by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Inflammation used to be easy to detect. There was redness, pain and swelling. Nowadays it’s not as easy. It has been implicated as a major culprit in chronic diseases such as heart, cancer and stroke. Read our newly posted article on why this is so, how to detect and treat it.
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Well, here we go. Many recent studies, including one I referenced Wednesday, have lauded drinking alcohol for its heart and stroke benefits. Now comes a large British study saying, “not so fast.” Any alcohol at all may increase risk of cancer.
The study was done in women, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t apply to men, also. (more…)
by 
James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
A British study shows four healthy steps to cut our risk of stroke by more than half.
Every year 795,000 Americans have a stroke. It’s our third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. The risk increases with age. We can decrease our chances by keeping our blood pressure and cholesterol under control, but there’s more we can do to help even further.
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Today is National Wear Red Day, decrees the American Heart Association. Women are supposed to wear red to remind us women have heart disease, too. I’m not sure if men are to wear red or not, but I’m not taking any chances. My running shoes I wear to work have red edges.
So I’m thinking, doesn’t everyone know by now women are at risk for heart attacks and strokes? There are studies coming out all the time about women’s heart-attack symptoms being different from men’s, women being harder to diagnose in the ER, dying more often than men.
Then I went to the American Heart Association website and discovered new facts I didn’t know. Conclusion? I will always have new things to learn about women. It is a lifelong, unachievable quest, but I will not give up.
For instance, in 2003:
By James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Retirement before age 65 increases your risks of heart disease and stroke. Researchers posted a study in the March 1, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology after studying 16,827 Greek men and women for 7.7 to 12.5 years. Retirement age ranged from less than 45 to over 65. For every 5 extra years of working the total deaths were ten percent less than the retired at that age.
They took into account variables such as weight, activity, smoking, alcohol and gender. At enrollment they excluded people with chronic diseases such diabetes, stroke, cancer and heart disease. Most of the increased deaths seen in the early retirees were from heart diseases and strokes.
The cause of the increased mortality is unknown. I have often speculated about people who seem to be healthy and work into older ages, then when they finally retire tend to die soon afterwards. I have wondered whether it was just their age, or if they had lost a major reason for living. This study seems to lean toward the latter.
But that does not mean that there are a lot happy, early retirees who live long lives. Perhaps it has something to do with having a purpose to live, for instance, family, friends, hobbies or volunteering.
