some uncommon) herbs and spices!

DRIED HERBS AND SPICES

• Allspice - Similar to cloves, but more pungent and deeply flavored. Best used in spice mixes.

• Bay Leaf - (also: Indian Bay Leaf) Adds a woodsy background note to soups and sauces.

• Cardamom - This warm, aromatic spice is widely used in Indian cuisine. It's also great in baked goods when used in combination with spices like clove and cinnamon.

• Cayenne Pepper - Made from dried and ground red chili peppers. Adds a sweet heat to soups, braises, and spice mixes.

• Cinnamon - (also: Vietnamese Cassia Cinnamon) Found in almost every world cuisine, cinnamon serves double duty as spice in both sweet and savory dishes.

• Cloves - Sweet and warming spice. Used most often in baking, but also good with braised meat.

• Coriander - Earthy, lemony flavor. Used in a lot of Mexican and Indian dishes.

• Cumin - Smoky and earthy. Used in a lot of Southwestern US and Mexican cuisine, as well as North African, Middle Eastern, and Indian.

• Fennel Seed - Lightly sweet and licorice flavored. It's excellent with meat dishes, or even chewed on its own as a breath freshener and digestion aid!

• Fenugreek - Although this herb smells like maple syrup while cooking, it has a rather bitter, burnt sugar flavor. Found in a lot of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.

• Garlic Powder - Garlic powder is made from dehydrated garlic cloves and can be used to give dishes a sweeter, softer garlic flavor.

• Mace - From the same plant as nutmeg, but tastes more subtle and delicate. Great in savory dishes, especially stews and homemade sausages.

• Nutmeg - Sweet and pungent. Great in baked goods, but also adds a warm note to savory dishes.

• Nutritional Yeast - Very different from bread yeast, this can be sprinkled onto or into sauces, pastas, and other dishes to add a nutty, cheesy, savory flavor.

• Oregano - Robust, somewhat lemony flavor. Used in a lot of Mexican and Mediterranean dishes.

• Paprika - (also: Smoked Paprika) Adds a sweet note and a red color. Used in stews and spice blends.

• Rosemary - Strong and piney. Great with eggs, beans, and potatoes, as well as grilled meats.

• Saffron - Subtle floral flavor. Used mostly as a coloring agent.

• Sage - Pine-like flavor, with more lemony and eucalyptus notes than rosemary. Found in a lot of northern Italian cooking.

• Smoked Paprika - (also: Paprika) Adds sweet smokiness to dishes, as well as a red color.

• Star Anise - Whole star anise can be used to add a sweet licorice-y flavor sauces and soups.

• Sumac - Zingy and lemony, sumac is a Middle Eastern spice that's great in marinades and spice rubs.

• Turmeric - Used more for its yellow color than its flavor. Can be used in place of saffron.


• Thyme - Adds a pungent, woodsy flavor. Great as an all-purpose seasoning.

• Vietnamese Cassia Cinnamon - (also: Cinnamon) Sweet and spicy. Can be used in both sweet baked goods and to add depth to savory dishes.

FRESH HERBS

• Chervil - Delicate anise flavor. Great raw in salads or as a finishing garnish.

• Fenugreek - Although this herb smells like maple syrup while cooking, it has a rather bitter, burnt sugar flavor. Found in a lot of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.


• Marjoram - Floral and woodsy. Try it in sauces, vinaigrettes, and marinades.


• Mint - Surprisingly versatile for such an intensely flavored herb. Try it paired with lamb, peas, potatoes - and of course, with chocolate!

• Oregano - Robust, somewhat lemony flavor. Used in a lot of Mexican and Mediterranean dishes.

• Rosemary - Strong and piney. Great with eggs, beans, and potatoes, as well as grilled meats.

• Sage - Pine-like flavor, with more lemony and eucalyptus notes than rosemary. Found in a lot of northern Italian cooking.

• Tarragon - Strong anise flavor. Can be eaten raw in salads or used to flavor tomato dishes, seafood, or eggs.

• Thyme - Adds a pungent, woodsy flavor. Great as an all-purpose seasoning.

