Our resident cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, MD, told Prevention that the first question he asks patients when they walk in his office is “How’s the traffic?”

It’s not small talk but a valid medical query. Being stuck in traffic raises blood pressure and triples heart attack risk. So if a patient has had a tough commute and her BP is elevated, he’ll recheck it later in the appointment. There are other surprising situations and times when the chance of heart attack rises dramatically. If you or someone you know has a history of heart trouble, here’s when to be watchful.

1. First thing in the morning

The risk of heart attack increases 40% in the morning, Harvard researchers estimate.

As you awaken, your body secretes adrenaline and other stress hormones, increasing blood pressure and a demand for oxygen. Your blood is also thicker and harder to pump because you’re partially dehydrated. All this taxes the heart.

Protect yourself: Build some time into your schedule so you can hit the snooze button and wake up slowly. If you’re a morning exerciser, warm up thoroughly so as not to additionally stress the heart. And if you’re on a beta-blocker, take it before bed so the medication is at full strength in the am.

2. On Monday mornings especially

Science shows there’s good reason to dread the first day of the work week.

Twenty percent more heart attacks occur on this day, probably because people are stressed and depressed about returning to work.

Protect yourself: Relax on Sunday, but try not to sleep in. Getting up early on Monday after sleeping late Saturday and Sunday can raise blood pressure even more because your body is fatigued and its natural rhythms are out of whack. Try to maintain a regular sleep/wake schedule all week.

3. After an indulgent meal

A five-course, calories-be-damned dinner can have an immediate impact on your heart health. Studies show that high-fat, high-carb meals constrict blood vessels, making blood more prone to clotting.

Protect yourself: If you must indulge, keep your portion sizes reasonable. A daily aspirin will also help prevent blood “stickiness.”

Ate too much? Erase the damage with this simple plan

4. During unusually vigorous exercise

Having a heart attack while shoveling snow is a classic example of this.

The heart attack occurs because the victim isn’t accustomed to that kind of effort and stress hormones skyrocket, causing blood pressure and heart rate to jump.

Protect yourself: Regular exercise protects your heart. But increase your intensity level gradually.

Cool down from your workout with this free 10-minkute stress-busting routine

5. At the podium

From the heart’s perspective, public speaking can be similar to unaccustomed exercise.

Extreme nervousness raises blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels, all of which can make the presentation itself a secondary worry.

Protect yourself: To counter these effects, some of my patients take a beta-blocker before speaking, flying, or doing anything that makes them overly anxious.

When it comes to getting fit, you know what you should do (hint: move more and eat less—or at least better). It’s actually doing it that can be so difficult. Cold morning? I’m the first one to want to sleep in! My muscles will be too stiff to jog in the park, I tell myself. I know, I know—just get on the treadmill.

If only it were as easy to make it to the gym or order the salad as it is to concoct reasons not to, we’d all look like, well, Jillian Michaels. Which is why we went straight to the Biggest Loser trainer and SELF contributor—a woman who simply doesn’t do excuses—to get her cures for wavering willpower. Keep Michaels’ stick-with-it advice in mind when you’re looking for a way out. Staying the course will come more easily, and so will getting a standout body!

Excuse: “I have zero time to exercise!”
Michaels says: “I feel your pain—my life is crazy, too. But good-for-you habits are the last thing that should go. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll have less energy to be that supportive person in your loved ones’ lives. I tell working moms to ask for help. It used to take a village to raise kids; you can’t do it on your own.”

Excuse: “I can’t afford a gym or fresh produce.”
Michaels says: “Commit to a $100 investment in 10 fitness DVDs and you’ll have enough variety for six months at least. You can do a whole workout—sit-ups, jumping jacks, squats—without any equipment. And imagine the cost of taking diabetes meds for the rest of your life—much more than the extra $50 a month you should spend on groceries and fish.” Try this free, do-anywhere workout created by Michaels to get started.

