Amir Kaviani, M.D., Vascular Surgeon

Do you have diabetes? Or do you know someone in your family or circle of friends that does? If so, it could be worth paying attention to how much alcohol is being consumed, and understanding the potential risks that come with it. In a study centered on people with diabetes, it was discovered that having eight or more alcoholic drinks a week (that’s only one per day) could increase the odds of high blood pressure by at least 62%. The data was collected from a questionnaire giv...en to more than 10,000 adults with Type 2 diabetes, who were part of a larger study. While heavy drinking has long been associated with high blood pressure, researchers were unsure how moderate drinking affected it, but that gap is closer to being closed thanks to the recent study. As with anything in life, moderation is the key. A couple of drinks a week may not have any noticeable impact, but if you are currently suffering from diabetes, or have a history of it in your family, it may be worth talking to your physician and possibly swapping out that extra drink for water instead. If you would like to read more about this study, you can find details here: https://www.heart.org//more-than-1-drink-a-day-could-raise

In recent months, one of the biggest challenges with being stuck indoors is the loss of regular routine and activity - particularly for kids. While classes and some aspects of school can continue on with some level of normalcy, there is a definite loss when it comes to physical education, and even just the ability to go outside for recess and lunch, since not all students live in areas that are as safe as parents would like. It’s recommended that kids and teens between the ag...es of 6 - 17 get at least an hour of moderate activity a day, with intense activities mixed in at least 3 times a week. Physical activity has long been attributed to better health, better learning, and overall better mental health, so it helps to get moving. It’s also suggested that instead of telling your child to go do something you should try and incorporate regular intervals of activity into their day, to help stay on a schedule, and better stimulate their (and your) brain between classes or assignments. For more information on the benefits of physical exercise for kids and teens, read more here: https://www.heart.org//how-to-keep-kids-active-while-learn

Do you, or someone you know, suffer from depression? It’s a fairly common affliction among a diverse range of people, yet it often goes fairly undiagnosed, which can lead to a wide range of health issues that might otherwise be avoided. One of those things has to deal directly with your heart and the blood flow in your body. Studies are showing that people with a vascular condition that affects arteries in the legs might not recover as effectively if they also suffer from dep...ression. The study included people from the U.S., the Netherlands, and Australia, who were being treated for peripheral artery disease. In the study they discovered that women were also more likely to be depressed than men, and overall mental health played a big part in PAD recovery. If you feel like you may be suffering from depression, talk with your primary physician. It may be impacting your health in a big way. For more information on this study, you can read this article: https://www.heart.org//depression-may-complicate-recovery-

If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve probably had to make some adjustments during this time of dealing with the pandemic. Like a lot of us, it probably hit you particularly hard in your meal planning. It might become very easy to rely on frozen dinners, fast food pickup, or all-day grazing due to being stuck in a spot of being at home or being at work when you wouldn’t normally be. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep yourself healthy, and keep your grocery bu...ying task as easy as possible. One key thing to remember is that you don’t have to buy food like it’s going out of style. If you have a freezer or a refrigerator that is always packed, it can become very easy to snack all the time, which can lead to bad habits and of course compromised health. To read all of the tips and suggestions, check out this article: https://www.heart.org//28/7-tips-for-eating-healthy-at-home

It’s no surprise that during these stressful times a lot of don’t feel like we’re operating at full capacity. Sure, we’re doing our part by maintaining healthy social distance from everyone, but unfortunately being smart can lead to a different set of problems that may not be immediately recognized. When you are unable to socialize with family and friends it actually can affect your mental and physical health. ... Humans are wired to be around other humans. Just as eating and drinking is vital to survival, socializing is a key component to living a happy and healthy life. Usually this isn’t a problem, but with recent events it can be easy for members of society to feel alone, and cut off from the world around them, particularly if they already had limited access. Luckily, technology can help with that. Phone calls, video chats, or even just texting can help keep those feelings of being alone at bay, even if it is just temporary. If you are feeling alone, it might be a good time to call up that relative you’ve been putting off for a while, or even just starting a game on your phone with a stranger so you can interact with someone. It’s okay to feel isolated, after all, we’re doing what we can to help those around us. But try to also remember that it’s okay to reach out to loved ones when you feel like you just need a little interaction, it’s part of being human. If you would like to read more on this, check out this article: https://www.heart.org//why-stay-in-touch-while-keeping-dis

Do you want to talk about something uncomfortable? You’re probably eating too much sugar. In fact, we all are according to research. It’s estimated that on average, Americans consume 17 teaspoons of sugar every day, which is almost double the suggested amount. We’re taught that too much sugar can be bad for you, but why is that, exactly? Well, sugar can actually have negative impacts on your energy, your mood, and cause bloating if you have digestive issues.... And we can’t talking about just cutting back soda or candy (though that will help). Sugar is a common ingredient in most pre-packaged foods. It’s in everything from canned foods, canned sauces, to chips and of course cookies. It really makes it hard to cut back without some effort, but your body will thank you for it. If you feel like you may be suffering long term health effects from too much sugar, talk with your physician to try and make a plan and discuss the best ways to get back on track. To read more about the health impacts of sugar, check out this article: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/art/eating-too-much-sugar

Many times when a person has a heart attack, a stroke, or an aneurysm, it’s due to a blood clot. Blood clots are semisolid clumps of blood that form in veins and arteries, and if large enough can constrict blood flow. If this happens there are usually signs and symptoms to indicate that a problem is occurring. There are a number of reasons why a blood clot may form, some of which include oral contraceptives, obesity, family history, age, diabetes, and more.... If you think you may be experiencing symptoms, it’s very important to seek medical help as soon as possible. Depending on where the clot is and if it is moving, you may experience slight pain or very extreme pain that could turn deadly. Don’t ignore your body if you think there is a problem. While some clots are avoidable with preventative measures, not all of them are. If you have a history of blood clots in your family, make sure you discuss it with your regular healthcare provider so you can have as much information as possible. To read more about possible symptoms and treatments, check out this article: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com//how-to-know-if-you-have-

