Dr. Chet’s Health Memos
If it’s in the health news today, I’ll be writing about it as soon as I read the research, both old and new. With my email Health Memos, you’ll know more about making lifestyle choices that will help you get and keep good health. These free, concise updates on health are emailed to subscribers twice a week. Subscribe today and get a free MP3, in English or Spanish, of Dr. Chet’s Top Ten Tips—Small Changes for a Healthier Life.
Immune Boost 1-2-3 Cautions
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoSomeone recently asked an excellent question: “Is there any risk in taking higher amounts of echinacea?” I’ll extend that to include vitamin C, garlic, and probiotics. The answer is possibly. I’m not hedging, but it’s complicated. Let me give you some examples. One factor that can apply to any supplement is allergies. Echinacea and garlic […]
Protect Yourself Before You Travel
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoPaula’s cousin recently visited friends in Arizona, and after she flew home, she got a fever with all the trimmings of the flu. After last week’s posts on boosting the immune system to deal with colds and allergies, there’s a little more you need to know. Spring break is right around the corner and if […]
Immune Boost 1-2-3: Vitamin C
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoThe third part of our immune system boost is vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, it’s best known as an antioxidant. From the research of Linus Pauling until today, vitamin C has been researched extensively. Even though vitamin C hasn’t been proven to prevent a cold, it does seem to reduce the symptoms of […]
Immune Boost 1-2-3: Garlic
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoThe second part of our immune boost supplements is garlic. Garlic has been noted to have beneficial properties for over 5,000 years. Garlic thins the blood, thereby benefiting blood pressure, and helps lower cholesterol. Garlic does many things, but what benefits our immunity is its ability to boost the immune system while reducing inflammation. There […]
Immune Boost 1-2-3: Echinacea
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoThe cold and flu season is still around. The seasonal allergy season is right around the corner and may have started depending on where you live. When you feel that first tickle in the back of your throat, that first nasally sensation, that’s when you have to take action. That’s what we do in my […]
How to Fix a Broken Heart
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoWhat causes broken heart syndrome (BHS)? Most types of cardiomyopathy are idiopathic—no one really knows how it happens. In the case of BHS, there’s a severe stressor, good or bad, that precipitates the symptoms. But what is actually going on? I found two potential explanations. First, an excess amount of catecholamines are released in response […]
Broken Hearts and Octopus Traps
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoBroken heart syndrome (BHS) has several names, such as stress-induced cardiomyopathy. One you’ve probably never heard is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. BHS is similar to other forms of cardiomyopathy in that the heart gets significantly weaker. If you view the appearance of the heart during echocardiography, the bottom of the heart, specifically the left ventricle, is weaker […]
Broken Heart Syndrome
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoThis week’s focus is on American Heart Month and specifically heart disease in women. While heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, there’s one type of heart disease that affects more women than men: broken heart syndrome. Can you die from a broken heart? Absolutely. We’ll find out how […]
The Way Things Used to Be
/in Memos/by Chet ZelaskoOn the radio, I heard a woman say, “I just want things to be the way they used to be!” That mirrors the frustration that I read from emails people send about being older. I don’t necessarily mean those over 60; I get the same type of frustration from 30-year-olds who find that their bodies […]
Who’s in Charge?
/in Memos/by Chet Zelasko“Make sure you define the disease; it doesn’t define you.” That quote is from physician Dr. Louis Papa in a video I recently watched. What a powerful statement. While the discussion was about heart disease, he said it applies to any disease. We all have health challenges; you won’t escape. Even if you have the best […]