Excuse: “The cookies in my cabinet are calling me!”
Michaels says: ‘I don’t keep junk in the house or let waiters bring bread to my table. I have no discipline, so I protect myself from temptation.” Stock up on some of these 30 healthy snack options instead.

Excuse: “I can’t get up early to work out, and I’m tired at night.”
Michaels says: “When the alarm goes off, ask yourself, ‘Will going back to sleep help me reach my great goal?’ If the workout isn’t attached to a larger reason—like having the confidence to get back in the dating game—it won’t stick.” Got 10 minutes? Try this superfast workout you can do in your living room.

Excuse: “I’ve hit a plateau; I give up.”
Michaels says: “Get selfish! Don’t think you’re asking too much of the world or of yourself. Push through by believing the new, improved you is your destiny. There’s no reason you can’t have it all.”

Excuse: “I start off Monday with the best intentions, and then life takes over and I flake on my workouts.”
Michaels says: “Set a daily or weekly target and reward yourself every time you meet it. I get my eyebrows done or download songs from iTunes.”

Excuse: “I get so bored counting all those weight reps or running.”
Michaels says: “As you exercise, think about what you’re trying to achieve. Having intention behind your actions is extremely powerful. And nothing beats a good beat to keep energy high. I want to die when I don’t have my music! Any song by The Roots totally gets me psyched. Finally, you don’t have to kill yourself to get a workout. Running is one of the best ways to get smaller, but I hate it, so I do only one 10-minute mile.”

Excuse: “But the couch is so comfy!”
Michaels says: “If you need a couple days off, take them. You don’t want to get bitter or burn out.”

Here are the seven secrets to a long life: Stay away from cigarettes. Keep a slender physique. Get some exercise. Eat a healthy diet and keep your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar in check.

Research shows that most 50-year-olds who do that can live another 40 years free of stroke and heart disease, two of the most common killers, says Dr. Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association. The heart association published the advice online Wednesday in the journal Circulation.

The group also is introducing an online quiz to help people gauge how close they are to the ideal. If you fall a bit short, it offers tips for improving.

“These seven factors — if you can keep them ideal or control them — end up being the fountain of youth for your heart,” said Dr. Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, a cardiologist who was lead author of the statement. “You live longer, you live healthier longer, you have much better quality of life in older age, require less medication, less medical care.”

Specifically, those with ideal cardiovascular health can answer yes to the following seven questions:

• Never smoked or quit more than one year ago.

• Body mass index less than 25.

• Get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week.

• Meet at least four of these dietary recommendations: 4 1/2 cups of fruit and vegetables a day; two or more 3.5-ounce servings a week of fish; drink no more than 36 ounces of sugar-sweetened beverages a week; three or more 1-ounce servings of fiber-rich whole grains a day; less than 1,500 milligrams a day of salt.

• Total cholesterol of less than 200.

• Blood pressure below 120/80.

• Fasting blood glucose less than 100.

The online quiz calculates a score based on the answers, 10 being the ideal.

Doctors say the quiz is a good way for people to get a handle on how they’re doing, especially since people often think they’re doing better than they actually are.

The heart association found just that in a recent survey that showed 39 percent of Americans thought they had ideal heart health, yet 54 percent of those had been told they had either a heart disease risk factor or needed to make a lifestyle change to improve heart health, or both.

With America’s obesity epidemic, weight especially is a pitfall for patients trying to meet these seven health factors, doctors say.

“Many people are surprised to find out how overweight they may be,” said Dr. Randal Thomas, director of the cardiovascular health clinic at the Mayo Clinic.

Lloyd-Jones, also chair of the preventive medicine department at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said, “People I think are far too accepting of their waistlines.”

Thomas praises the online tool for giving people a score so they’ll have something to work toward. It offers advice for problem areas: for instance, advising someone who’s over weight to set a goal of losing a pound a week by burning up to 3,500 more calories than are taken in.

Yancy, the heart association president and medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas, said the organization has a goal for 2020 of improving cardiovascular health of Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.

