Describes the DASH diet to help lower blood pressure. Offers tips for following DASH guidelines, including how to add more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Outlines how to make DASH a habit by setting goals, getting past barriers, and finding support.
Use this form to record a high blood sugar level problem. Fill out a record each time this happens. Take the completed form(s) to the doctor. If you or your child with diabetes is having high blood sugar problems, the diabetes medicine dose may need to be adjusted or the medicine may need to be changed. Date...
Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) in your blood. High cholesterol means that you have too much of the fat in your blood. Your body needs some cholesterol. But if you have too much, it can build up in your arteries and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Covers the kinds of cholesterol. Explains that cholesterol is one of many risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Covers treatment to lower risk of heart attack and stroke, which includes healthy habits and statins.
Take control of your cholesterol to lower your heart disease risk. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful. Reduce risk with fiber Add whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables to your meals to reduce heart disease risk . Add soy protein to your diet 30 grams (about 1...
Millions of people struggle to lose weight and improve their diets. Finding a diet that works for you and then staying with it can be a huge challenge. Registered dietitians are experts in diet and nutrition, particularly for promoting general health and treating conditions, such as high cholesterol. A dietitian can...
High cholesterol is treated with heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicine. These can lower your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. You and your doctor may decide to first try treating your high cholesterol without medicine. Changing some of your habits may be all you need to do to...
The lower the better when it comes to homocysteine levels. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful. Seek support from supplements Lower homocysteine levels in the blood by taking a daily supplement of over-the-counter folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Back up the B...
PSA tests can show high levels of PSA that aren't caused by cancer (called a false-positive). This means you may need more tests to check for prostate cancer. The information shown here is based on the best available evidence.
What are high triglycerides? Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood. Your body uses them for energy. You need some for good health. But high triglyceride levels are linked with a higher risk of coronary artery disease. A high level may be a sign of metabolic syndrome. Very high levels raise your risk of...
Too many of the fatty compounds known as triglycerides can compromise your health. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful. Don't forget the fish Eat more fatty fish and take a daily fish oil supplement providing 3,000 mg of the triglyceride-lowering omega-3 fatty acids...
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is sometimes called "good" cholesterol. A high HDL level is linked with a lower risk of coronary artery disease. HDL may help lower the risk of coronary artery disease in several ways. HDL helps move cholesterol out of the body. HDL does this by binding with cholesterol in the bloodstream...
High-output heart failure happens when the body's need for blood is unusually high, so heart failure symptoms happen even though the heart is working well. This type of heart failure happens to a very small number of people with heart failure. What happens to the heart? High-output heart failure occurs when the normally...
What is potassium? Potassium is a mineral. It helps keep the right mix of fluids in your body. It also helps your nerves, muscles, and heart work properly. What foods are high in potassium? You can control the amount of potassium in your diet by being aware of which foods are low or high in potassium. Foods are high in...
Puncture wounds caused by the injection of a substance under high pressure into the skin are serious injuries. High-pressure equipment may be used for paint, paint thinner, grease, oil, fuel, or other liquid solvents. Most high-pressure injection injuries affect the hands and fingers. These injuries are at high risk for...
Your body needs protein to help build and repair muscle, skin, and other body tissues. Getting enough protein also helps your body fight infection, balance body fluids, and carry oxygen through your body. When you have a wound that's healing, think of food as medicine. Eat a balanced diet with enough calories and plenty...
COVID-19 causes a mild illness in many people who have it. But certain things may increase your risk for more serious illness. These include: Age. Older adults are at highest risk. The risk increases with age. Babies born premature or who are less than 1 year old may also be at high risk. Asthma, cystic fibrosis...
A high-risk pregnancy means that you or your baby has a greater chance of health problems. Things that may make your pregnancy high-risk include your current health, your age, and your pregnancy history. A genetic problem in either parent can also make a pregnancy high-risk. Your pregnancy is high-risk if you: Have a...
What is a high-risk pregnancy? Your pregnancy is called high-risk if you or your baby has an increased chance of having a health problem. These problems include slowed growth of the baby, preterm labor, preeclampsia, and a problem with the placenta. Many things can make a pregnancy high-risk, from a current condition...
The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test is a blood test that finds lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). This protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body. The hs-CRP can be used to find the risk for heart disease and stroke in people who don't already have heart disease. The hs-CRP...
The hip is the largest ball-and-socket joint in the body. The thighbone (femur) fits tightly into a cup-shaped socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The hip joint is held together by a joint capsule, tendons, ligaments, and the muscles of the buttocks, groin, and spine.
Bursitis or a tendon injury ( tendinopathy) can cause pain at the side of your hip when you rise from a chair and take your first few steps, climb stairs, drive, or lie down with direct pressure on the side of the hip. To prevent and ease hip pain during work, play, or daily activities: Stay at a weight that's healthy...
If there is a difference between the child's hips, you may notice that: One leg looks shorter than the other. There are more folds of skin on the inside of one thigh than on the other. One hip joint seems to move differently than the other.
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a childhood condition caused by abnormal development of one or both hip joints. In DDH, the top of the thighbone (femur) does not fit securely into the hip socket (acetabulum). This allows the thighbone to either partially or completely slip out of the socket (dislocate).
Kneel on your affected leg and bend your other leg out in front of you, with that foot flat on the floor. If you feel discomfort in the front of your knee, place a towel under your knee. Keeping your back straight, slowly push your hips forward. You should feel a stretch in the upper thigh of your back leg and hip. Hold...
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thighbone (femur) where the thighbone joins the pelvis to form the hip joint. Most hip fractures occur in the area just below the ball of the femur (femoral neck region) and the area just below this (intertrochanteric region). A hip fracture almost always completely...
Covers causes of hip fractures. Includes list of things that increase risk. Describes symptoms and how hip fractures are diagnosed. Covers treatment choices. Offers prevention tips, including ways to slow osteoporosis.
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thighbone (femur) where the thighbone joins the pelvis to form the hip joint. Most hip fractures occur in the area just below the ball of the femur (femoral neck region) and the area just below this (intertrochanteric region). A hip fracture almost always completely...
Surgery is usually the best treatment for a broken (fractured) hip. Hip pinning involves: Getting the bone lined up correctly (reduction). Stabilizing broken bones. This is called internal fixation. Hip pinning is usually for people who have fractures in which the bones can be properly aligned. A partial or total hip...
Learn about surgery to repair a broken or fractured hip and what to expect.
