At-home genetic testing kits are at the height of popularity right now. But is the information valuable – or just for entertainment? From 23andMe to AncestryDNA, there is an abundance of at-home genetic testing kits that are available right now. You simply buy a kit, mail in a saliva sample and six weeks later, the
According to the Center for Disease Control, it is estimated anywhere from 2.7 million to 6 million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation (AFib). An even scarier statistic from the American Heart Association—a person with AFib is five times more likely to have a stroke. Unfortunately, AFib often goes undiagnosed. Dr. J. Christian
The American Heart Association estimates more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year. Almost 90 percent of those people will die because they did not get help in time – survival depends on getting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quickly. Now there is an app for that – PulsePoint. PulsePoint, now available
If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib) or experience heart palpitations, you have probably heard that you should stop your consumption of caffeine. Dr. J. Christian Hays, Electrophysiologist for the St. Elizabeth Heart & Vascular Institute, says that is not necessarily true. “The practice of eliminating caffeine from your diet if you have heart rhythm issues is
Does mowing the lawn, pulling weeds in the garden and watering the flowers feel like a drain on your time and your energy? While these summertime chores can be time-consuming, they also could be life-saving. Physical Activity: Is Mowing the Lawn a Workout? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers Physical Activity
When you have a loved one being cared for in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it can be very “intense.” Elizabeth Hlebak, RN in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth Edgewood, understands the journey you may be on and has some advice for you. She said, “The first thing to understand is there
If you are like most people you keep a salt shaker on your table at each meal and you add salt to every recipe you cook. Did you know your love of salt is putting you and your heart at risk? “Most Americans have too much salt in their diet. It is time that we
Have you ever been sitting in a meeting or trying to fall asleep and suddenly your heart skips, flutters or maybe starts racing? You aren’t alone. Palpitations or flutters can feel like the heart is throbbing, flip-flopping, murmuring, or pounding. They can also feel like the heart skips a beat. Some people feel palpitations as
Next time you’re in the kitchen, don’t reach for the salt to season your foods. Instead, use herbs. It’s an easy way to be heart-healthy. Need a little inspiration? Try this Chimichurri recipe, which uses Italian parsley and mint. Chimichurri is used to baste meats for grilling. Ingredients ½ cup Olive Oil 2 T Lemon
Growing up in East Tennessee you may not be offered fruit and oatmeal for breakfast – biscuits and gravy are more of a staple. Dr. James Locher, Cardiac Surgeon at the St. Elizabeth Heart & Vascular Institute explained, “I think, like most people, I inherited bad lifestyle habits from my family that could easily lead to