According to the AHA (American Heart Association) coronary heart disease kills more women in the USA than any other illness. During your lifetime, cholesterol-based plaque accumulates, sticking to the walls of your arteries and making them narrower. If they get too narrow, the blood pressure builds up and they can burst, causing a heart attack. Risk factors may be genetic, age-related, or to do with your lifestyle. Women with high blood pressure and unmanaged diabetes are at higher risk. A poor diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, and lack of exercise increase the buildup of plaque and your chances of heart disease. But you can lower your risk by understanding the signs and symptoms and reduc

Whether a pain around your tooth is sharp and intermittent or a constant, dull ache, it is classed as a toothache. To minimize your chances of developing toothache, always practice good dental hygiene. If you do experience pain, contact your dentist for advice and treatment immediately. Toothache causes are diverse, ranging from structural damage to serious infection. Here are the seven main toothache causes that dentists see, and treatments they can offer. * Cavities Cavities are one of the major toothache causes, and they develop after exposure to the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque. If you have poor brushing habits, you are more likely to suffer from cavities. Your dentist can tr

Belly fat is a fact of life for many Americans because of our poor eating habits, lack of exercise and stress-filled lives. But belly fat is more than an unsightly bulge; it is unhealthy and can actually be attributed to many dangerous health conditions. Excess belly fat can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, metabolic syndrome, gallbladder problems and sleep apnea. Belly fat does not discriminate; it is unhealthy for both men and women. The good news, according to Michael Jensen, MD of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, is that belly fat is the first fat you lose when you go on a weight loss diet. Here are some tips for los

Valentine’s Day should be full of decadent pleasures for you and your special someone. Sweet excess is at the core of the holiday because love deserves to be writ large throughout your celebration. If you feel a bit guilty at embracing all the guilty pleasures the day offers, you should stop worrying. Traditional Valentine’s gifts can be good for the health. Chocolate Expressing your love through chocolate is not only a time-honored tradition but can be good for your beloved. Chocolate, particularly the dark kind, may help lower cholesterol, improve heart health, and preserve the memory. Also, eating chocolate may also reduce your chances of having a stroke. Chocolate does come packed with s

Accessories are the extras we wear or carry with us everyday. They not only help express our personal style, they offer convenience and even safety. While usually small, they speak volumes about who we are and convey our deepest personality traits. Accessories are the period that completes our overall look. Putting a pulled-together, classy, accessorized look is a basic fashion skill relying on balance, proportion, and unity. Balance is the idea of visual equilibrium. This means a successful look will usually be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Proportion refers to the size of your accessories in relation to the other elements of your ensemble. Unity is the harmonious look achieved when you wear

Are you a muesli fan? Do you like to wake up in the morning to a bowlful of the mix, and savor its wholegrain cereals, seeds, nuts, and dried fruits? If so, you’ve probably tried a range of types available in the shops, enjoying some more than others. But have you ever tried mixing your own muesli instead? This way, you can select your favorite contents and cut out the rest. You might also like to factor in other feature preferences, such as fair trade, gluten-free, fine-cut, or chunky. The choice will be yours. Mix for the months ahead Mixing your own muesli may be costly and time-consuming to start with, while you’re trying out different variations, but once you’ve found your ideal recipe,

Most people know on some level that nature is good for them, which is why they take to the country or the tropics whenever their vacation times let them. But it’s not just the lack of sunlight and vitamin D that keeps people coming back to nature. Most people, especially those in creative and knowledge careers, need time to let their minds rest and reorganize to remain productive and attentive, and nature is the best place to give your mind that freedom. Nature Gives You Room to Think The restorative effects of nature have a lot of evidence behind them. Researchers have found that nature helps people reduce stress and anxiety, solve challenging problems, and maintain productivity. Nature ca

Herbs and spices make your dishes smell and taste better and do not add any calories. Certain spices can also help you in your fight against aging. Small doses provide antioxidants. They can keep your immune system strong, lower blood pressure, as well as support your digestive system. Make sure you keep the below spices stocked in your spice rack and use them regularly. Cloves have anti-aging benefits. This spice has antioxidants and is good for inflammation. Asthma and bronchitis sufferers may find relief from cloves. It can also help relieve arthritis and muscle pains. Cinnamon has been shown to lower blood pressure in studies on animals. The smell of fresh baked pie made with cinnamo

Your immune system is responsible for battling bacterial and viral infections, but lifestyle factors can influence how well it works. Being vaccinated against flu viruses and other diseases will definitely help to keep your body healthy, but there are also some simple everyday things that you can do to make your immune system stronger. 1) Try to avoid stress, and learn to better manage life’s inevitable stresses. Research shows that being consistently stressed weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. There are many ways to reduce your stress levels. You might try setting aside at least one hour each day for pure relaxation, using that time to focus on reading a goo

Bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits. In fact, Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. One of the reasons for this is that, despite the fact that they are only grown locally in one state and require a great deal of care during harvesting and shipping, they are one of the cheapest fruits in the store. As a matter of fact, the price of bananas has continued to decline over the last 30 years. Next time you peel and eat one of your favorite fruits, think about these five little-known facts about the banana. 1. Bananas are the fourth largest agricultural product in the world. Over 100 billion bananas are consumed worldwide every year. Americans eat an average