He said that in the last decade, there’s already been a nearly 40 percent reduction in death from heart disease and a nearly 35 percent reduction in death from stroke. He said those goals were achieved with improvements in treatments and prevention.

Linda Alvarado, 54, of Houston, said she knows how hard — and important — the changes can be. After having a quadruple bypass at the age of 47, she improved her diet and exercise, losing 40 pounds. Recently though, with a new 40-minute commute, some of those diet and exercise commitments have been put aside. While she’s kept the lost pounds off, she would like to lose five more pounds.

“It’s really up to you,” Alvarado said.

Loneliness, like a bad cold, can spread among groups of people, new research finds.

While a runny nose might spread through handshakes, people likely catch the loneliness bug through negative interactions. A lonely person will be less trusting of others, essentially “making a mountain out of a molehill,” said study researcher John Cacioppo, a psychologist at the University of Chicago. An odd look or phrasing by a friend that wouldn’t even be noticed by a chipper person could be seen as an affront to the lonely, triggering a cycle of negative interactions that cause people to lose friends.

The upshot: A lonely person is likely to lose touch with another person, who in turn gets cut off from others, and both end up on the fringes of a social group.

“A lonely person who anticipates others are going to act negatively toward them finds evidence in their environment for that, partly because they anticipate it and partly because they elicit it,” Cacioppo said.

The finding, published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, suggests that loneliness is not a character trait, as in “that person is such a loner,” but more of a state such as hunger, which evolved as a cue to motivate our ancestors to go find food.

“We’re fundamentally a social species so we need others with whom we can cooperate and work,” Cacioppo said. As such, loneliness may have been a cue to look out for anyone who might ostracize you, he added.

Counting friends

The results come from a study of more than 5,000 individuals who took part in the Framingham Heart Study between 1991 and 2001. Every two to four years, subjects completed questionnaires that measured depression and loneliness, gave their medical history and underwent a physical examination.

For instance, participants indicated how often during the previous week they had experienced a particular feeling, including loneliness, with four possible answers: 0-1 days, 1-2 days, 3-4 days and 5-7 days.

Participants also indicated friends and relatives, many of whom also took part in the study.

From this information, the researchers pieced together social networks showing connections between each individual and the average number of lonely days for the participant and that person’s links.

Loneliness spreads

They found loneliness is catchy with three degrees of separation. So a person’s loneliness depended not just on his friend’s loneliness but also on his friend’s friend and his friend’s friend’s friend. Participants were 52 percent more likely to be lonely if a person to whom they were directly connected (one degree of separation) was lonely. For two degrees of separation, the number drops to 25 percent and 15 percent for three degrees.

The number of family members had no effect on loneliness scores.

Over time, lonely individuals become lonelier and transmit such feelings to others before severing ties. “People with few friends are more likely to become lonelier over time, which then makes it less likely that they will attract or try to form new social ties,” they write. Such friendless individuals ended up on the outskirts of their social networks.

Loneliness has been linked with various mental and physical illnesses, including depression. And so the findings could have practical implications. “Society may benefit by aggressively targeting the people in the periphery to help repair their social networks and to create a protective barrier against loneliness that can keep the whole network from unraveling,” Cacioppo said.

# Step 1

Drink a mixture of 1/2 tsp. of baking soda stirred well and dissolved in a 1/2 glass of water to relieve the rumble of acid indigestion or heartburn. Drink the mixture quickly and repeat two hours later, if needed. Adults under 60 can safely do this up to seven times in one 24-hour period.

# Step 2

Eat a banana. Bananas soothe the stomach and counteract the acids that can cause an upset stomach. They are also easily digested and can help ease diarrhea.

# Step 3

Drink strong ginger ale or tea, or chew on a piece of candied ginger to relieve nausea. In China, ginger has been used to treat upset stomachs for over 2,000 years.

# Step 4

Drink peppermint tea. The peppermint calms stomach muscles.

# Step 5

Relax. Take a warm bath, lie down and listen to calming music or curl up with a good book. Let go of stress in a way that works for you.