SPICE BLENDS, RUBS, AND MIXES

• Baharat - Black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves. Used to flavor soups, tomato sauces, lentils, rice pilafs, and couscous, and can be a rub for meats. (Middle Eastern)

• Bouquet Garni - Thyme, parsley, and bay leaf. Used to flavor broths and soups. (Classic French)

• Chinese Five Spice Powder - Star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, fennel, cassia, and clove. Adds sweetness and depth to savory dishes, especially beef, duck, and pork. (Chinese)

• Curry Powder - Typically includes tumeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and red pepper, but mixes can vary. Used primarily to quickly flavor curry sauces. (Indian)

• Dukkah - Includes nuts (most often hazelnuts), sesame seeds, coriander, and cumin. Great spice rub for lamb, chicken, and fish. (Egyptian)

• Garam Masala - Typcially includes cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, and pepper. Sweeter than curry powder. Also used to season curry sauces. (Indian)

• Herbes de Provence - Usually savory, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, and sometimes lavender. Use as a marinade or dry rub for roast chicken, fish, and vegetables.

• Pickling Spice - Most often, bay leaf, yellow mustard seeds, black peppercorns, allspice, coriander. Used for pickling vegetables in vinegar.

• Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix - Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Used for seasoning pumpkin pie, but also great in other spiced baked goods.

• Ras el Hanout - Cardamom, clove, cinnamon, paprika, coriander, cumin, mace, nutmeg, peppercorn, and turmeric. Use as a spice rub on meat or a simple condiment. (North African/Moroccan)

• Za'atar Seasoning Blend - Thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. All-purpose seasoning for many Middle Eastern dishes like grilled meats, grilled vegetables, flatbread and hummus. (Middle Eastern)


For more detailed discriptions of these and many other spices use this link below for access:

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/quick-reference-a-guide-to-herbs-and-spices-108770

Weird Health News ~ Woman Kicked Out of New Zealand For Being Too Fat

They were planning to start a new life in a new country but Rowan Trezise, age 33, has been told by the government of New Zealand that she and her husband may have to look elsewhere for a place to live, because she is too fat to be allowed into the country.

Although both husband and wife were too fat for admittance when they first applied Mr. Trezise, a submarine cable specialist who was once a member of the British Army, has managed to shed two inches from his waistline thereby meeting the standards set for a work visa.
Mrs. Trezise however has not met the goal set for her and is therefore barred.
The couple were informed that New Zealand bars overweight people because of the potential burden they pose to the national health care system. According to New Zealand Robyn Toomath, spokesman of “Fight the Obesity Epidemic” a New Zealand organization dealing with the problems posed by overweight people:

“The immigration department can’t afford to import people who are going to be a significant drain on our health resources.
“You can see the logic in assessing if there is a significant health cost associated with this individual and that would be a reason for them not coming in.”

New Zealand’s Immigration Service has not said how many people have been bared from entering the country due to their weight but according to the Emigrate New Zealand website that number is fairly high. Unless Rowan Trezise can shed the weight by Christmas the couple say they will abandon their plans to relocate to New Zealand.

Man has pea plant growing in lungs..Thought To Be Lung Cancer

MASSACHUSETTS – An unusual and rather surprising diagnosis for a Massachusetts man after he sought medical help while having more trouble than usual breathing.

Ron Sveden was already suffering from emphysema. However, he started to worry that he also had developed cancer. He was rushed to the hospital on Memorial Day after he couldn't catch his breath.
Doctors discovered his left lung had collapsed – but he didn't have cancer. Instead they found a pea pod had sprouted in his lung.
"God has such a sense of humor,” his wife said. ”I mean, it could have been just nothing, but it had to be a pea, and it had to be sprouting."
Doctors think he ate a pea a couple of months ago and it went down the wrong way, and then began to grow.

The man is scheduled to have surgery to remove the plant.

Nuts are good nutrtion and contain heart healthy polyunsaturated fats and Omega-3, a brain food as well.

Almonds, peanuts, pistachio, cashew, walnuts, hazelnuts etc. Who doesn't like nuts?, I only know few people who dislike nuts, Mainly because of health problems and they can't take it. but the rest just all love nuts. When you start eating, sometimes you just can't stop. It's hard to tell yourself. " okay go get 3 pieces only! " We usually end up with a handful or two handfuls or even three. There is nothing wrong with that As long as you have to know when to stop. Nuts are usually high in calories when taken in large amounts. You should at least eat 2 ounces of nuts a week.

You may want to add nuts in your diet but you have to balance it. when nuts are combined with other very healthy foods, The results can be surprisingly remarkable. You can try to switch your unhealthy snacks to nuts, such as potato chips or high calorie cookies and chocolates. Nuts may not cure any diseases directly but its a step or a way to help battle those illness.

