Dr. Rajiv Patel is an enthusiast. Yet, though he enjoys a nice glass of red wine, Patel is careful to emphasize that any advice he has to offer is based solely on the data.

Maybe your mother can no longer drive to the grocery store, your dad doesn’t feel that hungry anymore, or grandma says foods just don’t taste the same these days. As people age, many roadblocks to healthy eating can arise. 

Any time blood flow to the brain is interrupted, you have a serious problem. In many cases, this is known as a stroke, and it can have life-threatening and long-term consequences. In some cases, the body’s natural anti-clotting properties are able to break up the clot that is blocking blood flow. This is known as a ‘transient ischemic attack’ or TIA.

Physical inactivity literally is killing America. Data indicates that 11 percent of children ages 6 to 11, and 14 percent of those ages 11 to 16, are obese. In addition, more than one-half of adults don’t meet recommended levels of activity, and half of them have no regular physical activity. Sedentary lifestyles lead to increased health risks and higher health care costs. Since this habit of inactivity begins early in life, the promotion of physical activity among children is imperative for their health and for the future of our nation.

Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of American women. To educate the community about this health risk, SSM Heart Institute will host its fourth annual 'Her Heart: Every Beat Counts' education and screening day.

Eight days after giving birth to her son, Cameron, in April 2011, Rachel D'Souza-Siebert’s heart was aglow with love. It also was about to break.

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases of modern society. An increasing number of people are developing this complex metabolic disease, in which high blood sugar occurs because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because the cells in the body do not respond to the insulin being produced.

A recent study by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked Missouri as the 12th most obese state in the country. It predicted that by 2030, 62 percent of Missourians will be obese. It is a shocking statistic, and an outcome that Dr. Jennifer Wessels is trying to help avoid through her efforts as a family practitioner at Barnes West Primary Care, part of the BJC Medical Group. “I get to take care of people from all walks of life, of all ages, and I work not only to overcome their current health problems, but also prevent them from occurring in the future,” she says.

It's understandable for women to worry a lot about breast cancer. With so many messages aimed at us from so many places, breast cancer awareness, prevention and screening is top-of-mind when it comes to health news. But it may be time to rethink our worries.

A strong core does far more than make you look good. The core, or abdominal, muscles are crucial for supporting the back and spine, especially as we age.

Almost one in three adult Missourians is obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As one of the fattest states in the nation, it’s no surprise that obesity is becoming an increasing problem for our children, too.

Sometimes it’s fun to fly by the seat of your pants. But when it comes to your health, it’s best to create a plan in consultation with an expert. For most, the best place to start is with your primary- care physician. “It’s important to meet with your doctor to discuss your health and fitness goals. What can you realistically accomplish and how can you get there in a practical way?” says Dr. David Katzman, a specialist in internal medicine with Katzman & DeLaney Personal Physicians. Katzman’s practice is limited to only about 600 patients who pay an annual fee to be part of his personalized medical practice.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and physicians agree that understanding what cholesterol really is and why we should pay attention it to are important steps toward a heart-healthy life.

Avocados always have been associated with good health. A doctor once told me that if I ate half the avocado and used the other half as a facial, I would improve my skin both from the outside, as well as the inside.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease every day. Through their new cardiology practice with Premier Medical Specialists on Des Peres Hospital’s campus, Drs. Michael Twyman and Jeffrey Brown are determined to do their part to reduce that number. “Our focus is on preventing people from developing coronary disease in the first place,” Twyman says. “But if they do develop the disease, we want to offer a less invasive approach to the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”

RESEARCHERS TO STUDY TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HIGH-RISK LUNG CANCER PATIENTS

Iron Barley has garnered its share of accolades since opening in the early 2000s, including being featured on shows like Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and Man Vs. Food. The eatery has been on our list to try for quite some time, but somehow we never stopped by for a visit. So recently, we headed down to the South Side to rectify this oversight.

I have an idea for a board game, working title: Diet Tribe. In it, players would move a tiny grocery cart around a board that represents a grocery store. The goal is to be the first to check out with a full cart of food that will encourage weight loss, speed metabolism, lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar, prevent heart disease, slow aging and promote good digestion. Your cart must contain food from every department (no floral or pharmacy).

“If your dog is overweight, then you’re not getting enough exercise.” It was a wise—if unknown— person who coined the phrase, and the meaning is made all the more relevant by Walk a Hound Lose a Pound, a book by Rebecca Johnson and Phil Zeltzman. We caught up with Johnson, a professor of gerontological nursing and director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at University of Missouri.

Diabetes is in the news. Most recently, celebrity chef Paula Deen made headlines by revealing that she has Type 2 diabetes. Further, Deen has become a spokesperson for a diabetes medication that she claims is controlling her disease.

Although we can’t feel it, our blood vessels are under constant pressure—blood pressure, that is. As the heart pumps out blood, delivering oxygen to our muscles and organs, force is exerted with each beat. This is systolic pressure—the greater of the two numbers that measure blood pressure. Diastolic pressure, the lesser number, indicates the force of blood flow between beats.

When it comes to hearth health, a lot of attention is focused on heart attack symptoms and prevention. However, the American Heart Association reports that almost 300,000 people each year suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) outside of hospitals. SCA is a dangerous condition in which electrical signals to the heart malfunction, causing the heart to beat in an atypical rhythm.

When it comes to health, action is key. But maintaining health and wellness isn’t just about reacting when things go wrong. People need to take concrete steps every day to build the foundation for a healthy life.

Duff ’s has been consistently serving up quality fare in the Central West End since the early 1970s. The landmark restaurant has weathered many ups and downs over the years, and through it all, has managed to maintain its stellar reputation for quality, eclectic fare. We were overdue for a visit, so we recently made our way back to the corner of Euclid and McPherson avenues to check in.

AUTISM