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The relationship between depression and heart health is a two-way street. Depression increases your risk of heart issues by as much as 64 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. And about one in five people with heart disease experience major depression, the American Heart Association reports. So, how exactly are depression and the heart intertwined? Here are four ways depression is connected to your heart health, according to experts....

“The mechanics behind what causes the progression of diabetes is complex, but one key factor is insulin resistance,” says Omar El Kawkgi, MD, an endocrinologist with Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. With diabetes, he explains, “The body builds a tolerance to [the hormone] insulin, making it less effective at reducing blood sugar; when this happens, more insulin is needed to control blood sugar.” This means people with diabetes may find it harder to control their condition over time and need to take more medications as it progresses....

Five minutes every half-hour of strolling through the office — or just getting up and moving around when you work from home — can significantly reduce both blood pressure and blood sugar, according to a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. And moving as little as one minute every hour can still help lower your blood pressure. “Regular exercise should remain a top priority for anyone looking to improve and maintain their health,” says senior study author Keith Diaz, PhD, a scientist at the Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University in New York City....

In terms of PTSD, that trauma can take many forms. It could be a car accident, a sexual assault, or an explosion, for example. PTSD is diagnosed if symptoms — flashbacks, social anxiety, and nightmares among them — persist for a month or more and negatively affect a person’s everyday life. (1) The experience of trauma is fairly common. About 6 in every 10 men and 5 out of every 10 women in the United States will experience at least one trauma in their lives....

You can help ensure things go smoothly by taking these five steps. 1. Pay Attention to Your Risk Factors Once you begin discussing the possibility of having an ablation for atrial fibrillation (afib), it’s also time to consider certain risk factors that you can control. Although people who are a normal weight or underweight can also develop an irregular heartbeat, being overweight may increase your risk for afib. Drinking alcohol can also increase your risk for the condition....

If you don’t drink enough fluids before, during, and after exercise, particularly when you’re sweating a lot, you could become dehydrated. Dehydration “plays a huge role in mental and physical health,” says Jamie Hickey, a NASM-certified personal trainer and registered dietitian at Truism Fitness in Philadelphia. When you’re dehydrated, “everything in your body, from your muscles to your cells to your cognitive function, is affected,” he says, adding that dehydration can also cause fatigue and dampen your motivation....

All of these symptoms are caused by a disruption in communication between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the sensory nerves in the hands. When your hands are affected, everyday tasks — such as writing, typing, getting dressed, and grasping or picking up objects — can become more difficult. Is there anything that can help? Yes. In a word, exercise. “I recommend exercise to keep muscles moving and stretched, and it also stimulates the nerves to help with sensation,” explains Walls....

After the initial recovery you’ll also need to take precautions to prevent future blood clots. This is especially important because a history of DVT may increase your risk of another blood clot, per Cleveland Clinic. Individual risk will depend on the cause of the blood clot, says Scott Cameron, MD, a specialist in blood vessel disorders and platelet dysfunction at Cleveland Clinic. For example, DVT patients who have a genetic mutation that puts them at higher risk of blood clots have a very high risk of recurrent DVT and will need to be on blood thinners for life, Dr....

Exercise can help, but people with diabetes need to keep a few factors in mind to stay safe. Some people may experience hypoglycemia when they exercise, while others report blood glucose spikes if they work out at certain times of the day or for longer than usual. But don’t let that deter you from exercising. “Making sure you’re being active and eating healthy will help prevent the progression of the disease,” says Jessica Crandall Snyder, RDN, CDE, CEO of Vital RD in Englewood, Colorado....

1. Know Your Triggers for Flares and Try to Avoid Them Spicy food, alcohol, sun exposure, extreme heat or cold, stress, and even your skin-care products may trigger a rosacea flare, according to the National Rosacea Society. What are your triggers? Keep a journal or make mental notes to determine what may be causing your rosacea symptoms, says Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. You can avoid some triggers, though you may have trouble sidestepping certain other ones....