Valentine’s Day is for lovers, and it gets all the hype during the month of February. However, the week of February 14 through 20 is known as Random Acts of Kindness Week. For seven days, you’ll have an excuse to do nice things for others -- not just your lover, but anyone, even strangers. A plethora of scientific studies suggest that paying a kindness to someone else will make you feel better too, whether the gesture is big or small. Here are some suggestions to inspire you: 1. Surprise your spouse by ordering lunch and having it delivered to their place of employment. You could do this for anyone that you know well enough to order what they like without asking them. 2. When ordering your m

Are you looking for a canine friend to join your feline but you’re worried that they won’t get along? Have no fear, there are dog breeds that get along with cats. Here are 5 types of dogs that will make an excellent addition to a your feline-dominated household. The Beagle: Beagles will snuggle with cats that are living with them and get great fun out of chasing cats in the yard. But the chasing is not meant to be aggressive, it’s just simple fun. Beagles are good watch dogs but not a good guard dog. They do not bark much but they do howl.They also don’t train easily- when they find a scent, they can’t help but follow it. The Boxer: This breed tends to enjoy rough play with a cat but will no

It’s time to make your health a laughing matter. Yep, you got it right. Laughter is the best medicine and you can start taking advantage of its benefits today. It’s hard to completely list all that can be gained by adding a little humor to your life, but here are a few ways that scratch the surface. #1 Physical Health Can’t believe that you can get a workout by laughing it up? Well, you’re missing out on one of the easiest and most enjoyable forms of exercise. Laughter can work out the back, abdominal, facial, and leg muscles. The burst of energy that laughter provides can be just as beneficial as time spent on a rowing machine. It won’t provide a complete workout, but this is a great way to

A warm cup of hot cocoa is just the thing to ward off winter’s chill. Served steaming in a warm mug, it’s perfect to accompany a crackling fire, as a wind-down from a day at work, or for refreshment during a weekend card game. The classic cocoa is a winner every time, but these suggestions will take it to the next level. --Add sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg and a dollop of vanilla. Not only will this complement the chocolate flavor of the cocoa, but it will give the cocoa extra rich aroma. --Use a pinch of chili powder. This is reminiscent of the original cocoa beverage from South America and infuses the drink with a level of warmth that can be detected through flavor rather than temper

Have you looked at yourself in a full-length mirror since Christmas Day? If not, you may be in for a shock. If you’ve been lounging by the fire, tucking into feasts and delicacies, you’ll need to get your body back in shape now. That can be hard if you’re a sedentary person or have a desk job, but these New Year’s fitness resolutions will sprinkle exercise lightly through your day, so you’ll hardly notice it. 1. Get moving before breakfast Each day, take at least a hundred steps before breaking your fast with either drink or food. This will ensure that you’ve at least made a start on your daily exercise before being drawn into other commitments. Starting early will also give you a sense of

With the new year upon us, you may be looking for resolutions that will help to keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy in the year ahead. “This is the perfect time of year to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.” To help you start the year off on the right foot, Dr. McAneny and the experts at the AMA are offering 10 recommendations to help you determine where you can make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to your health. 1. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes

When you place a plastic beverage container in a recycling bin, you are an important part of the product's life cycle, helping that packaging to be used to make something new, over and over again. An astounding 70 percent of what people toss in the trash is actually recyclable, but very few people recycle as often as they should. What exactly happens to plastic beverage bottles that you put in a recycling bin? They are collected, sorted and ground into plastic flakes. Different types of plastic flakes are separated before being washed and dried. Then the processed flakes are used to make things like cups, trays, clothing, carpet fibers and so much more - including new beverage bottles. Recyc

If you're living with low back pain (LBP), you're not alone. The condition is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Studies show 80 percent of American adults will experience LBP at some point in their lives. If LBP turns from short-­term to chronic (lasting three months or longer), it can impact your overall quality of life. Modern society craves quick-­fix solutions to even complex problems, but this mindset can be particularly counterproductive when it comes to LBP. Studies show that LBP is often overtreated, particularly when it comes to the use of opioids, imaging scans (such as MRIs and X­-rays), and surgery. Guidelines recommend first trying exercise and other conservative appro

If you have been following me for a few years, you know I like to write about personal style in January. It’s the perfect time to reflect on your life—the past year’s accomplishments and your New Year’s dreams and aspirations. You may also know that your signature style is directly related to your success. Your question may be, How do I determine what my style is? Your individual style is influenced by your age, body type, and lifestyle. It includes your clothing, personal hygiene, mannerisms, and even your home decor. Your “style” is “your” style, not what is “in fashion.” To begin, have faith that you do in fact have “style.” We all do. If you usually wear silk dresses with heels, your sty

After the festive season is over and before spring arrives, many people feel down. Maybe it's the cold weather or shortened daylight hours. Those things can lead to very bad moods and a profound lack of optimism about the future. However, there are some things you can to help improve your chances of staying upbeat. 1) Stay active It is easy to stop getting as much exercise in winter, as the weather is not really suitable for many outdoor sports or active pursuits. However, don’t let this stop you from exercising; exercise releases chemicals called endorphins that help to bolster mood and increase your sense of well-being. Try to find a nearby gym where you can work out, or simply opt to do w