# Step 6

Avoid foods and drinks that may cause upset stomach or gas. Some of these are coffee, onions, milk, cauliflower, chocolate, fried foods and baked beans.

Since we’re not big juice drinkers in our house, OJ usually only makes its way into our fridge when guests come to visit. Even then, it still takes us a few weeks to polish off the carton. I never thought much about keeping the OJ for a few weeks. After all, it still tastes good—and we usually finish it before the expiration date. Then I read this study that showed opened OJ loses all antioxidant benefit after just one week! Seriously? Well, as you can imagine, this led me to wonder if other items in my kitchen lose their health punch over time.

Keep track of how long you store these 4 items. Here’s why: certain nutrients are unstable when exposed to oxygen (from the air), heat (from cooking) and light.

Orange juice: 1 week
One cup of OJ can offer a full day’s dose of vitamin C. But OJ that has been opened loses all antioxidant benefit after just one week. To get the most vitamin C, buy frozen concentrate and drink within a few days. Frozen concentrate is exposed to less light and air.
Green tea: 6 months
A 2009 study in the Journal of Food Science showed that catechins (antioxidants linked with a reduced risk of some cancers) in green tea decreased markedly over time. After six months, catechin levels were 32 percent lower. Make the most of the antioxidants by storing tea in a sealed container in a dark, cool place.

Olive oil: 6 months
Extra-virgin olive oil contains more than 45 heart-healthy antioxidants, but after six months of storage their potency decreases by about 40 percent, according to researchers at the University of Foggia in Italy. Why? Oxygen bubbles in the bottle destroy the antioxidants.

Honey: 6 months
Researchers at the University of Illinois found the antioxidant power of clover and buckwheat honey decreased by 30 to 50 percent after six months. Consider buying buckwheat honey—it generally has more antioxidants to start with.

As you aware about todays living conditions modern era you can understand it’s easy to understand why toxins build up within our body so heavily. All Environmental toxins those found in pesticides insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, fossil fuels, and also other synthetic chemicals create an elixir of toxins to bombarding us on a daily basis.

Not properly cleaned water, harsh household cleaners, and the prevalence of over-processed, artificial foods also more contribute to the body’s poisoning. For these reasons it is actually sometimes necessary to engage in natural body toxin cleansing to help the body to purify itself and eliminate poisonous waste.

First choice to eat well is a beneficial first step in the whole process of toxin cleansing. To truly purge the body’s waste and also to support the cleansing systems (the lymphatic system, liver, intestines and blood), organic food choices are vital. Along with the consuming primarily organic, whole foods, it is even also wise to include food choices that known for their natural detoxification effects.

A few of these organic and detoxifying foods include:

* Broccoli
* Other cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, asparagus, etc.)
* Green vegetables
* Fruits (berries and apples)
* Onions
* Garlic
* Lemons
* Broccoli sprouts
* Liquids (green tea, pure water and algae drinks rich in enzyme)

You lock your front door to ward off intruders, carry an umbrella when the forecast calls for rain and sock a bit of money into savings each month “just in case.” When it comes to protecting yourself from cancer, there are other easy, everyday things you can do to help reduce your chances of falling into harm’s way.

By following these cancer-fighting commandments, as well as a healthy diet, researchers tell us you can significantly lower your cancer risk today, and every day. Just as beneficial, you’ll replace the fear of putting your health at risk with the sense of power that comes from taking steps to safeguard it.

Break a sweat.

Need motivation to unstick yourself from the sofa? Being sedentary increases levels of circulating estrogen (a risk factor for breast cancer) and insulin, which may cause healthy and unhealthy cells lining the colon to multiply faster, research finds. You don’t need to be a gym rat to claim the benefits of breaking a sweat. Take a cue from Scrubs star Sarah Chalke, who made a concerted effort to live healthfully after losing her aunt to melanoma. “I mix in hikes and long walks to keep my workouts from feeling repetitive,” Chalke says. Jaunts with Lola, her chocolate Lab, also keep Chalke out and about. “She’s the best fitness partner. Even when I feel unmotivated, I know I can’t let her down.” My golden retriever, Jenny, has the same mobilizing effect on me! No furry friend? Pinpoint any heart-pumper that rings your bell, whether swimming, Spinning or just putting one foot in front of the other and pledge to be active for about 30 minutes a day five days a week to lower your cancer risk, as well as your weight.