Here is the list of nutty benefits you can get 

It has arginine, a substance that may help you improve the function of your blood vessels.
Nuts has mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which is good for the heart. So if you love your heart eat nuts.
the omega-3 usually found in walnuts, another helpful fat that helps heart problems.
And finally nuts may helps you lower cholesterol. Again, good nutrtion works best with a well balanced diet. So don't just grab some nuts and eat as much as you can. Balance it. ! Happy eating!

Foods That Look Like Body Parts That They're Good For! Put a Little Fun Into Teaching good Nutrition. Here are some Teaching Tips that you will love! Wine & Blood? Ginger & Stomach? Sweet Potato & Pancreas?

Red wine, which is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, including powerful resveratrol, looks like blood. "When you drink it, you're really loading up on the healthy stuff that protects against destructive things in the blood, like LDL cholesterol, which can cause heart disease," says Somer. "There's also a blood-thinning compound in red wine, so it reduces blood clots, which are associated with stroke and heart disease." Photos by iStockphoto

Anyone who's ever reached for a glass of ginger ale when they’ve had a stomachache knows about the antinausea effects of ginger. So it's fitting that the herb somewhat resembles the digestive organ. According to Dr. Moulavi, "gingerol, which is the ingredient responsible for ginger's pungent scent and taste, is listed in the USDA database of phytochemicals as having the ability to prevent nausea and vomiting." Photos by iStockphoto

The oblong sweet potato bears a strong resemblance to the pancreas, and also promotes healthy function in the organ. "Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene, which is a potent antioxidant that protects all tissues of the body, including the pancreas, from damage associated with cancer or aging," says Somer. Photos by iStockphoto

Foods That Look Like Body Parts That They're Good For! Put a Little Fun Into Teaching good Nutrition. Here are some Teaching Tips that you will love! Citrus & Tomato? Breast & Heart??

The similarity between round citrus fruits––like lemons and grapefruit––and breasts may be more than coincidental. "Grapefruit contains substances called limonoids, which have been shown to inhibit the development of cancer in lab animals and in human breast cells," says Dr. Moulavi. Photos by iStockphoto and 3D4Medical.com

Slice open a tomato and you'll notice the red veggie has multiple chambers that resemble the structure of a heart. "Studies have found that because of the lycopene in tomatoes, there is a reduced risk for heart disease in men and women who eat them," says Somer. And, she adds, if you mix them with a little fat, like olive oil or avocado, it will boost your body's lycopene absorption nearly tenfold. Photos by iStockphoto and 3D Clinic

Foods That Look Like Body Parts That They're Good For! Put a Little Fun Into Teaching good Nutrition. Here are some Teaching Tips that you will love! Avocados & Clams ??

The lightbulb shape of an avocado looks like a uterus, and it supports reproductive health as well. "Avocados are a good source of folic acid," says Elizabeth Somer, registered dietician and author of Eat Your Way to Happiness. "Folate has been found to reduce the risk for cervical dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition." Photos by iStockphoto and Shutterstock

Studies have offered evidence that clams, which bear a resemblance to testicles, are actually good for the male sex organs. "Research from the Netherlands has suggested that supplementing your diet with folic acid and zinc—both of which clams are high in––can have a significant effect on improving semen quality in men," says Dr. Moulavi. Photos by Shutterstock and 3D Clinic

Foods That Look Like Body Parts That They're Good For! Put a Little Fun Into Teaching good Nutrition. Here are some Teaching Tips that you will love!

Long, lean stalks of celery look just like bones—and they're good for them, too. "Celery is a great source of silicon, which is part of the molecular structure that gives bones their strength," says Dr. Moulavi. Another funny bone coincidence: "Bones are 23 percent sodium, and so is celery."  Photos by iStockphoto

Mental Health Hot Lines

While the telephone can never replace the face to face contact with a therapist knowing that one is not isolated is important in moments of crises, for those suffering from mental illness.

Here is a link to services in your area.

http://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/resources/mental-health-hotline-numbers-and-referral-resources/menu-id-200/

Enjoy the wonderful spoof on hotlines provided for us by YouTube, on the post below.

Healthy Enviroment for Restful Sleep

Bright lights, loud noises, uncomfortable temperatures … these and other factors can lead to disrupted sleep. The following tips can help you to help create an environment that is calming, relaxing and soothing - one that encourages quality rest and sleep.


