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Verywell Health: What heart disease risk factors should people be aware of? This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Expert Gladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care....

Cranberry consumption, along with other fruits and vegetables, may help improve heart health, including improving cholesterol levels. Cranberry juice is the form of cranberry that’s been studied the most, although there’s also data on the consumption of cranberry extract supplements to lower cholesterol levels. What You Should Know About Cranberries Cranberries, also known by the scientific name Vaccinium macrocarpon, are a fruit that can be cooked in many ways in savory or sweet dishes....

I counsel my patients every day regarding allergic reactions to different dog breeds. Oftentimes my patient will tell me their dog doesn’t trigger their allergy symptoms, but exposure to another person’s dog does. It seems strange, but it is possible for a person to be allergic to one breed of dog and not another. Some breeds of dogs are hypoallergenic, meaning they produce less dander and therefore cause fewer symptoms in those allergic to dogs....

It is a common belief that cataracts only occur in the eyes of older people. However, babies and children can be born with cataracts, or they may develop them as they age. A congenital cataract causes the same symptoms as adult cataracts—a clouding in the lens of the eye that can cause blurry vision or blindness. Located behind the iris of the eye, the lens is normally clear and allows incoming light to clearly focus an image on the retina....

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction (ED) are both common conditions in the United States and are closely linked. Men with diabetes are about three times more likely to experience ED than men without diabetes, and both conditions become more common as men age. In fact, half of men with diabetes will develop ED. Although diabetes can raise your risk for ED, in 95% of cases ED is treatable, including for men with diabetes....

Gluten ataxia is a rare neurological condition in which an autoimmune response to the gluten protein found in wheat, barley, and rye can irreversibly damage the part of the brain called the cerebellum. This can potentially cause problems with your gait and gross motor skills, resulting in loss of coordination. In some cases of gluten ataxia, this loss may become significant. Because gluten ataxia is a relatively new discovery, and not all healthcare providers agree that it exists, there hasn’t been a universally accepted way to test for or diagnose it yet....

If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), it’s important to stay in regular contact with a healthcare provider and see them as often as necessary about your condition. PCOS can increase a woman’s risk for some serious complications, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, so carefully monitoring the condition is necessary. Additionally, treating PCOS may require a few different types of specialists. This article provides an overview of the types of healthcare providers who can help treat PCOS and how often you should see them....

Shock is a life-threatening medical condition that is essentially a decrease in blood flow to the brain and other important organs. Shock can arise in several situations, including due to uncontrolled bleeding from a traumatic injury. This is known as hypovolemic shock. Because blood carries oxygen with it, this can result in a destructive lack of oxygen to the tissues. It can also lead to cardiac arrest. Untreated, shock from bleeding will almost always cause death....

At least 40 million people in the U.S. have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. High levels of immunity (94 to 95%), for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are reached two weeks after the second dose. However, a new study conducted by Mount Sinai reveals that a second dose may not be necessary for people previously infected by COVID-19. Key Takeaways A study shows that people previously infected by COVID-19 who got vaccinated had a stronger immune response than people who hadn’t contracted the virus....

Severe, prolonged chronic stress has negative effects on the human body, including increasing the risk of becoming sick from infections. Can Stress Really Increase Your Risk for Infections? Studies have shown that people with greater levels of continuous stress are more prone to getting some infectious diseases. It is important to note, however, that stress levels differ from person-to-person, due to individual differences in a person’s emotional and physiological makeup. Therefore, a situation that causes significant stress for one person may or may not have the same effect on another....

The cause of myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune reaction in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks specific proteins in the muscles, causing weakness. A genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorders and certain lifestyle factors contribute to the risk of this disease. There is no cure for MG, but some treatments can help alleviate its symptoms. Although myasthenia gravis can be diagnosed at any age, including during childhood, it is most often seen in women less than 40 and men more than 60....

If you have been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for some time, perhaps have heard or read reports about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in treating the disease. While we already know that these “healthy” fats are good for us, do they have any real impact on either relieving symptoms (such as fatigue or depression) or alleviating the chronic inflammation that is part and parcel of the disease? Understanding Omega-3 Fatty Acids When it comes to trimming fat from your diet, the one you don’t want to cut back on is omega-3 fatty acids....

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become weak and often leads to complications. This condition is sometimes referred to as a “silent disease” because there often aren’t any noticeable symptoms until the weakened bone leads to a fracture. Around 10 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. This article provides facts and statistics about osteoporosis, including a description of the condition, who it affects, risk factors, and how it is diagnosed....

Sun poisoning is a form of severe sunburn. Beyond red, inflamed, and painful skin, those with sun poisoning also often exhibit other bodily symptoms that may mimic an allergic reaction. Excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun causes sun poisoning. This article explains sun poisoning symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention. Sun Poisoning Symptoms Sunburn symptoms include redness, warmth, pain, and swelling. Sun poisoning has severe sunburn symptoms, plus others. Sunburn and sun poisoning symptoms usually start within a few hours of excess sun exposure....

We’re constantly being told how important it is to wear sunscreen, but rarely are we told how to wear it. If you’ve ever wondered if you’re using sunscreen the right way, you aren’t alone. Maybe you’ve wound up with a nasty sunburn even though you took time to apply SPF. Read on for everything you need to know about proper sunscreen application. The Difference Between Sunblock and Sunscreen Although sunblock and sunscreen do the same things, they work a bit differently....

If you don’t know by now, pain and depression are closely related. According to an article published in U.S. Pharmacist in 2009, the symptoms of these two conditions overlap. The article reports on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III finding that up to 10% of the population experiences depression, of which 90% report having pain. The article goes on to say that the biological basis for depression is also a potential player in what underlies chronic pain....

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drug whose function it is to reduce pain, decrease fever, and, in higher doses, decrease inflammation. Aspirin was the first NSAID produced in the 1800s from chemicals isolated from the bark of the willow tree. For all of its proven effects, aspirin is known to cause an allergic-type reaction in some people. Moreover, an adverrse reaction to aspirin often means the person will react similarly to other types of NSAIDs including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve)....

Your waist circumference is an important number to know, especially if you’re living with a chronic health issue such as heart disease or have a risk factor for diabetes, such as family history. In fact, research shows waist circumference may be as important as body mass index (BMI)—the ratio of weight to height that can indicate obesity—for predicting disease risk and overall health status. This is because BMI does not account for how fat is distributed in the body....

Abdominal pain is a relatively common symptom that often doesn’t need treatment. But abdominal pain can be a symptom of a serious condition that could require medical attention and, in some cases, even emergency care. Types and Sources of Abdominal Pain The abdomen involves the digestive tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Additionally, conditions involving the appendix, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas can cause abdominal pain....

While white patches on the tongue are generally benign, in rare cases they can be a sign of a more serious condition. It is important to contact a healthcare professional to get any questions answered and to receive proper treatment if it is needed. Causes of White Patches on Your Tongue In general, a white tongue or white patches on the tongue is caused by poor oral hygiene. When there is white on the tongue, it is typically covered by a coating that can extend over the entire surface or appear as patches in certain areas....