A recent study suggests that getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night increases the risk of calcification in arteries, with calcified arteries found in one third of participants who slept less than 5 hours per night.
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMAO) study followed 495 healthy middle aged participants for 5 years. At the beginning of the study participants had no detectable calcification in their arteries. Numerous factors were considered in relation to those who developed calcification such as age, sex, race, education, lipids, BMI, diabetes, etc. …

A major study reveals that cola soft drinks, not necessarily caffeine or coffee, may be tied to hypertension risk.
The Nurses Health Studies 1 and 2 followed over 155,000 women for 12 years and collected data on a multitude of lifestyle factors. And while the studies do not prove that cola soft drinks lead to hypertension, the association was still prevalent among participants even when numerous other factors were considered (i.e. age, weight, consumption of other beverages, etc.). There were several significant outcomes of the studies, including:
1. Caffeine was tied to …

A recent study by professors from the University of North Carolina seems to indicate that seniors with average systolic blood pressure above 130 mmHg experience decreased mental function during blood pressure spikes.
The 60 day study included 36 adults between the ages of 60 and 87. During this period the participant’s blood pressure and cognitive function was measured using a variety of tests such as Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT), Letter Series, and Number Comparison. Individuals with high blood pressure (in this case a systolic of greater than 130 mmHg) …

Psychology professor Susan Lutgendorf of the University of Iowa led a study of 550 adults and the results revealed that attending church at least once a week increases your chances of living longer!

All 550 adults were over 65 years old and were followed for 12 years. Those who attended church at least once a week were 35% more likely to live longer than those who never attended. The difference between the two groups saw virtually no change even when other lifestyle factors were considered. Those who attended church regularly …

The smell of hydrogen sulfide (the “rotten egg” smell) in flatulence has been tied to lower blood pressure in mice.

Researchers hypothesize that, like mice, our blood vessels naturally make the gas. The gas is believed to relax the blood vessels in mice which helps them fight high blood pressure and hypertension. According to Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., a co-author of the study, “Now that we know hydrogen sulfide’s role in regulating blood pressure, it may be possible to design drug therapies that enhance its formation as …