Watch your drinks.

Raise a glass, by all means—just not every night! Any more than one tipple a day can up your risk of breast cancer, colorectal and oral cancer, according to studies. When you do have a libation, you may want to make it red wine (I love Pinot Noir). The studies suggest that the resveratrol in red vino inhibits the way your body metabolizes estrogen, preventing cancer cells from developing. Cheers!

Kick the sticks.

You know that smoking is like sending an invitation to lung cancer, but puffing can also make you a target for at least a dozen other varieties of the disease. Smoking endangers not only your lungs, but your mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, larynx, esophagus, digestive system, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, colon and even your bone marrow, plus every other organ (just writing that list made me a little out of breath). Need I say more? Butts out!

Cut back on beef.

If you’re like me, sometimes nothing but a juicy burger will do, but new research tells us limiting red meat consumption can lower your cancer risk. The kind of iron contained in it may harm the colon, say researchers, and processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs contain cancer-causing nitrates. Stop at two 8-ounce servings of red meat a week to help stay in the clear. And whether you’re cooking beef, chicken or fish, don’t let it linger too long on the grill. Research suggests charring your food can turn amino acids and other substances in the meat into cancer-causing compounds, so avoid the burnt bits!

Chill out.

While no studies have shown that stress causes cancer, high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, may prevent a key gene from suppressing tumor growth, a study in the journal Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer found. Anxiety can also make you more likely to turn to other risky behaviors such as drinking and smoking. And new research shows that feeling optimistic and happy can help defend women against breast cancer. One way to get those nothing-can-bring-you-down vibes flowing? Having a dependable way to decompress. (See: Destress in Mere Minutes.) For me, that’s usually going outside to walk, jog or bike in my city’s beautiful parks. To mellow out when you’re angsty, try a few minutes of deep breathing, a hobby that involves repetitive motion such as knitting, or even a quick roll in the hay. Or try one of these creative calmers.

1. Chestnuts bolster immunity
In both Asia and the Mediterranean region, chestnuts have been popular for centuries. Chestnuts differ from other nuts with their low fat content and high fiber. They have a mild, sweet taste and a crumbly consistency. An excellent source of potassium, folate, vitamins B6 and C, chestnuts strengthen the kidney-adrenal system and bolster the immune system to fight off the flu and combat infections. This flu season, introduce more chestnuts into your cooking: they are good roasted in the oven, cooked with chicken, lamb, beef, or pork, or in any dish with beans and legumes.

2. Stimulate your thymus
Your thymus is a fist-size gland located behind your sternum in the center of your chest.  It plays a critical role in the functioning of the lymphatic and immune systems. It develops over time, reaching peak size when you are in your early 30s, then begins to physically diminish until it shrinks to the size of a pea around age 70. You experience the gland’s waning as waning energy in your body.

To support thymus health, the Chinese use astragalus root. Studies show astralagus is an adaptogen, which means it corrects both high and low metabolic imbalances, acts on invaders wherever they attack the body, and promotes overall vitality. The usual dosage is 100 to 150 mg per day in capsules or you can drink astragalus tincture or tea.

Another way to stimulate your thymus is to use acupressure. With your index and middle finger, gently tap against the sternum (midway between the nipples) 50 times, in the morning and evening.

3. Immune-supporting herbs
You can use the following herbs to help strengthen your immune system:

• Ligustrum has undergone much research recently, which has revealed this herb’s immune boosting functions. Its actions include increasing white blood cell production, phagocytosis, and T-lymphocyte help cell activities.

