http://www.polarispolyclinic.com/

Polaris Polyclinic, Pattom Manganoorkonam Road C Lane, Thiruvananthapuram (2026)

26/04/2015

6 ways to ease neck pain

Everyday life isn’t kind to the neck. You may be all too familiar with that crick you get when you cradle the phone between your shoulder and ear, or the strain you feel after working at your computer.

Neck pain rarely starts overnight. It usually evolves over time. And it may be spurred by arthritis or degenerative disk disease and accentuated by poor posture, declining muscle strength, stress, and even a lack of sleep, says Dr. Zacharia Isaac, medical director of the Comprehensive Spine Care Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and director of interventional physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

The following six tips can help you take care of your neck.

1. Don’t stay in one position for too long. It’s hard to reverse bad posture, Dr. Isaac says, but if you get up and move around often enough, you’ll avoid getting your neck stuck in an unhealthy position.

2. Make some ergonomic adjustments. Position your computer monitor at eye level so you can see it easily. Use the hands-free function on your phone or wear a headset. Prop your touch-screen tablet on a pillow so that it sits at a 45° angle, instead of lying flat on your lap.

3. If you wear glasses, keep your prescription up to date. “When your eyewear prescription is not up to date, you tend to lean your head back to see better,” Dr. Isaac says.

4. Don’t use too many pillows. Sleeping with several pillows under your head can stifle your neck’s range of motion.

5. Know your limits. Before you move a big armoire across the room, consider what it might do to your neck and back, and ask for help.

6. Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep problems increase the risk for several different conditions, including musculoskeletal pain.

Generally, neck pain is nothing to worry about. But if it’s occurring with other, more serious symptoms, such as radiating pain, weakness, or numbness of an arm or leg, make sure to see your doctor.

12/04/2015

Is it just midlife, or is your thyroid slowing down?

Maybe you're feeling tired and having trouble concentrating — or perhaps you've noticed changes in your hair or weight, or just feel blah. You might easily attribute these issues to other health problems, or to simply getting older. But these symptoms can be signs of a sluggish thyroid.

The thyroid is butterfly-shaped gland in the neck. It produces the hormones that regulate metabolism. Low levels of thyroid hormone can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, constipation, dry skin, brittle nails, hair changes, aches and pains, and feeling down. Untreated, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can increase the chances of developing high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Women are more likely than men to have problems with their thyroid, particularly as they get older. In some women, the onset of thyroid trouble is so gradual that it's hardly noticeable; in others, symptoms come on abruptly over the course of a few weeks or months.

These include:
• Fatigue. You may feel unusually tired and have less energy.
• Cold intolerance. You may feel chilly even when others around you are comfortable.
• Appetite loss, weight gain. When metabolism is dragging, you need fewer calories so your appetite may decrease — at the same time, you are using fewer of the calories you do eat, so more are stored as fat.
• Cardiovascular effects. Low levels of thyroid hormone can lead to high blood pressure as well as elevated levels of total and LDL cholesterol. Over time, an underactive thyroid can compromise the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively.
• Mental effects. Hypothyroidism and depression share many of the same symptoms, including trouble concentrating, memory problems, and loss of interest in things that are normally important to you.
• Other signs and symptoms. Hypothyroidism can cause symptoms throughout the body, from constipation to muscle aches and pain around the joints. Skin, hair, and nails may become dry and thin.

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. She or he will examine you for signs of hypothyroidism, and may recommend blood tests to check thyroid function.

Hypothyroidism is usually treated with a daily dose of synthetic thyroid hormone, taken as a pill. This medication works exactly like your body's natural thyroid hormone. It may take some time to find the right dose for you. Once you do, symptoms usually improve dramatically. Your doctor will check your thyroid function usually once or twice a year to be sure that your dose of medication remains optimal.

19/12/2013

Are You Killing Your Kidneys with Soda?
PostSecreted on December 17, 2013 by The Alternative Daily

If you are still convinced that drinking a can of soda or two per day is not so bad, read on. Two new studies have linked soda consumption with deteriorative effects on the kidneys.
These studies add to the massive body of research that plainly shows why soda is absolutely awful for our health.