Check your bed. Is it comfortable? Lie down on it during the day, when you are not tired, and see how it feels. A bed that is too soft, too firm or that sags in the middle can impede your sleep. You can fix a too-firm bed with top padding, but a bed that is too soft or sagging should be replaced. It may seem expensive, but considering that you spend about 1/3 of your life on your bed - not to mention how quality of sleep affects your waking hours - a comfortable bed is worth the price.

• And Your Pillows. Like your bed, too soft or too firm pillows can affect your quality of sleep (as can the number of pillows you use). Experiment with different pillow types until you find ones that work best for you. If you suffer from allergies, consider hypoallergenic pillow.


• Look at Your Surroundings. Dr. Weil encourages a clutter-free home, which can help create a calm environment. Clean out anything you do not need in your bedroom, such as televisions, computers, stacks of papers, and knick-knacks, making the room’s sole purposes sleep and intimacy.

• Light and Sound. Excessive light and noise can impede quality sleep. To help block bright light, consider opaque window shades. If you have skylights, position your bed so your face is not directly in sunlight in the morning. For loud noises, consider inexpensive earplugs to block out sound or a "white noise" machine.

• Ideal Temperatures. Regulate the temperature in your bedroom so it is not too hot or too cold. Many people find that an ideal temperature is around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but this depends on many factors including sleepwear preference, how many blankets you use, and your metabolism. Experiment to find the right temperature. If you and your partner disagree, compromise on a temperature midway between your respective comfort zones.

• Set the Scene. What promotes relaxation for you? Soft, lulling music, complete darkness, candlelight, a good book before bed… all can encourage relaxation and rest. Determine what helps promote a relaxed state and incorporate those elements into your nighttime routine and bedroom.

Orgasms & Headache

Sexual Benign Headaches

Headaches can be associated with sexual activity, especially with orgasm. There are two types of these headaches. In the first type, the excitement accompanying intercourse causes muscle contraction in the head and neck, thus leading to head pain.
The second type is a vascular headache. It is a very intense, severe headache usually occurring just before orgasm. It has been called an "orgasmic headache" or "orgasmic cephalalgia." In some instances, the headache is a response to an increase in blood pressure, in which the blood vessels dilate. The headache is not usually related to the amount of physical exertion involved in intercourse. The pain may be located around or behind the eyes. It usually lasts a few minutes, but can last for hours. The headache is usually made worse by movement. The headache most often is a "benign" orgasmic headache; however, the possibility of organic disease should be thoroughly investigated.
A headache occurring with orgasm could be a symptom of a brain hemorrhage (bleeding around or inside the brain), stroke or tumor. An accompanying stiffness in the neck may be an indication of bleeding into the spinal fluid. The benign orgasmic headache occurs more frequently in men than women and usually strikes migraine sufferers.
Benign orgasmic headache is often effectively treated with migraine medications such as blood-vessel constricting agents, taken before intercourse.

Even Mild Sleep Apnea Raises Stroke Risk in Men

Risk may stem from cumulative effect over many years, study suggests Even Mild Sleep Apnea Raises Stroke Risk in Men !

Last updated: April 08, 2010

THURSDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- The nighttime breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea more than doubles the risk for stroke in men who are middle age and beyond, new research has found.


U.S. researchers looked at more than 5,400 people, age 40 and older and with no history of stroke, who were participating in the Sleep Heart Health Study. The participants underwent a standard at-home sleep test at the start of the study to determine if they had sleep apnea and, if so, the severity of the condition.


During the next nine years, 193 participants had a stroke -- 85 of the 2,462 men and 108 of the 2,960 women. A greater risk for stroke was noted in men with mild sleep apnea, rising with the severity of the apnea. Men with moderate to severe sleep apnea were nearly three times more likely to suffer a stroke than were those without sleep apnea or with mild sleep apnea.
In women, only severe levels of apnea were associated with increased risk for stroke.
The difference found between men and women may be because men are more likely to develop sleep apnea at a younger age, which means they tend to have untreated apnea for a longer time, the researchers explained.
"It's possible that the stroke risk is related to cumulative effects of sleep apnea adversely influencing health over many years," the study's lead author, Dr. Susan Redline, a professor of medicine, pediatrics, epidemiology and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said in a news release from the American Thoracic Society.