These types of HPV, called mucosal, or genital, types, are common and are spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, with or without sexual intercourse, says Christine Nyquist, MD, the medical director of infection prevention and control and occupational health at the Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. HPV infections usually clear on their own, but in some people the virus may persist. When that happens, the infection can lead to genital warts or to a variety of types of cancer, including cervical cancer, anal cancer, female genital cancers, penile cancer, and cancers of the mouth and throat, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI)....

“I definitely think meal prepping helps us with just living well in general,” says Basheerah Enahora, RDN, owner of BE Nutrition in Charlotte, North Carolina. “When we put some thought into it, we’re more likely to pick up really nutrient-rich foods from the grocery store. We have a list that’s decided in advance.” If you’re new to meal prepping, it’s important to create a plan that works for you. “People feel that a meal plan has to be this rigid structure, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that,” says Enahora....

Whole grains are packed with antioxidants, B vitamins, and fiber, and because there are so many different kinds, from amaranth to wild rice, they’re also incredibly versatile. This guide will tell you what you need to know about whole grains, including how to get more into your diet. What Are Whole Grains? Whole grains have three parts: the bran (the hard outer shell and source of fiber), endosperm (the starchy carbohydrate middle layer), and the germ (nutrient-packed core), according to the Whole Grains Council....

Some of the conditions that can cause similar symptoms to ALS include multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, multifocal motor neuropathy, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. (1,2) Before ordering tests, however, your neurologist will ask you about your symptoms, your health history, your family’s health history, and possibly your work history, since military service has been linked to a higher risk of ALS. (3) A neurologist will also examine you for muscle weakness, rigidity, shrinkage, or twitching; pain; loss of sensation; and changes in speaking ability, thinking patterns, and emotional expression....

Research published Monday, April 30, 2018, in the journal BMJ Open looked at four related studies that followed almost 30,000 individuals, ranging in age from 30 to 65, over a period of a decade or more. All of the studies analyzed “found a positive association between clinically significant anxiety and future dementia,” the researchers wrote. The new study suggests that treating anxiety might lower the possibility of developing dementia later on, although research so far has not shown that anxiety directly causes dementia....

The truth about the risk of violence among bipolar people is complicated. By some estimates, between 11 and 16 percent of people with bipolar disorder have had a violent episode. These typically occur during extreme moods or because of drug or alcohol use. But there are many people with bipolar disorder who are never violent. Knowing which bipolar symptoms of depression and mania to watch out for may help avoid dangerous situations....

Every part of your body contains protein, from your skin and hair to your muscles. Not only does protein supply your body with energy, it helps regulate and repair your cells. While most American adults with well-balanced diets consume a sufficient amount of protein, those who are looking to increase their muscle mass and strength may need protein supplements. Are You Getting Enough Protein in Your Diet? But what constitutes a sufficient amount of protein may vary from person to person depending on his or her age, sex, weight, and activity level....

Although some exposure to sunlight may help alleviate psoriasis symptoms, too much can lead to sun damage and potentially skin cancer, says dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, of Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York. “Excess sun exposure can cause increased irritation and discomfort on the skin of someone with psoriasis,” she adds. Another reason to be diligent about sunscreen if you have psoriasis: It can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose certain types of skin cancer, such as basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, because they can often look very similar to psoriasis, says Orit Markowitz, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and founder of OptiSkin in New York City....

In fact, the relationship between bipolar disorder and sleep issues is a two-way street — poor sleep can worsen symptoms of bipolar disorder, and bipolar symptoms can interfere with your ability to sleep, says Jennifer Martin, PhD, the president-elect of the board of directors for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles....

RELATED: American Cancer Society Releases New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines MPN Awareness Day Is September 10 This year on September 10, the eighth annual MPN Awareness Day raised awareness and supported those affected by myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), blood cancers that cause an overproduction of blood cells. Every year, the day highlights educational research surrounding MPNs and support MPN patients and caregivers. Myeloma Awareness Month Is March 2021 Myeloma Awareness Month is held each March to highlight caregivers and support people living with and affected by myeloma, a type of blood cancer that forms in plasma cells....