MedStar Health Blog

Most of us have had our blood pressure taken, generally in the left arm if you are right-handed. But should blood pressure potentially be taken in both arms? For patients with hypertension or ris...

When it comes to activities that affect the heart, there’s the good (a healthy lifestyle), the bad (unhealthy risk factors), and the ugly (hidden influences). Excessive stress is often found amon...

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that 50 percent of calories consumed by the average American come from ultra-processed foods. And it’s become fairly common knowledge that ultra-proc...

If you’ve ever received an electrical shock, even a minor one, you know what a jolt to your system it can be. Even at low intensity, direct exposure to electrical energy can cause injury. At ...

There are currently over 100,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant. And, unfortunately, many of those people could be waiting up to nine years to receive a donation from someone who passed a...

Performance athletics—in fact, any form of intense exercise—increases the body’s need for oxygen. Elite and endurance athletes, in particular, experience unique adaptations; for ex...