Article

High Cholesterol

FAST FACTS Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance that is manufactured by your body, but can be absorbed from foods like meat, poultry, and full-fat dairy Cholesterol circulates in the blood, and as the levels of cholesterol in your blood rise, so does your chance of getting heart disease or having a stroke Raised cholesterol is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths yearly To confirm if you have high blood cholesterol, your doctor may ask you to undergo a blood test Certain factors can...

Blood Pressure

FAST FACTS High blood pressure is a serious medical condition which occurs when the force of the blood pumping through blood vessels is very strong High blood pressure can be caused by different risk factors such as age, family history, and unhealthy lifestyle habits Long-term high blood pressure can increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and organ damage Making simple lifestyle changes such as doing regular exercise, incorporating healthy diet, changing unhealthy habits and...

Understanding This Rare Disease Called ATTR Amyloidosis

You probably know someone with heart failure, gastrointestinal (GI) problems, or nerve pain. They are all common problems. But in rare cases, these could be caused by a life-threatening disease called transthyretin amyloidosis (or ATTR amyloidosis, for short).Although ATTR amyloidosis is currently considered rare, there is growing evidence that it may be more common than once thought. Some experts believe that the disease is underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness. ATTR amyloidosis is not...

Discussing Cancer With Your Doctor

When faced with a cancer diagnosis, you need to find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable and can speak openly. But just what should you and your doctor talk about? Knowing what questions to ask can help you feel prepared for your doctor visits. While it may take more than one visit to ensure that all of your concerns are addressed, making a list of your questions in advance can help you get the answers you need. Create your discussion guide Read over the following list of questions, then...

Train Your Brain

Your body needs exercise to stay healthy, and so does your brain. Some research shows that when you exercise your mind, your brain creates new connections between brain cells. This helps keep your brain healthy and working at its best. It may also help prevent cognitive decline and memory loss. A great way to challenge your brain—and have fun—is by playing memory games. These games help your brain practice storing and retrieving information. So when it’s tested with a real-world task (like...

Create an Adult Vaccinations Checklist

Download the Adult Vaccinations Checklist Use this tool to help start a conversation with your healthcare provider about adult vaccinations. Many adults are behind on their vaccinations. Are you staying up-to-date? It’s important that you speak with your doctor or healthcare provider about the benefits of the vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To learn more about which vaccinations are right for you and how often you should receive them, use this...

Metabolic Syndrome: What's Your Risk?

Learn about the risk factors for this serious health condition and how to discuss your personal risk with your doctor Metabolic syndrome is a combination of health-related risk factors that, when they occur together, increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. The more of these risk factors you have, the higher your chances of developing serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a person who has metabolic...

The Phases of a Clinical Trial

Understanding the Phases of Clinical Trials Prescription drugs don’t just show up on pharmacy shelves one day. Each one is first subjected to thorough scientific testing during what are known as clinical trials. Clinical trials are conducted in phases, each of which is designed to assess a treatment or drug’s safety as well as answer different questions researchers may have about a drug or treatment. Clinical trial phases range from phase 0 to phase 4.

Living With Hemophilia

There are currently around 20,000 males in the United States who are living with hemophilia. (Women, who are genetic carriers of the disease, very rarely experience any of the condition’s symptoms.) "Hemophilia comes in several shades of gray, and not everyone who has the condition will be affected in the same way,” says Bartholomew J. Tortella, MD, Medical Director on Pfizer’s Hemophilia team.  That said, most boys and men with hemophilia, and those caring for them, will face similar...

Diabetes: Controlar el azúcar en la sangre

Tips to Eating Well

Download the Tips to Eating Well Checklist PDF The foods you eat can affect your health, so it’s important to make smart food choices. Healthy eating will help you control: Weight Blood pressure Blood sugar (if you have diabetes)

Differences Can Make a Big Difference

People from different racial and ethnic groups have different biological responses to both diseases and their treatment. Whether we are talking about liver cancer in Asians, asthma and stroke in African-Americans, or diabetes in Hispanics, these are just a few of the devastating chronic diseases that affect different groups at different rates. Scientists and doctors argue about "cause and effect" here — how much is genetic and how much is a result of diet and other factors. One thing is for sure...