(NewsUSA) - - Las mujeres tienen mucho de qué ocuparse y, a veces, su cuidado personal queda relegado a causa del trabajo, la familia y otras obligaciones.

De hecho, 50% de las mujeres adultas tienen hipertensión arterial y casi tres cuartos de ellas no la tiene controlada. La hipertensión que no se controla puede aumentar considerablemente el riesgo de derrame cerebral en la mujer, pero hay algunos pasos importantes que pueden ayudar a reducir el riesgo y que sea un motivo menos de preocupación para las ellas (y sus seres queridos).

Según la Dra. Monik Jiménez, voluntaria de la American Heart Association/American Stroke Association y epidemióloga asociada de Brigham and Women's Hospital, y profesora adjunta de medicina de la Harvard Medical School y Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "la hipertensión es una de las principales causas de derrame cerebral y sabemos que una de cada cinco mujeres sufrirá un derrame cerebral, y que ello mata a más mujeres que el cáncer de mama."

Según Jiménez, "aunque la hipertensión no está directamente relacionada con el género, los diferentes temas de salud a lo largo de la vida de la mujer, como el control de la natalidad, el embarazo y la menopausia, pueden aumentar el riesgo de padecer hipertensión arterial, la cual incrementa el riesgo de sufrir un derrame cerebral si no se controla."

Los médicos e investigadores descubrieron un vínculo entre las pastillas para el control de natalidad y el aumento de la hipertensión arterial en algunas mujeres. Dicen que es más probable que se produzca en mujeres que tienen sobrepeso, que padecen enfermedades renales o con antecedentes familiares de hipertensión. La combinación de las pastillas para el control de natalidad y el tabaquismo puede ser muy peligrosa para las mujeres y no se recomienda en absoluto. La salud de la mujer durante el embarazo supondría un adelanto de lo que será su salud a futuro. Las mujeres que tuvieron alta presión arterial durante el embarazo corren más riesgo de desarrollar hipertensión arterial y sufrir un derrame cerebral más adelante en sus vidas. Los cambios físicos asociados con la menopausia también aumenta el riesgo de desarrollar hipertensión arterial en la mujer.

De acuerdo con los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, las mujeres de etnias negra o hispana podrían desarrollar hipertensión a edad más temprana y su presión arterial promedio es más alta que la de otros grupos étnicos.

Afortunadamente, 80% de los derrames cerebrales pueden prevenirse y al bajar presión arterial se reduce el riesgo de sufrir un derrame cerebral. Las mujeres pueden medir su presión arterial en casa e informar a su médico si suele estar por encima de 120/80.

Además, los cambios en el estilo de vida, como hacer suficiente actividad física, comer sano, mantener un peso saludable y no fumar ayudan mucho a reducir el riesgo de hipertensión arterial en las mujeres. Para obtener más información y consejos sobre la salud de la mu- jer y la prevención de derrames cerebrales en todas las etapas de la vida, visite GoRedForWomen.org/reisgo.

(NewsUSA) - After a year like no other, we are beginning to see glimpses of a return to our pre-pandemic lives. Public health guidance and scientific advances mean we are trickling back into our favorite restaurants, joining together to share meals, and toasting to a year of missing family and friends.

But these celebrations come with their fair share of greasy foods and bubbly beverages. And unfortunately, our favorite indulgences often bring an all-too-familiar side effect: heartburn.

Also known as acid reflux, heartburn can be a miserable experience: the burning sensation in your chest or throat may start after finishing a meal and last for hours afterwards. Other symptoms can include a hot, sour, or acidic fluid feeling in the back of your throat, as well as a lingering cough, sore throat, or hoarse voice. May is Digestive Disease Awareness Month so it's a great time to learn about self-care for heartburn.

If you experience heartburn, you're not alone: more than one in four adults have occasional heartburn with symptoms occurring at least once a week. And for some people, frequent heartburn is a struggle, with symptoms re-occurring even more often.

"Stress and unhealthy eating are two major causes of digestive symptoms including heartburn, and right now, my patients are experiencing both" says Dr. Michael Kreines of the Ohio Gastroenterology & Liver Institute. "With so many treatment options available for different types of heartburn, it can be tricky to know which option is best for you."

