If you have erratic periods and have tried — and struggled — to get pregnant, you could be living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but not realize it, according to R. Paige Walker, M.D., an OB/GYN with Norton Women’s Specialists. Early diagnosis could significantly reduce your chances for lifelong health problems. PCOS is a common…
If you’ve ever waited for a bus when the wind-chill is below zero, you understand why some school districts cancel classes on days when there is no ice or snow, but simply dangerously low temperatures. Frostbite happens when the body is injured by freezing, leaving a loss of feeling and color in the body’s extremities –…
We’ve all heard “time is money” and “time heals all wounds.” What about this one? “Time lost is brain lost.” Treating a stroke quickly can mean the difference between recovery and irreversible brain damage, or even death, according to Bryan J. Eckerle, M.D., neurologist with Norton Neurology Services, and Tom L. Yao, M.D., endovascular neurosurgeon…
The Kentucky Department for Public Health recommends the following MMR vaccine schedule by age to prevent measles. All children ages 12 months and older who have not received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine should get the first dose as soon as possible. A second MMR dose is routinely recommended between age 4 and 6…
Simple snoring is a problem in bedrooms across the world. But 1 in 5 adults have at least mild sleep apnea. They stop breathing for periods while they’re asleep. While it’s not breathing, your body reflexively responds to the lack of oxygen by releasing adrenaline. Your heart beat accelerates, and your blood pressure rises. Sleep…
Too much bad cholesterol or too little good cholesterol coursing through your bloodstream increases the risk that the waxy substance can start lining the walls of arteries that supply blood to the heart and brain. That’s bad enough, but why exactly can high cholesterol cause heart disease? Why is high cholesterol bad? Whether the good…
High blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart and arteries. Years of untreated high blood pressure and the strain it puts on artery walls creates places for cholesterol to build up and form hardened patches of plaque. If the plaque ruptures, bits and pieces enter the bloodstream, where they can form blood clots. High…
If you are experiencing stress or not handling your stress with healthy tools, it may affect your heart health. When the body feels stress, the natural reaction is to release adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that can cause your breathing and heart rate to speed up and your blood pressure to rise. Many know this…
As consumers, we’ve become accustomed to really convenient service. We can preorder and pick up our groceries, get food delivered from our favorite restaurants, and shop for a product online and have it the next day (sometimes the same day!). Increasingly, health care providers are offering consumers equally convenient service for their health needs. With…
A high body mass index, or BMI, and a sedentary lifestyle increase your risk for heart disease. It’s important to understand how these two factors impact your heart and what you can do to decrease your risk for developing heart disease. What is BMI? BMI is a screening tool used to measure body fat. You…
Tobacco smoke does plenty of damage to the lungs, eyes, bones, bladder … every organ in your body. But why is smoking a risk factor for heart disease? It’s the chemicals in tobacco smoke that damage blood cells and can harm how your heart pumps and the structure of your blood vessels. “It’s the toxic…
Heart disease is the most common cause of death for adults with diabetes. Discover the link between diabetes and your heart, and learn what actions you can take to decrease your risk. What is Type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. When you have diabetes, your body has trouble…
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