Follow Your Heart. Ask Your Doctor About Alternatives to Heart Stenting

We cannot stress enough there is no one size fits all approach to health care and the treatment of diseases. A recent study on the use of stents to treat coronary artery disease stresses the importance of properly diagnosing each individual and administering the right treatment.

Prone To Heart Attacks? Be Careful How Many Daily Cups of Coffee You Drink

March is Caffeine Awareness Month! Since caffeine is probably one of the most frequently consumed drugs in the world, it is important we educate ourselves about it. Education allows us to make informed decisions about whether and how we consume caffeinated products.

New Research Suggests that Diabetes is More Deadly than Commonly Thought

The fourth Tuesday in March is Diabetes Alert Day! It is a one day wake-up call to inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 29 million Americans are affected by diabetes. “About 1 in every 4 persons with diabetes, or 8 million Americans, are unaware that they have the disease,” NIH reports.

Could Lack of Colorectal Screenings be to Blame for the Spike in Cancer Rates Under 50?

Colorectal cancer may be most prevalent among people over the age of 50, but that doesn’t mean younger people are immune to it. In the late 90s, Katie Couric and husband Jay Monahan learned he had colon cancer. He died nine months later at the age of 42. Since then, Couric has been a dedicated advocate for colon cancer screenings. If you’re over 50, there’s a good chance your doctor has already talked to you about colonoscopies and the importance of screening for colorectal cancer.

Slow Caffeine Metabolism: The Reason Some People Who Drink Coffee Could Be at Higher Risk for a Heart Attack

Some of my favorite beverages contain caffeine. Besides coffee, my delicious, caffeinated drinks include lattes, macchiatos, green tea, Thai iced tea and Tia Maria (a dark liqueur made originally in Jamaica with Jamaican coffee beans).

Is it Worth Taking Opioids for Pain Relief?

As human beings, it is difficult to be patient when we have acute or chronic pain. It is a sensation we desperately try to avoid, and if it hits we do what we can to limit the experience. Julius Caesar said, “[i]t is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.”

Are You Pregnant? Avoid Getting Listeria Bacteria

You have probably heard of food recalls from your local and national news. These announcements warn us not to buy and consume certain foods or products in grocery stores due to contamination with Listeria, a bacterial infection caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. This infection typically stems from eating contaminated food, resulting in an illness called listeriosis.

Are You Proactive with Screenings for Colorectal Cancer?

March is colorectal cancer month, and each year at this time I am reminded it took the life of my brother at the age of 65. What is even more intriguing is for years prior to his death, he was told by doctors to get a colonoscopy but he never did. I do not think he really appreciated the importance of getting a colonoscopy until after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Like many of us, he did not take the time to focus on preventive health care because he had no apparent symptoms. There appears to be a human tendency to generally wait until we are sick or have symptoms before we focus on our health.

Making Neighborhoods More Walkable Can Help Us All Enjoy Better Health

According to Walk Score, a website that rates the walkability of neighborhoods anywhere in the United States, Canada and Australia on a scale of zero to 100, “The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling (versus compact) neighborhood.”

Trainer Bob Harper Had a Heart Attack: Does This Mean We’re All Doomed?

When a fitness guru suffers from a heart attack, where does that leave the rest of us? That’s what Bob Harper’s heart attack, just a few weeks ago, is leaving many people wondering. You may know Bob Harper, 51, as star trainer turned host from NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” He has authored several weight loss books and appeared in workout DVDs.

Judge Wapner Passed Away at 97! Try These Proactive Steps for Healthy Aging

Reality court TV star Judge Joseph Wapner recently died of natural causes at the age of 97 in his Los Angeles home. He was known for being tough but fair on one of my favorite shows while I attended law school - “The People’s Court.” Judge Wapner was a mainstay on the program for 12 years and more than 2,000 episodes. He has been credited with inspiring the likes of Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown as well as Hot Bench. He left behind quite a legacy, but there is one accomplishment I cannot overlook -- his longevity.

Lychee: The “Dangerous” Fruit With Amazing Health Benefits

You may have heard about lychees in the news not long ago. Children living near lychee orchards in India were waking up screaming and crying beginning in mid-May. They had seizures, comas and even died in about 40 percent of cases. Then in July, the monsoon rains came and the outbreak would end. This happened each year. Finally, scientists were able to pinpoint the cause -- the lychees were being eaten on an empty stomach by malnourished children.