The first study, led by Dr. Ryohei Yamamoto of the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, linked soft drink consumption with proteinuria. Proteinuria is the increased excretion of protein in urine, and is seen as an early sign of kidney damage.

Dr. Yamamoto and his research team tested the urine of over 12,000 university employees for protein content during their annual health exams. In those that had normally functioning kidneys at the beginning of the study, 8.4 percent of the individuals that did not drink daily sodas developed proteinuria within a three-year median follow-up.

For those who drank one soda per day, the proteinuria development within this time frame was 8.9 percent, and for those who reported drinking two or more sodas per day, the proteinuria percentage increased to 10.7 percent.

Regarding this study, Dr. Orlando Gutierrez, a kidney specialist at the University of Alabama, states, “We can assume that this is a healthy population, so I think the results are relative to healthier people, not just those with kidney disease… We now understand that protein in the urine may be a really early marker for heart disease, stroke and heart failure.”

The second study, led by Agustin Gonzalez-Vicente of Case Western Reserve University, found that fructose, even in moderate intake levels, can interfere with the kidneys’ ability to regulate salt balance, leading to higher salt reabsorption in kidney cells.

iPoll - The Social Poll researchers have associated this finding with better explaining how high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener used in many sodas, contributes to kidney failure, hypertension, diabetes and obesity.

Both of these studies were presented in early November at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2013 event, held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

These two new studies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to documented research exploring the many dangers of soda and diet soda. As Dr. Anil Agarwal, a kidney specialist at Ohio State University, aptly concludes,

“There is no safe amount of soda.”

So many delicious and healthy beverage options available (pure, distilled water being by far the best), soda is one drink that simply does not belong in our diets.

28/08/2013

Vitamin D deficiency:

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. (Wikipedia)

For a number of reasons, many people aren’t getting enough vitamin D to stay healthy. This is called vitamin D deficiency. You may not get enough vitamin D if:

You don’t get enough sunlight. Your body is usually able to get all the vitamin D it needs if you regularly expose enough bare skin to the sun. However, many people don’t get enough sunlight because they spend a lot of time inside and because they use sunscreen. It’s also difficult for some people to get enough vitamin D from the sun during the winter.

You don’t take supplements. It’s very difficult to get enough vitamin D from the foods you eat alone.

Your body needs more vitamin D than usual, for example if you’re obese or pregnant.

Are certain people more likely to have vitamin D deficiency?

There are some groups of people that are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency. The following people are more likely to be lacking in vitamin D:

People with darker skin. The darker your skin the more sun you need to get the same amount of vitamin D as a fair-skinned person. For this reason, if you’re Black, you’re much more likely to have vitamin D deficiency that someone who is White.
People who spend a lot of time indoors during the day. For example, if you’re housebound, work nights or are in hospital for a long time.
People who cover their skin all of the time. For example, if you wear sunscreen or if your skin is covered with clothes.
People that live in the North of the United States or Canada. This is because there are fewer hours of overhead sunlight the further away you are from the equator.
Older people have thinner skin than younger people and this may mean that they can’t produce as much vitamin D.
Infants that are breastfed and aren’t given a vitamin D supplement. If you’re feeding your baby on breast milk alone, and you don’t give your baby a vitamin D supplement or take a supplement yourself, your baby is more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.
Pregnant women.
People who are very overweight (obese).

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

Some people may not have any symptoms of vitamin D deficiency and still be deficient.

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are sometimes vague and can include tiredness and general aches and pains. Some people may not have any symptoms at all.

If you have a severe vitamin D deficiency you may have pain in your bones and weakness, which may mean you have difficulty getting around. You may also have frequent infections. However, not everyone gets these symptoms.

If you think you may have vitamin D deficiency, you should see your physician, or have a blood test to check your vitamin D levels.

How do I know if I’m deficient in vitamin D?

The way doctors measure if you’re deficient in vitamin D is by testing your 25(OH)D level, but most doctors just call this a vitamin D test. Getting this blood test is the only accurate way to know if you’re deficient or not.

How can I get more vitamin D?

There are two ways to get more vitamin D: by exposing your bare skin to the sun or by taking vitamin D supplements. See How to get the vitamin D my body needs for more information.

