Tag Archives: chocolate

The Silent Killer

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Eric Van De Graaff, M.D.

Last week I asked a patient what her blood pressure (BP) runs on a regular basis.  I had noticed a continuing upward trend in her office readings and I know she owns an automated cuff.  “I don’t check it routinely,” she responded, “only when I feel it’s up.” Her implication was that she has the ability to perceive whenever her BP drifts into elevated territory.  In explaining further she told me that she feels anxious and has a headache whenever her hypertension “acts up” and at those times her systolic … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiology | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Chocolate

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Eric Van De Graaff, M.D.

Finally we have some really good news from the world of medical research.  Not just good news, like a drug that cuts the risk of heart attack or a procedure that saves lives.  But really great news. On September 15th, the New York Times reported on a landmark study involving the salutary effects of a novel therapy on the recovery of patients following a heart attack.  The study, published in the September issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine, assessed the effect of chocolate consumption on the risk of death … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiology | Tagged , , | 1 Comment