Did you know that it’s possible to have a stroke in your spine? Yes, you read that correctly. While incredibly rare, accounting for just over 1% of all strokes, they are incredibly dangerous. Similar to brain strokes, spinal strokes are caused by lack of blood flow, or a hemorrhage, which results in nutrients and oxygen not being received by the spine, leading to tissue and organ damage.... The symptoms are usually radiating pain in the neck or back, and possible weakness in the legs or loss of ability to move other parts of the body. The damage isn’t always long lasting and permanent but, like a brain stroke, the odds are that there will be some level of treatment and therapy that is needed to make a recovery if it is possible. It’s important to remember to always talk with your physician and get regular health screenings. If you or your family has a history of high blood pressure, heart attack, or other cardiovascular issues, be sure that your doctor knows and that you’ve discussed what kind of preventative care can be done, and what signs should be watched for. If you’d like to read more, check out this link: https://www.heart.org//strokes-in-the-spine-are-rare-but-d

As you get older, there are things you generally start to accept. The aches and pains of age start to set in, and you accept that you can’t bounce back from things like you used to. Your doctor probably mentions something about increased blood pressure, but you just shrug it off and figure it’s part of the process. The problem with that though, is that it isn’t really true. As it turns out, high blood pressure can start in childhood, and it can follow you throughout your life..., without you ever even knowing about it. Usually it accompanies obesity, kidney disease, and other factors, but hypertension in childhood can spell trouble later in life with increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It often goes unrecognized simply because it isn’t really screened for. Children tend to be less understanding when it comes to blood pressure tests with the cuff, and many times doctors simply don’t think to check for it. One of the best things you can do for your child is to have them tested for high blood pressure, starting from the age of 3, and including it in their yearly physical checkup. Snacks should be more focused on fruits and veggies, and even at a young age exercise should be encouraged. We want to give children the best we can as they grow up, and making sure they are healthy and having them learn what things to pay attention to will help them tremendously in the long run. For more information on child hypertension, check out this article: https://www.heart.org//high-blood-pressure-can-start-in-ch

There are a lot of changes that happen to a woman when she becomes pregnant. The extra hormones fundamentally change the way her body may react to certain things, as it prioritizes itself on the growing baby. New research, which has been published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, sheds some new light on pregnancy and possible complications that can affect prenatal and postnatal heart health. We’ve known from past studies that premature birth and low birth wei...ght can have an effect on how an infant’s heart forms. This new study takes it step further, and looks at how things affecting the mother also affect the infant. In the research data, it was discovered that babies born to mothers with high blood pressure had differences in right ventricle size, and thickness of their heart walls. This is a relatively new study, so there are many variables to take into consideration, and many factors of observation were limited due to the nature of the study. It is worth noting though that everything we do affects our health, and we know for a fact that it can affect the health of those in our care until they are born. For more on this study you can check out this article: https://www.heart.org//pregnant-womans-high-blood-pressure

When you think about heart disease, one of your first thoughts is probably related to arteries and how they can get clogged. You might even say to yourself that you should be okay because there was no indication that you had blockages at your last checkup. Unfortunately, it seems that clogged arteries may be only one part in identifying potential cardiovascular health issues, according to the Journal of the American Heart Association.... The problem occurs when there is restricted blood flow to the heart, but the main arteries do not have blockages to attribute to it. The culprit in this case may be a disorder known as Ischemia but No Obstructive Coronary Artery disease, and it is more common in adult women. It comes down to an issue in the lining of the blood vessels, and can cause the vessels to not function correctly, resulting in spasms, failure to dilate, or over-constrict in some cases. With advancements in imaging functional coronary testing doctors are better able to see these kinds of problems, and hopefully prevent more cases of heart attack in an otherwise seemingly fine individual who doesn’t exhibit traditional signs of blockage. If you would like to know more about this and how it might affect you, click here: https://www.heart.org//clogged-arteries-are-not-the-only-s

Are you a fan of walking? If not, you might want to reconsider your stance on that if possible. In one of the longest running studies that is focused on what affects heart disease, researchers found that within their study group of 638 participants, those who walked more than others had better levels of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. In fact, it seems that the levels improved for every 1,000 steps taken, so walking 10,000 steps in a day dropped blood ...pressure levels nearly 2.25 points when compared to someone who only walked 5,000. While it may not seem like a huge amount, these changes in levels could mean the different blood pressure that is considered normal and elevated. The researchers were confident that this study helped solidify the relationship between daily exercise, even if just moderate, and overall heart health. If you would like to know more about this, you can find details on the study here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releas/2020//200319090238.htm

We live in busy times, and when things get tough, we don’t always have the energy, or even the desire, to make food at home. It takes more work, more preparation, and sometimes all you want to do is kick back and relax. Unfortunately, our busy lifestyles have created the perfect opening for an unhealthy habit, which takes the form of ultra-processed foods, and it could be making you feel worse. Ultra-processed foods, which take the form of fast food, microwave dinners, and a...nything that is basically formed instead of grown, can have negative effects on your cardiovascular health. Most often, eating ultra-processed foods replaces eating healthy, natural foods that are full of nutrients and protein, which are things your heart needs. When it comes to your health, it’s worth making the extra effort. It doesn’t have to extravagant, even starting with a home made salad during dinner can help. Just keep at it and over time you can replace the bad habit with a healthy one. For more information on how healthy eating can help your heart, check out this article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releas/2019//191111084920.htm