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According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the average American takes in more than 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium each day. The organization recommends consuming no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, while working towards an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day for most adults. “Too much salt is bad for the heart,” explains Rebecca Fuller, RD, a cardiovascular intensive care dietitian at MUSC Heart and Vascular Center in Charleston, South Carolina....

Gillen’s first run in early 2017 was unexpectedly painful, leading her to seek medical attention. Multiple visits with an orthopedist, along with two MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging scans), revealed that Gillen’s knee discomfort was due to a loss of cartilage under her kneecaps. She had to spend months in physical therapy and doing strength-training exercises before she was able to run again. The unintentional time off resulted in a loss of fitness....

The earlier you begin medication treatment, the better your chances of halting joint damage, protecting your organs, and living a longer life without pain and disability, says Jonathan Greer, MD, a rheumatologist in Boynton Beach, Florida. Here’s everything you need to know to protect various parts of your body if you have RA. The Eyes: How Rheumatoid Arthritis May Affect Them Because of inflammation around the eyes, some people with rheumatoid arthritis may get either dry eye syndrome or episcleritis, a redness in the white part of the eye....

Many people who have MS experience a temporary exacerbation of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid, notes the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). This is a feature of Uhthoff’s phenomenon, a temporary worsening of symptoms that can occur in people with MS due to an increase in core body temperature, according to a July 2021 article published in StatPearls. Uhthoff’s phenomenon can be triggered by exposure to hot weather, among other factors....

There is yelling at the dinner table. You plead, bargain, lay on the guilt, rage, maybe even cry. To no avail. And resentment grows on both sides. Disagreements about COVID-19 vaccination are splintering American families in ways that are both heartbreaking and infuriating. These arguments sometimes make headlines. Consider a report from Vero Beach, Florida, about identical twin brothers in their late 50s with opposing views on COVID-19 vaccines. As described in the local Treasure Coast newspaper and shared by USA Today, both men contracted COVID-19 in summer 2021....

Nearly 3,000 Americans died on that tragic day. And many more live with physical and psychological scars that range from serious to life-threatening — illnesses like cancer after exposure to toxic dust and debris from the collapsed towers in New York City, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and the loss of loved ones, according to New York City’s World Trade Center Health Registry. For many who survived or lost someone in the 9/11 attacks, the anniversary reignites memories of what they experienced that day, says the grief psychologist Heidi Horsley, PsyD, an adjunct assistant professor of social work at Columbia University in New York City, and the executive director and cofounder of Open to Hope, an organization for grief recovery....

As grateful as I am for a healthy marriage, two small children, and a career as a speech and language pathologist, it’s hard not to feel defeated. I know what a flare could mean for my immediate future: a middle-of-the-night run to the emergency room. A weeks-long hospital stay. I’ve taken meds. I’ve had surgery to remove my bowels. I’ve been given IVs, and I remember the poking, the prodding....

“People might have diarrhea that makes it difficult to go out, or they might even have to pull over when they are driving,” says Daniel Strand, MD, an associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. But these challenges aren’t impossible to overcome. With the right treatment and your doctor’s help, you can start conquering both EPI and the potential disruptions that come with it....

Influencers are dubbing Monstera deliciosa (which means “delicious monster”) the “fruit salad” plant, maintaining that the strange-looking, sweet and delicious spiky fruit is well-deserving of its name. Miami Fruit, a South Florida company specializing in exotic fruit, including Monstera deliciosa, shared a TikTok video on July 21 introducing the funny fruit. In it, one of the company’s founders, Edelle Schlegel, describes its look as “corn on the cob from another planet” and the taste as, “all the fruit combined with a hint of Pop Rocks candy....

Although sexual dysfunction with AS isn’t a foregone conclusion, a number of studies have shown a high incidence of sexual dysfunction among both men and women with ankylosing spondylitis. A meta-analysis published in February 2015 in the Journal of Rheumatology, for example, found that men with ankylosing spondylitis had lower scores on every aspect of sexual function included in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The IIEF patient questionnaire asks about the quality and quantity of erections over the previous four weeks, as well as about sexual desire and enjoyment....