References
1. Holick MF. Vitamin D and Health: Evolution, Biologic Functions, and Recommended Dietary Intakes of Vitamin D. In Vitamin D: Physiology, Molecular Biology and Clinical Applications by Holick MF. Humana Press, 2010.
2. Plum LA and Deluca HF. The Functional Metabolism and Molecular Biology of Vitamin D Action. In Vitamin D: Physiology, Molecular Biology and Clinical Applications by Holick MF. Humana Press, 2010.

07/08/2013

Announcing the beginning of Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre in Polaris Polyclinic. Dr Sunil Gopinath will be available Monday to Saturday. Kindly call in to book your appointments.

11/07/2013

Prediabetes Risk Factors
5 Signs You Might Be at Risk for Diabetes

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor

Incredibly, one in four Americans over age 20 has prediabetes -- and most don't even know it. Being prediabetic means that your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but short of being classified as diabetic levels. Studies show that most people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they lose weight and make dietary and exercise changes.
Because prediabetes develops gradually over years, it's often said that there are no obvious symptoms.

But it's possible to notice certain warning signs of growing insulin resistance, the inability to process the energy in food properly that's a key aspect of prediabetes, says Beth Reardon, director of nutrition for Duke Integrative Medicine at Duke University.

Paying close attention to such warning signs gives you plenty of time to make changes before the situation progresses to type 2 diabetes, she says.
"These symptoms usually occur in tandem with one another; together they create a bigger picture that says insulin resistance is going on," Reardon says. "Some signs can be measured, some we feel, some we can just see."

If you're experiencing the following signs, you should ask your doctor about an insulin response test to measure your insulin and blood sugar levels. If the tests confirm that your body is starting to have trouble managing its glucose, it may be incentive for you to commit to the diet and exercise changes that can help move you away from the path toward diabetes.

What Feeling Tired and Sluggish After Eating Might Mean:

Ready to nap right after a big meal? This is a normal response to an influx of carbs . But if it happens often, your body may be sending a message that your diet is too diabetes-friendly.
After eating, all carbohydrates -- whether in a doughnut or a carrot -- are broken down into the bloodstream as glucose (blood sugar), the body's main energy source. When the blood containing the glucose hits the pancreas, this organ gets the message to release insulin, a hormone it produces to help the cells throughout the body use glucose. Cells have insulin receptors that allow glucose to enter and either be stored as future energy or used right away.

It's a great system. But a diet that's high in simple carbs like sugar, white flour, and sweet beverages -- especially when consumed in large quantities at one sitting -- overwhelms it. According to Reardon, the cells' insulin receptors eventually stop receiving the insulin, which means they can't take in the glucose. The glucose builds up in the blood while the needy cells don't get any. The pancreas, meanwhile, notes the glucose level is still high in the blood that flows through it, and it pumps out still more insulin in response. Net result: You feel sleepy and may find it hard to think, because your brain and body are depleted until the system rights itself.

"Over time, this cycle can cause someone to become chronically insulin resistant. The body simply can't keep up with the demands that all those simple sugars and fats are placing on it," Reardon says.

What helps:

1) Slow your carb load. Choose more complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains (barley, oats, quinoa, spelt, brown rice), vegetables, and whole fruits (not juices) that the body has to work harder to digest. This means blood sugar stays stable longer.

2) Move around right after eating -- take a 15-minute walk; even washing the dishes helps -- rather than plopping in front of the TV. The activity will help your body begin to process the big glucose intake faster and more efficiently.

In fact, a Mayo Clinic study presented at the 2011 American Diabetes Association annual meeting reported blood sugar levels rose only half as much after eating in a group that was moderately active after a meal, compared to a control group that ate, then rested.

What Carb Cravings Might Mean:

Among the most craved foods: chocolate, chips, and French fries. They're loaded with sugar, salt, and fat -- three substances that taste so good, they light up the reward system of the brain, which begs for more, more, more.

