(Westend61 via Getty Images) Marital stress – especially if it’s severe – may make it harder for younger adults to regain good physical and mental health following a heart attack, increasing the likelihood for chest pain and hospital readmission, a new study suggests. “Health care professionals need to be aware of personal factors that may…

(LvNL/iStock via Getty Images) Lea en español The longer a person’s blood pressure levels remain under control, the lower their risk may be for dementia, new research shows. The findings add to evidence suggesting that good heart and brain health is best achieved by keeping systolic blood pressure (the upper number) consistently under control, compared…

(jirkaejc/iStock via Getty Images) “How do you feel about black licorice?” sounds like a question for starting a simple chat at a Halloween party – or a silly internet fight. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it candy that inspires intense opinions. But if you ask a health expert, expect a serious conversation – because eating lots of black…

Play without Auto-Play Play Video Text Murphy Jensen looked across the tennis court and smiled – a joyful, mischievous grin. At 6-foot-5, with a smooth face and scalp, the bright flash of his teeth radiated warmth and happiness. Of course it did. This is a guy so peppy that a friend insists “the sun decides…

Actor and stroke survivor Michael Shutt. (Photo courtesy of Cece Tio) Like many actors in Los Angeles, Michael Shutt had a second job. As a bartender at a restaurant, he had flexible hours and a reliable income with benefits. Shutt worked the day shift so he could devote his evenings to a theater company where…

(BakiBG/E+ via Getty Images) Telehealth care by pharmacists is an effective alternative to clinic-based care for managing high blood pressure, a new study has found. Scientists know that high blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular-related deaths in the U.S. But controlling the condition, also known as hypertension, has been difficult. Nearly…

(Prostock-Studio/iStock via Getty Images) The good news is that fear can persuade us to avoid dangerous situations or help us flee from an angry bear. The bad news is that fear can lead to chronic stress, with serious health consequences. So should that affect your Halloween plans? Probably not, said Zachary Sikora, medical director of…

Donald M. Bell in the lobby of Chicago’s Town Hall Apartments. (Photo courtesy of Donald M. Bell) Lea en español The ways Donald M. Bell and his Chicago neighbors connect with one another are as simple as they are significant. “We have certain rituals that pull certain clumps of people together,” said Bell, 73. Sometimes,…

(andresr/E+ via Getty Images) Lea en español The coronavirus pandemic magnified health disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Some experts say using trusted community voices could help close gaps not only in vaccination rates but in overall health. Even before the pandemic, public health experts knew that people from historically underrepresented and underserved populations were…

Congenital heart defect survivor Cix Greene. (Photo courtesy of Chappral Greene) On her first visit to the hospital to check on her newborn patient, the pediatrician detected a heart murmur. A few days later, at Cix Greene’s first office visit, the doctor didn’t hear it. It was almost eight years later, at the boy’s annual…