Loneliness and social isolation are becoming problems of epidemic proportions. The statistics are chilling. Today, 25 percent of Americans have no one with whom to discuss matters important to them. What is even scarier is that loneliness is killing us. Studies show that loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased risk of early mortality […]
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – A Disease of Athletes
The prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players is shockingly high according to a paper published online in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) on July 25th (1). The paper describes autopsy results from a convenience sample of 202 deceased football players who donated their brains for research. CTE was diagnosed […]
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – An Overview
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a relatively common sleep disorder with several potentially serious consequences. It causes breathing to stop and then start again intermittently during sleep. The word apnea describes suspension of breathing.OSA may seriously affect quality of life and is strongly associated with the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disorders and […]
18 Important Causes of Headache – The Serious and the Not So Serious
I assume headaches have always been part of people’s daily lives. But, somehow, headache has never been regarded as a subject of immense public health importance. One of the reasons may be that it is associated with a multitude of disorders, most of which are benign. However, there is now a large body of evidence highlighting the societal […]
From Low-Fat, High-Carb to Insulin Resistance, Fatty Liver, and Heart Disease
I recently gave a talk at a meeting with colleagues, most of them cardiologists and endocrinologists, where I, among other things, discussed the current status of diet-heart hypothesis and the possible relationship between our fear of dietary fats and the obesity epidemic. After the meeting, a senior colleague of mine, an old friend, and a […]
Who Wants To Live Forever
The famous song, Who Wants to Live Forever, performed by the British rock band, Queen was used for the scenes in the film Highlander, where Connor MacLeod must endure his beloved wife Heather growing old and dying while he, as an immortal, remains forever young. The scenes are both tragic and beautiful at the same […]
18 Important Causes of Shortness of Breath – Dyspnea Explained
Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea is a symptom that describes a sense of breathing discomfort or difficulty in breathing. It is often expressed as feeling out of breath or suffering from breathlessness. It is estimated that up to 7-8 percent of patients presenting to emergency rooms complain of dyspnea (1). In half of […]
Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risk of Stroke and Dementia
I’m often asked which is worse for health, sugar- or artificially sweetened beverages. My most common response is to recommend skipping both and choose water. However, in the era of fructose phobia and the apparent association between high fructose consumption and the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, many tend to prefer artificially sweetened beverages […]
19 Important Causes of Chest Pain
Chest pain is a common symptom associated with a variety of underlying causes. It is estimated that more than six million people visit hospital energy departments in the United States annually because of chest pain. It is the second most frequently reported principal reason for visiting the emergency unit, only abdominal pain is more common (1). […]
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – From Symptoms to Diagnosis and Treatment
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder among women. It is characterized by menstrual irregularities, infertility, signs of androgen excess, and polycystic ovaries. It is often associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and lipid abnormalities. PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women (1). PCOS was first described in 1934 by Irving F. Stein […]
Uric Acid, Hyperuricemia, and Gout
More than eight million people in the U.S., almost 4% of the population, are estimated to suffer from gout. The disease often causes severe pain and physical disability. Gout is associated with increased blood levels of uric acid, called hyperuricemia. Uric acid is a biochemical substance the body has to deal with through our lifetime. It is an end […]
Carbs, Fats and Heart Disease – Time For a Reappraisal Following the PURE Study
Recently many of us were provided an opportunity to watch a highly interesting video on the internet covering a talk given by Dr. Salim Yusuf at a recent Cardiology Update meeting. Dr. Yusuf is the Marion W. Burke Chair in Cardiovascular Disease at McMaster University Medical School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and current President of […]
VLDL – The Role of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins and Remnant Cholesterol
Knowing the role of VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) and chylomicrons is a key factor in understanding how lipids (fats) and lipoproteins are involved in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In the current era of adiposity and metabolic disease, VLDL has gained a bigger role than before and may help explain many of the disorders associated with the obesity epidemic such […]
Adiposity, Adipokines, and Adiposopathy – Sick Fat Explained
By now, all of us should know that we are in the throes of an obesity epidemic. Worldwide, over 500 million people are believed to be affected (1). Obesity in children and adolescents is on the rise and so is type 2 diabetes. And, according to the media and the experts, this will have horrible consequences that ultimately will […]
Weight Management – The Role of Exercise Revisited
In the midst of the obesity epidemic, one of our most important concerns is the association between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, body weight itself may not be what matters most. Evidence suggests that obesity measures such as BMI, waist circumference, or waist-to-hip ratio, assessed singly or in combination, […]