Heart Disease

Thinking You Are Healthy Doesn’t Mean You Are

Most of us are inundated with numbers every day.  From the mundane phone numbers, passwords, sports scores and spreadsheets to the more esoteric Wall Street derivatives and mortgage-backed securities, our society couldn’t function without numbers.  The specific numbers may vary from profession to profession but without exception, numbers are how we keep track.  But as important as any of those numbers may be, when is the last time one of them saved your life?  

 In medicine, knowing the right numbers can tell how healthy you really are; ranging from how well you are aging to your individual risk of developing diseases that could impact or shorten your life.  When it comes to your health, what you don’t know can really hurt you.  So, what are some of the key parameters to check?  Read the rest of this entry »

New Year, New You

New Year, New You on NBC

The start of a new year is the customary time to commit to both losing weight and gaining a new lease on life. Alternity Healthcare in West Hartford urges individuals to take advantage of this time renewal by getting to the heart of their health problems and identifying health risks. In order to make real changes in your life, you must first identify the root causes of your health problems.  At Alternity Healthcare, we take a different approach, performing tests and screenings that reveal your total health picture. Read the rest of this entry »

What Do Men Need? Testosterone!

More than fifty years ago the psychologist Abraham Maslow had a revolutionary impact on the field of psychology when he wrote about the Hierarchy of Needs.  His theory is often portrayed as a pyramid with the most basic fundamental needs in the broad base and the concept of self-actualization at the top.  According to Maslow the four most fundamental needs include physiological needs, safety, love & friendship and self esteem.  Critics of his theory have taken issue with Maslow’s rankings; believing he may have overlooked the most essential human need; to “feel alive”.  Perhaps nothing makes you feel more alive than feeling younger, healthier and more vital.  And nothing does all of that better for men than testosterone. Read the rest of this entry »

How Strong Is Your Heart?

Progress in our society has been measured in large part by events like the Industrial Revolution and the Information Age.  As a result, more of us are working with our brains instead of our bodies.  But that may not be such a good thing after all.  In our current global economy, we are dealing with more competition, unprecedented levels of stress and diminished physical activity.  America has become a nation of spectators.   Far too few are getting the exercise that lowers blood pressure, burns away body fat, strengthens muscle and bones, lowers cholesterol, improves mood and sleep, and protects against diabetes, dementia, several cancers, heart attacks and strokes.  But what exactly is the right kind of exercise? Read the rest of this entry »

Sugar: Villain in Disguise?

Mary Poppins may have recommended adding a spoonful of sugar to make some things a little more palatable, but Americans have taken that benign suggestion and run amok with it.  American consumption of added sugars has increased drastically over the last several decades.  While excessive sugar consumption is arguably the main reason for our epidemic of obesity and type-2 diabetes, the extra empty calories may just be the tip of the iceberg.  As researchers delve deeper into the fundamental causes of the diseases of Western lifestyles, they are starting to see links to sugar consumption; and the evidence implicating added sugars as a contributing factor in the development of heart disease, hypertension, and several common cancers is starting to look pretty good. Read the rest of this entry »

Too Young To Have A Stroke? R.I.P Nate Dogg

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and it is the number one cause of serious, long-term disability. Most of us think about strokes as a condition affecting the elderly.  While it is true that the vast majority of strokes occur after age 65, recent statistics point to a troubling trend among young to middle aged people.  The incidence of stroke is increasing at the highest rate among the 40 to 60 year old segment of the population.  Currently, nearly 1 in 4 strokes occur before age 65.  Are you at risk? Read the rest of this entry »

Can Dairy Fat Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

We are all aware of the current obesity trend in this country and across the globe.  Avoiding fat in our diet has been the conventional mantra now for the last 4 or 5 decades.  But what has this low-fat obsession gotten us?  Well, Americans are now fatter than ever.  Paralleling that trend has been a dramatic rise in diabetes cases and, cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of Americans.  New research has focused on a trans fat component found mainly in dairy fat that may ward off type 2 diabetes and protect cardiovascular health. While more research is needed, it suggests fats may play a more complex role in human health than previously acknowledged. Read the rest of this entry »

Sweet Dreams

It may seem obvious that sleep is beneficial. Even without fully grasping what sleep does for us, we know that going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible, and that getting a good night’s sleep can make us feel ready to take on the world.  When we awaken from a restful sleep, we feel more alert, more energetic, happier, and better able to function. However, the fact that sleep makes us feel better and that going without sleep makes us feel worse only begins to explain why sleep might be necessary. Numerous studies have linked poor sleep with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a weakened immune system, cancers, high blood pressure, obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Read the rest of this entry »

Is the FDA Negligent?

Over the last twenty years, Americans appetite for prescription drugs has exploded.  One need only to turn on the TV to see ad after ad  suggesting that there is a pill to satisfy any pain, discomfort or ailment that you may encounter.  The message seems to be: “No need to work hard at anything or modify the way you live because we have a pill for it; whatever it is”.  But with the FDA looking out for the public welfare, isn’t that a safe proposition?

Well, let’s look at the facts.  Last year over half a million Americans suffered adverse events due to prescription medications.[1]  Almost 100,000 people die yearly as a result of complications from pharmaceutical drugs.[2]  Read the rest of this entry »

47,000 Deaths and Counting

It is inconceivable that a product could remain on the market after it has been directly linked to tens of thousands of deaths.  But this is exactly the case we have with two popular diabetes drugs, Avandia and Actos.

Avandia was introduced in 1999 and a study performed by its maker, SmithKline Beechem (later acquired by Glaxo) found that it posed a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events and bone fractures.  What did they do?  They suppressed the data for the next 11 years!  Read the rest of this entry »