• Cherokee Rose is traditionally used to protect the body from external pathogens with its astringent properties. It is also one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C.

• Honeysuckle is a natural anti-microbial herb that has been used for centuries to increase resistance and fight against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

You can find these herbs in health food stores, online, and at the offices of acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists.

Or look into a formula that combines all of these herbs in one immune-boosting herbal formula, called “Perpetual Shield.”

4. Be healthy with bee products
Royal jelly has long been regarded in Asia as a longevity tonic that enhances energy, virility, and immunity. Rich in vitamins and collagen, royal jelly is used to feed queen bees. An antibacterial protein in the substance, dubbed royalisin, is effective against certain bacteria, including streptococcus and staphylococcus.

Bee propolis is rich in flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains terpenoids that possess antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiprotozoan agents. Not unlike some prescription antibiotics, propolis prevents bacterial cell division and breaks down the invading organism’s cell walls and cytoplasm.

Find royal jelly and bee propolis in enriched honey or in supplement form from herb shops and health food stores.

5. Beta-carotene Builds Immunity
Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that improves immune function and promotes mucous membrane health. In fact, a 1997 study conducted by the Institute of Food Research in the United Kingdom suggested that dietary intake of beta-carotene can enhance cell-mediated immune responses. How to get these beta-benefits this flu season? Eat more orange-colored vegetables, including carrots, winter squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and yams. Additionally, these are all an excellent source of Vitamin C, a famous immune support.

6. An all-in-one immunity soup
Cook up a broth of shiitake mushrooms, any kind of seaweed, cabbage, any type of squash, carrots, fresh ginger, oregano, and onion in chicken or vegetable stock. Shiitake mushrooms contain polysaccharides, sterols, and coumarin, as well as vitamins and minerals that increase your immune function. Seaweed cleanses the body, cabbage has ability to increase your body’s ability to fight infection, ginger supports healthy digestion, and the remaining ingredients promote general health and well-being.
Eat this soup every other day to build a strong and healthy immune system.

7. Treat Your Body Right
Encourage your body to fight flu and other infections by giving it the care it needs.

• Get at least 7 hours of quality sleep every night. Studies show that your immune system function drops by an average of 60% after just three nights of poor sleep.

• Keep your stress level low with meditation, tai chi, or yoga.

• Dry body brushing daily can activate lymph circulation that is important to clear out toxic debris and stimulate immunity.

• If you feel your immune system has already been compromised and illness is on the way, consider Cold & Flu elixir, which supports recovery as it boosts your immune system.

I hope you find the ways to build your immunity for a winter free from cold and flu! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

High blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) may increase a person’s risk for heart attack and death, but not for stroke, a new study has found.

The study included 2,240 people in New York City who were 40 or older and stroke-free. At the start of the study, the participants’ blood was checked for levels of CRP (a marker for inflammation) and their heart attack and stroke risk factors were evaluated by researchers.

During an average follow-up of eight years, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths. People with CRP levels greater than 3 milligrams per liter of blood were 70 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die than those with CRP levels of 1 milligram per liter or less, the researchers reported in the Oct. 20 print issue of Neurology.

After they took other risk factors into account, the study authors concluded that CRP levels didn’t influence stroke risk.

“The role of this protein in predicting risk of stroke has been controversial, although prior studies have found it to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease,” study author Dr. Mitchell Elkind, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, said in a news release from the American Academy of Neurology. “However, in our large, multiethnic population, CRP levels did not play a role in predicting stroke, though they may still help determine whether someone is at risk of heart attack or early death.”

CRP levels are influenced by factors such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and diabetes.

“It appears that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death,” Elkind said.

“It may be that the failure of CRP to predict stroke in our study, unlike in some other populations, reflects the fact that our population is older and has more of these risk factors. While CRP may be predictive in generally young healthy people, it may be less useful among older, sicker people. More research needs to be done on why the protein wasn’t able to predict stroke in the same manner as heart disease,” he said.