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Her aorta tore while in Ireland. She turned her drama into a cabaret act.
When Shana Pennington-Baird signed up for a summer conference in Ireland to enrich her voice acting career, she was excited to tack on some family vacation time. Her husband had always wanted to visit the country, and their daughter, then 8, was old enough to appreciate the sights. A couple...
As summer heat cranks up, our appetites may cool off
Summer is in full swing, and some parts of the U.S. have already experienced record-high temperatures. Exposure to extreme heat – the leading cause of weather-related deaths – can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and added strain on the heart and kidneys, exacerbating underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease and respiratory illnesses.
The rules for measuring blood pressure – and why they exist
The last time your blood pressure was measured, did you rush to the appointment while sipping coffee? Were you perched on an exam table with your legs dangling or your arm hanging? Were you chatting with a medical staff member or scrolling social media on your phone? Was your bladder full?
From near death to the Senior Olympics
Dan Williams of Reston, Virginia, was under a lot of stress when he felt a pounding sensation in his chest. He thought it was probably pneumonia and knew he should go to the hospital to get checked out. But it was also just one more thing to worry about, on...
Is andropause the same as 'male menopause,' and should men worry?
Thanks to menopause, almost everyone knows something about how age affects hormone levels – in women. But while menopause has launched a thousand hot-flash jokes, men have their own version. It's called andropause, and though it's less of a pop-culture presence, it's a medical reality that's subject to misconceptions, experts say.
18-month-old's mystery fever and swollen lips were symptoms of Kawasaki disease
As a toddler, Konner Hall showed a knack for hitting milestones early. At 9 months old, he started walking. By 14 months, he was potty trained. He also had a tendency to get ear infections. So when he was 18 months old and woke up one morning with a low-grade fever, his parents – Stephanie and Justin Hall of Cottonwood, Alabama – figured it was just another ear infection.
Electrolytes can give the body a charge, but try not to overdo it
You might think electrolytes are some kind of lab-made superfuel for elite athletes and those who want to be like them. Electrolytes are indeed powerful, and in some circumstances, your body might benefit from a boost. But like comic book heroes with mild-mannered alter egos, they might already be hanging around in your life by another name. And like a movie franchise with one sequel too many, more is not always better.
She didn't know what was wrong. Neither did her dad when he had a heart attack.
Susan Koeppen was two hours into a conference call while working from her home in Kirkland, Washington, when she started feeling pain in her left shoulder blade. Figuring it was from being idle for so long, she went from sitting to standing. The pain eased a bit. When the call...
School’s out, and the kids are bored. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
It's summertime and the kids are home from school when one day they walk into the kitchen and say, "I'm bored!" For parents, the first inclination might be to find something for the children to do. Go play outside. Clean your room. Work on an art project. But, experts say,...
PE teacher's pneumonia diagnosis led doctor to find potentially fatal heart problem
At 41, David Pinto saw a doctor for the first time in a dozen years. Before then, the high school health and PE teacher and coach from Paterson, New Jersey, hadn't felt like he needed to. After all, he was a lifelong athlete who lifted weights and rarely felt sick....
Why protecting fathers' mental health is so important
In Hollywood, the image of the overwhelmed dad is played for laughs, with consequences rarely more serious than an awkward diaper change or a frustrated cry of, "D'oh!" But in real life, experts say the stresses of parenthood can pose challenges to the mental health of fathers, with implications not only for their physical health but for their children's well-being, too.
When LGBTQ health is at stake, patient navigators are ready to help
Figuring out health care can be a challenge for anybody. For LGBTQ people, many of whom routinely encounter discrimination when they need such care, it can be daunting. Which is why some health care systems have begun to offer guides, or navigators, to get people the help they need. "A...
Daughter of the legendary James Brown battles heart failure
Deanna Brown-Thomas was at her desk at the James Brown Family Foundation in Augusta, Georgia, when her chest began tightening. She was sweating profusely. Feeling the urge to burp, she hustled to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She returned to her desk hoping she could push through....
Ready for vacation? Eat well and enjoy your travels with these healthy tips
You've got your swimsuit, sunglasses and a beach- or hammock-worthy novel ready to go. But does your vacation checklist also have a plan for healthy eating?. Sure, escaping your routine might be the whole point of hitting the road. But eating well not only boosts your health, it also can energize your adventures as well, nutritionists say. Here are some of their ideas.
The story of health care in Alaska told through the tales of 5 residents
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Born and raised in Fairbanks, Matthew Kuhns headed to the Lower 48 for college. After getting his degree in Pennsylvania, he wound up in Oregon, married to a local. He talked her into giving his hometown a try. Their family is in Year 9 of what was supposed to be a five-year stay.
Can losing your sense of smell predict heart failure?
Losing the ability to smell properly – a common sensory deficit as people age – may help predict or even contribute to the development of heart failure, new research suggests. The study, published Friday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, adds to a growing body of...
Getting the mail left her chest feeling hot and cold. She was having a heart attack.
Mark Christofferson pulled up to the hospital, jumped out of the car and raced inside for help. "My wife doesn't feel good," he told the nurses. "I have no idea what's going on, but I think it might be a heart attack." A few hours before, Marcie Westwater had gone...
Do you really need compression socks on long flights?
Since the dawn of the jet age, travelers have been warned about the risks of dangerous blood clots while flying. In recent years, those warnings have often been accompanied by advice to wear compression socks. But the case for keeping them on your packing list isn't as clear-cut as you...
Heart disease and stroke could affect at least 60% of adults in U.S. by 2050
At least 6 in 10 adults in an older, more diverse U.S. population could be affected by cardiovascular disease within the next 30 years, according to two new science reports. The projected rise in heart disease and stroke – along with several key risk factors, including high blood pressure and obesity – is likely to triple related costs to $1.8 trillion by 2050, according to two American Heart Association presidential advisories published Tuesday in the AHA journal Circulation. One report looks at the projected increase in cardiovascular disease rates in the decades ahead, while the other projects their total related costs.
A teen survived cardiac arrest. Then his mom. Then his sister.
Joe Krejci of Dallas was almost to the finish line of a 100-yard dash during his middle-school gym class when he collapsed onto the track. His gym teacher thought Joe had tripped. Then he saw the 13-year-old on his back with his eyes open. The teacher called out to the two fastest runners in class: "Go get the nurse and AED!" He called 911 as the students headed toward the school building.
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Heart and Stroke News: Stories about people, science and health, from American Heart Association News.
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