Does lack of sleep make you stupid?

Poor sleep is bad for your heart AND your brain! An article about poor sleep and the build-up of plaque in the body caught my eye. The study is remarkable in that it is the first study: “to show that objectively measured sleep is independently associated with atherosclerosis throughout the body,” according to José Ordovás,…

How to Reduce Stress in Uncertain Times

Did watching the Presidential address and the response last night spike your stress level? No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, exposure to the government shut-down, economic pressures, and legislative uncertainty can elevate your stress level. In my research on job stress, uncertainty was the second most common source of stress (following overwhelm).…

What Aren’t You Telling Your Doctor?

“A Stethoscope Is Not A Mind Reading Device!” Most patients withhold vital information from their doctors according to a study recently released in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Even when people understand how important it is to share critical information about medications, lifestyle, and symptoms, most people in the study survey didn’t tell…

Are menopause and high cholesterol related?

This post was sponsored by Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. Personal opinions and thoughts are my own. Is menopause a time women should pay special attention to cholesterol levels? As a heart attack survivor, I’m dedicated to keeping my risk of another heart attack as low as possible. I recently visited with a brilliant and well-respected…

Should Pregnant Women Worry About Heart Attacks?

A new study shows heart attacks in pregnant women are on the rise. The good news in a new study by the New York University School of Medicine showing more pregnant women are having heart attacks is that data is being collected about heart disease in women.  If we can clearly define the problem, a…

Dos and Don’ts Of Recovering From Open Heart Surgery

What should you do to recover from heart surgery? (and what shouldn’t you do) A full recovery from open heart surgery will take up to 3 month, and most of the recovery time will be at home. Understanding what you can and cannot do is important to recovering well.  Keep in mind these dos and…

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease

Why Treat High Cholesterol? To Prevent a Dangerous Problem

This post was sponsored by Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. Personal opinions and thoughts are my own. When Take Cholesterol to Heart spokesperson Howie Mandel was diagnosed with high cholesterol in his 30s, he was prescribed a statin medication and eventually stopped taking it without speaking to his doctor due to the fear of potential side…

Are You An Iguana or a Border Collie?

Discovering your stress recovery personality lowers stress! According to my research for my new book, Stress-Proof Your Life, job stress is at epidemic levels.  Most stress reduction strategies tend toward the quiet, contemplative activities.  These activities work well for some people, but for others… sitting quietly and concentrating on their breathing increases their stress because…

How to choose a diet: Should you eat more pasta?

Did you read that eating more pasta helps you lose weight? Before you start loading up on alfredo sauce, let’s take a look at what the study actually said. Can pasta be a part of a healthy diet? Yes!  Carbs are not the enemy.  In fact, one of the reasons I love Michele Payn’s award-winning…