INTEGRIS Health On Your Health Blog

Patients frequently ask doctors at INTEGRIS Health, “Is peanut butter bad for cholesterol?” It makes sense to wonder about a food so rich and creamy. Many of us grew up eating it every day. Now, as adults, we worry about our cardiovascular health. Let us look at the facts and figure out if this pantry staple helps or hurts your lipid levels.

You might have seen the term trending on social media or discussed in recent health news, but many people still find themselves asking the experts at INTEGRIS Health a simple question: What is POTS? It is a complex condition affecting the autonomic nervous system, often leaving individuals feeling lightheaded, dizzy or faint simply by standing. While the symptoms can feel overwhelming and sometimes debilitating, understanding the mechanics of this syndrome is the vital first step toward reclaiming your quality of life.

With many areas of Oklahoma reaching peak summer temperatures, the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital and the American Heart Association (AHA) are preaching prevention. It’s not something many people think about, but temperatures over 100 or even temperatures in the 80s with high humidity can cause a dangerous heat index that can be hard on the heart.

Aneurysms are silent until they aren’t. Your knowledge gap ends here. Aneurysms affect thousands of people each year, and while they can be life threatening, understanding the warning signs offers a powerful defense. By knowing what to look for, you can take control of your health and potentially save a life — maybe even your own. In this blog, we help you understand aneurysm symptoms across different parts of the body so you can act fast.

Heart health can seem overwhelming, as if it means changing everything at once. Luckily, INTEGRIS Health experts say you can improve heart health with small, manageable changes to your daily routine. Simple steps you take now can bring big benefits later, making your heart stronger and improving your quality of life.

Blood clots are a serious health concern that can happen to anyone but knowing what to look for can make a huge difference in outcomes. While clotting is a normal bodily function to stop bleeding after an injury, clots that form inside your veins without a good reason can be dangerous. At INTEGRIS Health, we want you to feel empowered to spot the early warning signs of blood clots so you can act fast.

The road to resuming physical activity can be a scary step after a cardiac event. In fact, some people may assume it’s safer not to actively stress the heart after such a traumatic event.

In this blog, we examine the basics of cholesterol, take a look at high cholesterol and explore practical steps to take to ensure your cholesterol levels support a healthy heart and lifestyle. We talk with Ryan Norris, D.O., a cardiologist and board-certified lipidologist at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital, to learn more.

Heart attacks, though often sensationalized in the media as sudden and fatal events where individuals drop dead in an instant, actually vary in duration and presentation. This common perception can overshadow the nuanced reality of heart attacks, which may unfold differently for each person.

When a severe injury occurs, the type of trauma center you’re taken to can make a critical difference. This blog will explore the key differences and similarities between level I and level II trauma centers, shedding light on their unique roles in providing lifesaving care.