Nattokinase: Nature’s Blood Thinner

Nattokinase is an enzyme derived from the traditional Japanese food, natto, which is made from fermented soybeans and has been enjoyed for centuries. Natto is sticky with an earthy, slightly bitter taste, much like aged cheese and is believed to contribute to the longevity of the Japanese people. Nattokinase’s medicinal benefits were first discovered in… Read more »

May is Stroke Month

Know the Signs of Stroke

In medicine, when research is conducted and systems improved, lives are saved. Such is the case with the acronym FAST which was first launched nationally in 2013 to generate awareness for the signs of stroke: face dropping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911.   Now, research has identified symptoms missed and two have… Read more »

Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. While heart disease may be asymptomatic until a heart attack strikes, there is often an early warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored—elevated blood pressure. Blood pressure consists of two numbers. The first is called systolic blood pressure, which measures the amount… Read more »

A Real Broken Heart

Chest pain and shortness of breath should always be taken seriously. These symptoms can signal a heart attack, but they can also be signs of something less sinister—a broken heart. We usually use the term “broken heart” to describe one’s state of mind after a romantic breakup, but there is a medically-recognized condition by the… Read more »

SALT

Please Pass the Salt

Is salt good for us or not? The human body cannot live without sodium, but excessive amounts can lead to high blood pressure. Salt is most commonly known for flavoring food, but there are many types and uses that are actually beneficial.  Our body uses salt to balance fluids in the blood and maintain healthy… Read more »

Peripheral Artery Disease

Picture yourself driving down the highway on a sunny afternoon, when all of a sudden, a sea of brake lights appears in front of you: a traffic jam! This slowdown is something most of us Southern Californians experience regularly. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is like a traffic jam; however, it takes place in our arteries.… Read more »

Avoid Heart Break with a Cardiac CTA

If you were to ask me, “What one imaging study should I have performed to check on my overall health?” I would, without hesitation, answer a computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) of your coronary arteries. To me, the reason why is glaringly obvious. Heart disease is the number one cause of health complications, expense and death… Read more »

No Time for Exercise?

In honor of the American Heart Association’s 25th Annual Heart Walk coming up November 17, we want to get you moving. When you can’t seem to make time for a full workout, try these American Heart Association no-sweat ways to simply move more. Grab the leash and walk your dog. Your body — and your… Read more »

Strokes and Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Strokes present in two manners. The first is ischemic stroke caused by a blockage of a large or small blood vessel to the brain. The second form, hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by bleeding of a blood vessel into the brain or on the surface of the brain as in subarachnoid spaces. Hypertension is the most… Read more »

Job Security from the AHA Report on Fats

This last month, the American Heart Association released a Presidential Advisory titled, “Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease.” You may have seen attention-grabbing headlines such as, “ Coconut Oil Isn’t Healthy. It’s never been healthy,” or, “Health Alert: Coconut Oil is Just as Bad as Butter and Beef Fat, Heart Docs Say.” Obviously, the controversy about… Read more »

Pulse Diagnosis

Feeling a patient’s pulse is a diagnostic technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as well as traditional Tibetan and Indian Ayurveda medicine. Using the pulse to determine body functions, deficiencies or imbalances dates back thousands of years and has changed over the course of time.  Today there are many styles of this diagnostic tool… Read more »