The first step to managing your heartburn is to take a look at your lifestyle choices. "It can be tempting to overindulge since we've gone so long without a reason to celebrate. But if you are prone to experiencing heartburn, it's important to avoid common triggers such as fatty and greasy foods and alcohol," says Kreines.

In addition to smart food choices, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can be a safe and effective way to help alleviate heartburn symptoms. For occasional heartburn symptoms, Dr. Kreines recommends OTC antacids (such as Gaviscon, Mylanta, or TUMS) or H2 blockers (such as PEPCID or Tagamet).

"If you suffer from heartburn two or more days per week, you may benefit from OTC proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs," says Kreines. "PPIs -- which include brand names Nexium 24HR, Prevacid 24HR, Prilosec OTC or Zegrid OTC -- are specifically indicated to treat symptoms of frequent heartburn."

The right treatment depends on the frequency and cause of your heartburn symptoms. Always talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions, or if you are struggling with more chronic or severe cases of heartburn. They can properly diagnose heartburn and other conditions.

"Whatever you do, don't ignore your heartburn symptoms," says Dr. Kreines. "In addition to causing significant pain, if left untreated, the stomach acid that causes heartburn can damage the esophagus -- known as GERD."

Your return to normal doesn't have to mean a return to heartburn symptoms. Be aware of your treatment options to keep heartburn at bay. To learn more, visit www.KnowYourOTCs.org. Created by the CHPA Educational Foundation, the site serves as a resource to help you navigate the OTC aisle when treating heartburn or other symptoms.

(NewsUSA) - Although COVID-19 continues to grab the health headlines, women in particular should not lose sight of a chronic problem -- heart disease.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, but many women, whether they are wives, mothers, CEOs, or all of the above, tend to put others' health and well-being ahead of their own, and may ignore symptoms. Symptoms of this disease are often different for women than men, so women may not know what to look for.

According to the Mayo Clinic, women are more likely than men to report heart attack symptoms that are not related to chest pain, including shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, pain in one or both arms, unusual tiredness, and indigestion. These symptoms are easily missed, as most people associate heart attacks with crushing chest pain.

Younger women may be surprised to learn that they are at risk as well.

Women younger than 65 years, need to know the risk factors, too, especially those with a family history of heart disease, according to Dr. Neschochi Okeke, MD, a practicing physician in New York City and an expert in women's health.

"Being aware of their unique heart disease symptoms is the first step towards prevention," says Dr. Okeke. Once women know the risks, they can continue to reduce them by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol, managing stress, and taking medications as prescribed.

Women also may benefit from supplements designed to support heart health, especially the ingredient citrus bergamot, which has been shown in 17 clinical trials to support heart health. Not all bergamot is the same, so women should be sure they are getting the highest quality bergamot -- citrus bergamot -- in health products.

Grown only in a small valley in Italy, citrus bergamot is different from the bergamot that many people associate with licorice candy or Earl Grey tea. In fact, citrus bergamot can help promote and maintain healthy arteries and healthy cholesterol levels, both of which can reduce a woman's risk of heart disease.

"Complementary support is critical these days as part of any woman's journey to overall health and well-being, especially as people recognize the importance of a strong immune system, " says Dr. James Rouse, a naturopathic family doctor and consultant to BergametNA, a producer of natural supplements featuring citrus bergamot.

The HerHeart supplement product for women from BergametNA contains Citrus Bergamot Superfruit™, a unique high-quality citrus bergamot with a 47% BPF (bergamot polyphenol fraction) concentration (the highest available in North America and exclusive to BergametNA), along with other ingredients, damiana and MACA (also known as Peruvian Gold) that have been shown to help support overall health. HerHeart also supports women's health by promoting balanced hormones, which can help ease a range of menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, irregular metabolism, and low energy.

Visit tryherheart.com for more information about the supplement, and visit Bergametna.com or call 1-855-556-2131 for more details about other Citrus Bergamot Superfruit™ products for better health. The BergametNA stock symbol is HYEX.

(NewsUSA) - One of the lingering images of the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States is store shelves stripped clean of paper products -- mainly paper towels and toilet paper.

Fortunately, supply chains have rebounded, but consumers can help combat future paper product shortages by recycling not only paper, but cartons used for milk, juice, soup, and other food or beverage products.

Much of the information consumers receive about recycling can be confusing, according to the Carton Council of North America, an organization composed of carton manufacturers such as Elopak, Evergreen Packaging, SIG Combibloc, and Tetra Pak.