The findings were released online April 8 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
"Our findings provide compelling evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for stroke, especially in men," Redline said. "Overall, the increased risk of stroke in men with sleep apnea is comparable to adding 10 years to a man's age. Importantly, we found that increased stroke risk in men occurs even with relatively mild levels of sleep apnea."


The next step is to determine if treating sleep apnea reduces the risk for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, she added.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about stroke risk factors.
SOURCE: American Thoracic Society, news release, April 8, 2010

Berries a Super Food

Berries are loaded with vitamin C, folate, fiber and phytonutrients.

Indeed, fresh berries are some of the most powerful disease fighting foods available.

Omega-3 New Information

We've known for years that omega-3 fatty acids are good for the heart. These healthy fats down-regulate inflammation, and may help reduce the risk and symptoms of disorders influenced by inflammation, including heart attack, stroke and several forms of cancer. Now researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have found another action of omega-3s that may help explain why they offer benefits for the heart. The investigators found that the more omega-3 consumed by patients with coronary heart disease, the slower the structures called telomeres at the ends of chromosomes shrank. (Telomeres have been likened to the caps on the ends of shoelaces that prevent the laces from unraveling. In cells, telomeres prevent chromosomes from fusing with one another or rearranging - undesirable changes that could lead to serious diseases.) The more times a cell divides, the shorter telomeres become, a change that makes them a marker of biological age. The California investigators followed about 600 patients with coronary artery disease and measured their blood levels of omega-3s and telomere length at the beginning of the study and again five years later. They found that the higher the blood levels of omega-3s, the slower telomeres shortened, suggesting that the rate of biological aging - as mirrored by telomeres - decreased.



My take? This is a fascinating area of research and may give us new insight into how omega-3 fatty acids benefit health. It only reinforces the need to get plenty of omega-3s through your diet or supplements. My longstanding recommendation has been to consume two to three servings of fish per week or to take a fish oil supplement if you don't like fish. I eat fish often and also take 2-3 grams of supplemental fish oil a day.

New Brain Scan May Predict Alzheimer's

Study Shows Diffusion Tensor Imaging May Help Identify Early Alzheimer's Disease

In a study published in the Jan. 19 issue of Neurology, Carlesimo and colleagues found that DTI scanning predicted declines in memory performance with more accuracy than traditional MRI.

"This type of brain scan appears to be a better way to measure how healthy the brain is in people who are experiencing memory loss," Carlesimo says in a news release. "This might help doctors when trying to differentiate between normal aging and diseases like Alzheimer's."

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Top 20 Wise Sayings For Life

1. A man’s health can be judged by which he takes two at a time – pills or stairs


2. An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of cure.

3. If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.

4. The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

5. Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

6. The best vitamin for making friends....B1.

7. The 10 commandments are not multiple choices.

8. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

9. Minds are like parachutes...they function only when open.

10. Ideas won't work unless YOU do.

11. One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

12. One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.

13. The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.

14. Don't learn safety rules by accident.

15. We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.

16. Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.

17. A turtle makes progress when it sticks its head out.

18. One thing you can give and still keep ...is your word.

19. A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.

20. The pursuit of happiness is: the chase of a lifetime

An addition to our top 20..From Cheryl's mom  as:
 #21.."It's better to burp and bear the shame, than not to burp and bear the pain."

Thanks Cheryl

Is Love Truely A Healer?

Your heart health remains awake and receptive. Express your love and affection to your partner sincerely; its the healthy thing to do! Really is true!

According to Human Communication Research Journal, expressing affection can improve cholesterol levels, which is good for heart health. Researchers asked 33 people to write about their loved ones three times for 20 minutes in two weeks.
Result, the research subjects cholesterol levels fell by seven points, or about 20% difference between the high level of cholesterol levels and healthy cholesterol levels.
According to the study authors, Kory Flyoyd, PhD, this is due to the emergence or the hormone cortisol that can keep cholesterol levels remained normal by balancing stress.
Facts, so start your love spread. Start by sending a blank said card, write her loving message with your handwriting, and send it to someone you care about and love. Do not hesitate to express the essence,
I Love U.

International Heart Study Reveals...

After an exhaustive review of the research literature, here's the final word on nutrition and health:


1. Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than in the US.
2. Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us in the US.
3. Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks
than in the US.
4. Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart
attacks than in the US.
5. Germans drink beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer
heart attacks than in the US.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you!