But what happens next in the body can be dangerous, says nutritionist Beth Reardon. Simple carbs such as sugars and white flour break down very quickly, providing a fast hit of energy. Soon, however -- because the insulin-resistant cells essentially ignore this entry of glucose into the blood -- the pancreas overcompensates, releasing more and more insulin to handle the glucose. What follows is a dramatic drop in blood sugar as the extra insulin quickly shuttles the glucose to the cells -- and energy levels plummet. The body is caught in a wave of fatigue. So, naturally, it craves another quick hit of energy to bring blood sugar back up. The brain becomes obsessed with this mission. And before you know it, you're reaching for a pick-me-up guzzle of soda, another handful of pretzels, a second cookie (or three).
People get sucked into a vicious cycle before they realize it, getting hooked on problematic foods they think they're craving -- while gaining weight.

What helps:

Kick your food cravings. It's challenging, but one starting place is to avoid triggers that you associate with these foods. Just seeing a fast-food sign or the cookie package in your cupboard can be enough to set off the pleasure system in the brain that fixates on having the craved food.

Instead of quick-hit snacks like candy bars or chips, substitute slower-to-digest choices, like a handful of nuts, a banana, or raw carrots dipped into a tablespoon of peanut butter, which will keep you feeling sated longer.

Be persistent: It can take as many as a dozen "successes" in resisting an old craving before your new habit is established.

How Being Overweight Might Put You at Risk for Diabetes:

Most prediabetics carry excess weight. That fact alone is a major risk factor for diabetes. But especially worrisome is when you try to cut back on calories and still can't see the scale budge.

Stubborn weight loss despite best efforts can be the result of mixed messages that our cells are receiving, Reardon says. "The cells are starving because the fuel they need (in the form of glucose) is not being absorbed at the insulin receptor site on the cell. In the face of a perceived fuel shortage, the body will hold tightly onto existing stores of energy -- fat," she says. What little is absorbed also goes straight into storage -- as more fat.

What helps:

Incremental change. Don't think, "OMG, I have to lose 50 pounds; I can never do that." Instead, think small. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of body weight prevents or delays diabetes by 60 percent, according to the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a major multicenter research study. People over age 60 see even greater benefits, according to the DPP. Five percent of body weight translates to just 10 pounds for a 200-pound person. A combination of lifestyle changes and especially changes in diet are often needed to address weight loss in these circumstances.

What It Might Mean if You Look More Like an Apple Than a Pear:

Weight gain is weight gain, and all of it risks moving you down the path toward diabetes. But added pounds in one particular area -- the midsection -- are especially associated with insulin resistance and prediabetes.

Weight gain around the waist and abdomen (visceral fat) is considered more dangerous than extra padding in the thighs and rear. So-called "belly fat" is linked to a higher rate of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and dangerous cholesterol levels -- all risk factors for diabetes.

For men, the danger point is considered to be a waist circumference of 40 inches or more; for women, the dangerous measurement is a waist of 35 inches or more.

What helps:

Diet, weight loss -- and exercise. The third leg of a diabetes-thwarting approach is moving. It's not true that sit-ups and other abdominal exercises will target belly fat. (Though they do build muscles.) Exercise plays a critical role because when you build muscle, you increase the number of enzymes that are able to metabolize glucose as a fuel source for those cells. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise (like a brisk walk) most days of the week.

How High Blood Pressure Might Put You at Risk for Diabetes:

High blood pressure is linked to many different conditions. But prediabetes may be the cause when it appears in tandem with excess weight gain (especially around the middle), fatigue, and other negative numbers on a medical workup (abnormal cholesterol levels and high triglycerides). Many people with high blood pressure worry about their heart without recognizing that the presence of hypertension -- along with these other signs -- is a neon red sign for prediabetes.

The numbers to beware: blood pressure equal to or higher than 130/85, an HDL "good" cholesterol level below 40 mg/Dl for men and below 50 mg/Dl for women, and triglycerides of 150 mg/Dl.

Blood pressure elevates in part because of inflammation, a damaging cascade of events in the body that high insulin levels contribute to. "Blood becomes stickier and more viscous, and blood clotting factors increase, making it more difficult for the body to move the blood around. Insulin also has an effect on the pliability of blood vessels, making them less elastic and therefore less able to respond to changes in pressure. This, in combination with blood that doesn't flow as easily, results in elevated blood pressure."

What helps:

Losing weight slowly through dietary changes and increased exercise

Live Better; Live Longer!

09/06/2013

Do you get periodic episodes of painful skin lesions on your shin; Read on...

