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.
How to Gain Weight Without Magic Pills
How many of you took the time to look up the phytonutrient I gave you in Tuesday’s Memo? If you did, you know that it was one of the many phytonutrients in one of my favorite herbs: echinacea. The company that manufactures the weight gain pill called CB-1 claimed one of the ingredients was tested […]
The Weight-Gain Pill
I’m a self-proclaimed channel flipper—I always want to see what else is on when I have the remote. That’s why I did a double take when I saw the beginning of a commercial for weight gain. It wasn’t the typical approach, such as the product contains some formulation of branched chain amino acid, creatine, and […]
Why Are You Napping?
I think people get frustrated with research because, just like I’ve described this week, one study says one thing while another comes to different conclusions. I hope that if you’ve been reading the Memo long enough you won’t be frustrated. In this case, why might studies that seem similar on the surface come up with […]
To Nap or Not to Nap
About 16 years ago, Paula and I spent several weeks (spread out from March to October) helping our son Matthew build his boat-building shop. The daily routine went something like this: start early, break for lunch, take a 30- to 45-minute nap, then work the rest of the day. Matthew and Kerri live near Charleston, […]
The Secret to Prevention
Consistency. I thought I’d lead with the secret to disease prevention instead of making you wait. Whatever you want to accomplish in taking charge of your health, you have to be consistent. The polypill study proved it although the scientists, being conservative in their conclusions, don’t come out and say it—but I will. Here’s why. […]
Will the Polypill Reduce Second Heart Attacks?
One of the issues with prevention is having people stick to a plan, even after an event as serious as a heart attack. Lifestyle changes are challenging to stick with, but so is something as simple as taking medications. Remember, this isn’t to prevent a heart attack; it’s to prevent a second one. That’s serious. […]
What Is Secondary Prevention?
Secondary prevention encompasses a wide range of health-related conditions. It includes people with risk factors such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, cigarette smoking, elevated HbA1c, atrial fibrillation, and more. It also includes people who may have had a heart attack, stroke, cancer, or were treated and now are trying to prevent a recurrence of […]
What Is Primary Prevention?
The key to aging with a vengeance is prevention. One of the obvious goals is to prevent problems such as stroke or heart attack in healthy people and in people who have risk factors for disease. Today’s Memo will deal with primary prevention. Primary prevention focuses on helping apparently healthy people prevent the onset of […]
The Spice of Progress
Last week was about consistency, and this week is about variety, the spice of progress. I recently ran into an orthopedist I know whose first words to me were, “What’s wrong with your ankle?” followed by, “How come you’re not walking properly? You’re not toeing off.” He did an assessment later that day. The ankle […]
What We Can Learn From “NYC Point Gods”
We’re watching a little more basketball these days because it’s Riley’s favorite sport. That’s how I discovered a documentary about the glory years of point guards in the 1980s and ’90s in New York City. It may still be a thing, but back then it was special. One part of the documentary focused on one […]
