Medimun Health and Medical Blog

According to a new study conducted by the University Hospital (Santander), people who smoke are much more likely to suffer from migraines, and those headaches are specifically triggered by smoking five or more cigarettes a day. However, a somewhat surprising fact that was discovered during past research by various other study groups has found that smoking a small amount, such as a cigarette or two a day, can reduce chronic headaches as it relieves stress and anxiety, two major contributors to reoccurring head pain.

While the two may seem contradictory, it actually coincides with a number of medical findings that have shown that moderation is a greater factor at maintaining health, rather than full abstinence. For instance, it has been found that weening a pregnant woman who are addicted to tobacco products, particularly with a history of miscarriages, rather than having her quit immediately can be much safer. This is by reducing the amount in the beginning to under five cigarettes (which, again, is a threshold for these findings), and reducing the number over coming weeks.

While each of these cigarette-related findings are sure to be controversial, they are hoped to help gain a wider understanding of the issue.

High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart disease globally, accounting for the majority of cases worldwide. It does this by building cholesterol within the walls of the arteries, blocking blood from moving effectively to the heart. This also reduces the amount of oxygen passed through the system, which will weaken the heart, and at times cause an attack or cardiac arrest. This risk makes it necessary for those who suffer from high cholesterol to work to bring their number down, and live a healthier lifestyle.

To lower cholesterol, there are a few things you can do:

Diet – Reducing the amount of ‘bad’ fats (trans and saturated) will do a lot to lower cholesterol, as will increasing your fiber intake, and switching to whole grains.
Exercise – A key factor in keeping your weight down, staying active will burn fat and strengthen the heart.
Medication – Some prescriptions given by your doctor will help to lower cholesterol, and increase heart health. Ask your doctor for more details.

Keep in mind that other factors will greatly increase your risk of having high cholesterol, even if you are not overweight. These include your age, gender, and you family medical history.