Erythema Nodosum

What is erythema nodosum?
Erythema nodosum is a type of skin inflammation that is located in a certain portion of the fatty layer of skin. Erythema nodosum results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. The tender lumps, or nodules, of erythema ...nodosum range in size from 1 to 5 centimeters.
Erythema nodosum can be self-limited and resolve on its own in three to six weeks. After it's gone, it may leave only a temporary bruised appearance or a chronic indentation in the skin where the fatty layer has been injured.

There are several scenarios for the outcome of erythema nodosum. Typically, these areas of tenderness range in size from about a dime to a quarter and they may be tender and inflamed off and on for a period of weeks. They usually then resolve spontaneously, each one of the little areas of inflammation shrinking down and then becoming flat rather than raised and inflamed. They leave a bruised appearance. Other lesions can sometimes pop up elsewhere.

This may occur for periods of weeks to months and then eventually goes away. However, chronic erythema nodosum that may last for years is another pattern. Chronic erythema nodosum, with intermittent recurrences, can occur with or without an underlying disease present.

What causes erythema nodosum?
Erythema nodosum may occur as an isolated condition or in association with other conditions. Conditions that are associated with erythema nodosum include medications (sulfa-related drugs, birth control pills, estrogens), strep throat, Cat scratch disease, fungal diseases, infectious mononucleosis, sarcoidosis, Behcet's disease, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), and normal pregnancy.

How is erythema nodosum diagnosed?
The doctor would first do a physical exam of the rash and nodules and ask questions. However, a biopsy is usually required to confirm a diagnosis of erythema nodosum.

How is erythema nodosum treated?
Erythema nodosum is initially managed by identifying and treating any underlying condition present. Simultaneously, treatment is directed toward the inflamed skin.
Treatments for erythema nodosum include anti-inflammatory drugs, and cortisone by mouth or injection. Colchicine is sometime used effectively to reduce inflammation. Treatment must be customized for the particular patient and conditions present.

It is important to note that erythema nodosum, while annoying and often painful, does not threaten internal organs and the long-term outlook is generally very good.

04/06/2013

Hands that Care in Polaris Polyclinic

04/06/2013

Avail Expert Care

29/05/2013

Fish Oil Pills Might Cut Diabetes Risk
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Higher blood levels of a beneficial hormone seen in those who took the omega-3 supplements
WebMD News from HealthDay

Fish oil supplements could help reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.

The supplements, also known as omega-3 fatty acids, increase levels of a hormone called adiponectin that's linked to insulin sensitivity, Harvard researchers found. Higher levels of this hormone in the bloodstream have also been linked to a lower risk for heart disease.

"While prior animal studies found fish oil increased circulating adiponectin, whether similar effects apply in humans is not established," the study's lead author, Jason Wu, from the Harvard School of Public Health, said in a news release from the Endocrine Society.

For their study, the researchers conducted a "meta-analysis" of 14 clinical trials. A meta-analysis reviews existing research and attempts to find a consistent pattern. In this case, the studies that were reviewed were all randomized, placebo-controlled trials, which is considered the gold standard in research.

"By reviewing evidence from existing randomized clinical trials, we found that fish oil supplementation caused modest increases in adiponectin in the blood of humans," Wu explained.

Overall, the new study looked at 682 people who took fish oil supplements, and 641 who were given placebos such as sunflower or olive oil.Among the people treated with fish oil, adiponectin levels increased by 0.37 micrograms per milliliter of blood. This hormone plays a beneficial role in processes that affect metabolism, such as blood sugar regulation and inflammation.

Because the effects of fish oil varied significantly in the studies analyzed, the researchers suggested that omega-3 fatty acids could have a stronger effect in certain groups of people. The investigators concluded that more research is needed to determine which people would benefit most from fish oil supplements.

"Although higher levels of adiponectin in the bloodstream have been linked to lower risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease, whether fish oil influences glucose [blood sugar] metabolism and development of type 2 diabetes remains unclear," Wu said.

"However, results from our study suggest that higher intake of fish oil may moderately increase blood level of adiponectin, and these results support potential benefits of fish oil consumption on glucose control and fat cell metabolism," he added.