A national survey conducted by the Carton Council found that an overwhelming majority of consumers (95 percent) are supportive of recycling and 58 percent say the circumstances of 2020 and the pandemic have made them feel it's more important to recycle now than it was before.

However, only about a third of consumers say they thought recycling might help with shortages of toilet paper and paper towels. In fact, one ton of paper made from recycled fibers instead of virgin fibers conserves not only 7,000 gallons of water, but also 17 to 31 trees, 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, and 60 pounds of air pollutants, according to the Carton Council.

"It's great to see that people are recognizing the importance of recycling, but we need to remain diligent," says Carla Fantoni, vice president of communications for the Carton Council of North America and for Tetra Pak Americas.

"We need to reinforce the connection between recycling and creating new products to consumers, showing why it's so important to recycle and the benefits," Fantoni adds.

For example, a persistent myth about cartons (a multi-layer package) is that they can't be recycled or are too difficult to recycle.

However, cartons can be recycled and contain the highest quality paper fibers in the recycling stream, and they are used by paper mills to make new materials including paper towels and toilet paper.

Recycling cartons is easy, according to the Carton Council. Just make sure milk, juice or other cartons are empty: no need to spend time washing them. Caps can be left on, and small straws that accompany juice boxes can be pushed inside the carton before dropping it in the recycling bin.

Visit RecycleCartons.com for more information about carton recycling.

(NewsUSA) - Are you doing all you can to reduce your risk? Research shows people with elevated #triglycerides have 35% more cardiovascular events compared to people with normal triglyceride levels who are on statins. Fish oil dietary supplements and some commonly used medications, like fibrates, are not recommended or approved to reduce risk and may not offer the protection you are looking for. Talk with your doctor and get the facts about triglycerides. Visit http://bit.ly/NationalTGDay to learn more!

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"The Living Room: A Lung Cancer Community of Courage"
by Bonnie Addario

The words "lung cancer" strike fear in all of us. But where is the hope? It can be found in "The Living Room," by Bonnie Addario, a 17-year survivor of stage 3B lung cancer and a determined activist on behalf of patients suffering from the disease. "The Living Room" tells the stories of 20 lung cancer patients who have bravely fought the disease and found ways to thrive, not just to survive.

The people you will meet in "The Living Room" will lead you to believe that miracles are all around us, that they're happening every day, and that they just might happen to the next cancer patient who picks up this book. Purchase at https://amzn.to/2LUl3pT.

"Attachments"
by Jeff Arch

At a boarding school in Pennsylvania, a deathbed request from the school's dean brings three former students back to campus, where secrets and betrayals from the past are brought out into the open -- secrets that could have a catastrophic effect on the dean's 18-year-old son.

Told in alternating points of view and time frames, "Attachments" is the story of two best friends and the girl they both love. The book is a puzzle -- and the only one who knows how all the pieces fit is in a coma. Revelations come out into the open, and someone is about to learn something he may or may not be able to handle. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3vs8dQG.

"Don't Say a Word! A Daughter's Two Cents"
by Elizabeth Roper Marcus

For the over 44-million adult children in America whose parents are driving them crazy and for baby boomers who are laughing about it, this is one of the few complete comic narratives that plumb the emotional challenges involved, as we navigate the line between anguish and laughter, rage and love.

"Don't Say A Word!" illuminates the maddening challenge of watching our parents' final decline, a challenge familiar to frazzled adult-children everywhere.

A perpetually warring, tyrannical pair in their 80s -- a Macy's dress buyer and a dentist -- begin wintering in Mexico.?The surprising ways in which these parents come undone reveal just what they'd spent their lives trying to hide, thereby setting her free. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3pjc7sT.

"The Magic Pond"
by Hélene Schweiger

"There is a silver lining to every cloud." That is the motto of author Hélene Schweiger, who presents us with a tale about courage, adventure, and the magic of friendship, geared for children as well as adults. As we all go through difficult experiences and changes in our lives, the message in this story helps see the strength we have in ourselves to become who we truly are.

The author loves nature and sees beauty everywhere. She uses storytelling on a daily basis as a perfect way to convey messages to children and adults, helping children become the wonderful adults they have the potential to be. Purchase at https://amzn.to/35wRHVa.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

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