Decades of research showed that high systolic blood pressure was more likely to cause serious cardiovascular problems. So cardiology guidelines focused way more on the upper number. There are even some experts who think diastolic blood pressure can basically be ignored. That’s advice that could kill you.

We’ve all heard the warnings… If you don’t watch your cholesterol and keep it low, you’re putting yourself at risk for heart disease and even stroke. So, we eat better, get more exercise, take the meds, and in general think that the lower our numbers are, the healthier we are. But, that may not be true…

Sometimes, deciding whether someone should be on statins is very clear. In a patient with documented heart disease, diabetes, or genetically-driven very high cholesterol, meds make sense. But many people without known risks are advised to take cholesterol-lowering drugs. If that’s you, what should you do?

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to stress. When you sprain your ankle, it becomes inflamed in order to cushion and protect your joint from further damage. If you eat something too spicy, your intestine may become inflamed, protecting your digestive tract. But inflammation has its downsides, too…

Science has shown how “beneficial” bacteria can improve health. It’s exciting stuff! In fact, studies show that bacteria can protect you from everything from cancer to autoimmune diseases to heart disease. Need proof? The latest study found that a single strain of bacteria could curb cardiovascular disease risk.

With age comes wisdom, they say. But other things come with age, too. Like less room in your brain to hold all that wisdom. The unfortunate truth is that, the older we get, the less grey matter we have. But what if you could slow down this “brain shrink”? What if you could find a way to make your brain younger?

Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, steal your vision, and raise your risk of kidney disease, heart attack and stroke. What makes it especially scary is that it can sneak up on you. Luckily, there is something you can do to prevent diabetes before it starts or to gain control over your blood sugar if you’ve already been diagnosed…

You’ve probably never heard the term “Ambien zombie” before. So, let me explain this growing problem… When you take Ambien or other sleep aids, they do two things that can get you in trouble: They give you Teflon brain, meaning new memories won’t stick. They also release your inhibitions…

One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. This means many men will face a particularly difficult choice between cancer treatment and the possibility of Alzheimer’s or dementia. There are ways to reduce your risk of prostate cancer and the possibility of androgen therapy…

Researchers found the “high-risk” version of an Alzheimer’s gene actually responds more favorably to certain lifestyle changes that could lower risk. So, here’s a “plain talk” explanation of the genetic factors that can increase or decrease your risk, and how to outsmart those genes to stay clear of Alzheimer’s.

What do urinary tract infections and brain damage have to do with each other? As bizarre and frightening as it sounds, there’s a correlation between having a UTI or other infection and having a stroke. What’s more, it seems that having an infection can heighten your chances of brain damage from a stroke.

By now we all know that sugary drinks are no friend to good health. At the same time, most of us have a guilty pleasure… Mine is Big Red. I simply love that bubbly red soda. Should I be worried? I try to limit my consumption to only once in a while, so I’m thinking “no harm, no foul” there, right? WRONG.