You know it by its many names: porridge, cereal, stirabout. Call it what you like, oatmeal is an important part in your everyday breakfast. This healthy concoction can be prepared with milk, sugar or any flavor additive. Some people, on the other hand, prefer its unsweetened version and use it as substitute for their rice, bread or any staple carbohydrate. Today, oatmeal is marketed in various forms. It comes in ready-to-eat porridges, cookies, breads and cake. Other uses of oatmeal also include soaps, pet food, alcohol or for some topical or cosmetic applications. Indeed, oatmeal serves many purposes. But oatmeal…

Did you know that eating chocolate can improve your heart’s function as well as lower your blood pressure? Dark chocolate, in particular, contains epicatechin—a strong antioxidant that also prevents cholesterol buildup in our blood vessels. Thus, eating chocolate can make your blood circulation better, enhance blood flow and improve your circulatory and cardiovascular systems. Drinking hot cocoa can also contribute to your well-being. It can give your brain a boost and clear the fog. Research shows that a couple of servings promote blood circulation in the brain. This cold-weather beverage also helps reduce the risk of dementia. Our blood vessels…

Nothing beats stress and pain faster than a good laugh. Laughter brings back the balance of your mind and body. It uplifts and inspires you, helps you stay grounded and relieves your burdens. When shared, laughter binds and keeps you connected with others. It triggers intimacy and closeness. Its domino effect can be seen in the joy and amusement that it brings. Laughter also brings healthy changes to our bodies. It strengthens our immune system as well as boosts our energy. No wonder laughter is regarded as the best medicine. And best of all, you don’t need to spend a…

A new study reveals that multiple sclerosis (MS) is not caused by a blood vessel disorder. Accordingly, there is no need for MS patients to undergo any surgical procedure that involves opening the veins that connect the spinal cord and brain to the heart. While surgery is a very appealing quick-fix solution, Dr. Bridget Bagert of Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans says, “It’s really not the right thing to do if the problem isn’t established as being real.” MS is an inflammatory disease that involves the deterioration of the fatty myelin sheaths that wrap around the axons of the…

According to a new study published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, obstructive sleep apnea can cause a diminished flow of blood to the heart due to the changes it can cause in the blood vessel function. Obstructive sleep apnea involves periodic breathing pauses during sleep. According to the American Heart Association, this sleeping disorder affects nearly 15 million people and is a risk factor to heart disease and high blood pressure. The researchers examined the blood vessel functions of 108 healthy patients. Divided into groups of 36 members, the group was segregated accordingly: Those with obstructive sleep…

A new study revealed that leading a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to the development of blood clots in the lungs, the British Medical Journal reported. The study targets women in particular, which stated that women who don’t engage in any physical activity are at least twice as likely to develop a pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is a resulting complication when a blood clot is severed from its place and travels through the bloodstream and into the lungs. This can result in difficult breathing and chest pains. If left unattended, pulmonary embolism can be a potentially lethal condition. Prompt diagnosis…

Although dialysis is considered a life-extending measure for people with kidney failure, blood clotting can be one of its common complications. Researchers from Stanford University’s School of Medicine announced this adverse consequence resulting from a drop in blood pressure in patients undergoing dialysis. Lead researcher Dr. Tara Chang, MD, revealed that dialysis patients are exposed to an increased risk of blood clotting when their blood vessels are attached to a machine called the point of vascular access. Our kidneys are responsible for clearing waste from the blood. When something’s wrong with our kidneys, most doctors resort to dialysis. In certain…

A San Francisco-based company is producing laboratory-grown blood vessels, which can be used to help diabetics, amputee soldiers and patients undergoing heart surgery, among others. Cytograft Tissue Engineering Inc. has designed these lab-grown veins and arteries, which are free from artificial substances. According to Todd McAllister, his company makes use of cells removed from the donor’s hand. They grow and develop these cells into tissues, which in turn are rolled up to form blood vessels. It is reported that three patients from Poland have received the world’s first lab-grown blood vessels from Cytograft. Mr. McAllister says that this project is…