If you’re not yet a fan of virtual visits, that’s okay. As with any new technology, they can take some getting used to. “I think for some people there is a concern that, ‘I’m not really seeing my doctor. How will she treat me?’” says Nilanjana Bose, MD, a rheumatologist at the Rheumatology Center of Houston. “But with telehealth, you can actually act even more proactively about your RA.” Findings from a study published in October 2020 in the journal Arthritis Care & Research suggest that telehealth visits are just as effective as in-person visits for RA management....

A growing body of evidence shows that the pandemic has profoundly changed how much people exercise, not only in the United States but around the world. In a study published in November 2020 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that, based on more than 19 million smartphone-based, step-counting measurements taken from January 19 to June 1, 2020, physical activity levels dropped dramatically in many countries after the pandemic struck....

First, Know Your Rights According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the First Amendment protects your right to assemble and protest on public property, such as streets, sidewalks, parks, government buildings, and plazas. You also have a right to medical assistance without delay if you become injured. Police and law enforcement officials also have rights. The ACLU’s Know Your Rights When Protesting guide can help you brush up. Pack Smart Amnesty International advises bringing an assortment of energy snacks (nuts are a great choice) and plenty of water....

If you have well-controlled eczema thanks to topical moisturizers, prescription medications, and good identification and management of triggers, you may also be thinking about how summer will affect your skin and how you can give your skin that natural-looking sun-kissed glow — in a safe way. Self-tanners may indeed be one option, even when you have eczema. “Self-tanner can be a great way to get color, but there are several potential drawbacks that all patients should be aware of, some of which are specific to eczema patients,” says S....

Serves 4Prep time 10 minutesCook time 40 minutesTotal time 50 minutes Ingredients 1 tsp olive oil4 boneless chicken thighs1 tbsp chicken seasoning, dividedSalt and pepper to taste1 cup low-sodium chicken broth1 cup whole milk4 cloves garlic, minced2 tbsp finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes2 ounces cream cheese¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese3 cups spinach1 tsp cornstarch1 tsp cold waterFresh parsley for garnish (optional) Directions RELATED: 10 Instant-Pot Recipes for Keto Diet Lovers title: “Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Thighs Recipe” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-02” author: “Margaret Harlow” Serves 4Prep time 10 minutesCook time 40 minutesTotal time 50 minutes...

To combat the persistent lack of psoriasis awareness, I wish I could wear a sign that says, “Psoriasis is not contagious.” That sign would have served me well when I was growing up, back when I had more psoriasis on my body and felt much more self-conscious about it. Hurtful Reactions to My Psoriasis Not many who see my psoriasis have the nerve to ask, “Is that contagious?” Some just keep their distance....

Caring for your joints is only part of the equation. Living with RA also involves dealing with the unpredictability of flares, relying on assistive devices to get around and get things done, asking for accommodations at work (or even dealing with missed work or going on disability), balancing bad days with good days, and learning to say “no.” For all these reasons, and more, it’s important to find time for self-care if you have RA....

The study randomly assigned 244 overweight and obese individuals to begin a low-fat vegan diet or join a control group that made no dietary changes. People on the vegan diet attended weekly classes with cooking demonstrations and nutrition support, and they were encouraged to consume vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes while avoiding added fats and animal products. RELATED: Eating Plant-Based During the Pandemic: Benefits and Tips While participants in both groups consumed fewer calories during the 16-week trial than they did before the experiment started, people on the vegan diet managed to cut back by an average of 355 daily calories more than people in the control group....

Cutting back on red meat and processed meats is beneficial even if you don’t have diabetes because it’s a heart-healthy strategy for any diet. And cutting back when you do have diabetes is even more important because all the fat and salt that comes along with processed meat can make diabetes control more difficult. On the other hand, your diabetes diet should include healthy protein, and the right lean red meat can fit the bill, but within limits....

Researchers examined data pooled from 13 previously published studies that had a total of more than 1.4 million participants without heart disease, including more than 32,000 people who later went on to develop ischemic heart disease. Compared with people with the lowest daily red meat consumption — up to 25 g (0.9 oz) — people with the highest daily red meat intake — 25 to 141 g (5 oz) — were 12 percent more likely to develop ischemic heart disease....