Roughly 37 percent of adults and 31 percent of children in the United States take fish oil supplements, according to a 2007 survey by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

29/05/2013

S*x After a Heart Attack: Is It OK?

Our expert weighs in on your top six post-heart attack questions about intimacy.
By Katherine Kam Reviewed by Kimball Johnson, MD

You've had a heart attack, and suddenly your outlook on s*x is very different. You used to relish intimacy and pleasure with your partner. But now it seems like a scary proposition. Could s*x trigger another heart attack? Will your s*x life ever be the same? Portland cardiologist James Beckerman, MD, answers the most common questions about how s*x and heart health are connected.

Q. What worries heart patients when it comes to s*x?

A. After a heart attack, some men and women fear that any type of s*xual activity will provoke another one. People feel that if they've had a heart attack, it's not a good idea to stress their bodies with s*xual activity. But fewer than 1% of heart attacks come from having s*x. It makes sense to think of s*x as a form of exercise: If your doctor clears you for physical activity, you're also likely safe for s*x.

Q. Do you find patients are embarrassed to ask a doctor about s*xual concerns?

A. Yes, and I think doctors are too. But s*xual issues are important to discuss. Doctors have to read their patients well. You have to get a sense of their comfort level with you and how willing they are to talk about personal issues. I think when the doctor does bring it up, it shows it's OK to talk about s*x. Sometimes the patient is surprised -- or even relieved -- that the doctor raises the subject because it means they don't have to.

Q. Do cardiac rehabilitation programs address s*x?

A. They may do that indirectly. When heart patients worry about s*xual function, a lot of their concerns are related to confidence and fear. After a heart attack, they feel that if they try to go for a run, they'll drop dead. Cardiac rehab, through structure and supervised exercise programs, teaches people that it's OK for them to exercise, OK for them to exert themselves and get back in the game. I think once they have that confidence, they can go out and use it, whether it's on the treadmill or in the bedroom.

Q. What are some of the warning signs to stop s*x right away?

A. Similar to any type of exercise, if you begin to feel symptoms such as chest pain, abnormal shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, or palpitations, it definitely makes sense to slow down what you're doing, whether you're a man or a woman. If you're pretty certain it's angina, which is temporary pain or pressure in the chest when the heart doesn't get enough oxygen, it might help to take your nitroglycerin.
The exception to that advice is for men who use medication for erectile dysfunction -- it's dangerous to take nitroglycerin, too. Your blood pressure can fall to dangerously low levels, and there's an increased risk of heart attack and even death. If you're on an erectile dysfunction drug and have heart-related symptoms during s*x, call your doctor.

Q. Do some men and women lose s*xual interest after being diagnosed with heart disease?

A. Yes, and it's often related to the emotions that follow a diagnosis of heart disease. It influences people's lives in many different ways, and s*xual activity is one of them. A new diagnosis of heart disease -- or even a surgical scar -- can make people feel less attractive. Some drugs have side effects that diminish s*xual interest and performance. When patients feel angry and frustrated, it affects not only their s*x lives but also their "couple" relationships.

For many people, heart disease is the first significant diagnosis they ever have. Think of individuals in their 40s or 50s who have a sudden heart attack; they didn't know they had this disease process going on, and now they do. That realization of mortality and potential limits and imperfections is really hard to take. Many people with heart disease feel that shift so abruptly. They question themselves and what they're capable of doing. And that's part of the reason there are anxieties and concerns about s*xual activity. We know depression is extremely common after a heart attack, especially for women.

Q. S*x is obviously part of an overall healthy life -- and it's also a sign of a healthy heart, right?

A. Yes. It shows that you're capable of doing physical activity in which your heart rate and blood pressure go up. In a sense, you're doing a stress test on your heart. If you tolerate that well and you feel good doing it, it suggests good things about your overall level of fitness and therefore your risk of heart disease.

S*x can also be a sign of healthy relationships and social supports. It shows you have the opportunities, frankly, and that you're interested and engaged. I think s*x is a barometer for overall health.

WebMD Magazine - Feature

Polaris Polyclinic

26/04/2015

12/04/2015

19/12/2013

28/08/2013

07/08/2013

11/07/2013

09/06/2013

04/06/2013

04/06/2013

29/05/2013

29/05/2013

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category