How your heart and brain health are related [Video]

TO FOOD SAFETY. HEART DISEASE AND OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN REALLY TAKE A TOLL ON YOUR BRAIN HEALTH. OUR KOAT U-N-M MEDICAL EXPERT DOCTOR SPOKE WITH DARLENE MELENDEZ ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR BRAINS AND OUR HEARTS. THERE’S A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN HEART HEALTH AND BRAIN HEALTH. WHEN THE HEART DOESN’T WORK AS WELL, WHETHER IT’S FROM HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR HEART DISEASE, IT CAN REDUCE BLOOD FLOW TO THE BRAIN OVER TIME. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE IN THE SMALL BLOOD VESSELS IN THE BRAIN, AND THAT CAN CAUSE MEMORY PROBLEMS, TROUBLE THINKING AND EVEN LEAD TO DEMENTIA. SO DOCTOR ASH, HEART PROBLEMS CAN ACTUALLY MAKE US FORGETFUL. YEAH, EXACTLY. IN FACT, STUDIES SHOW UP TO 81% OF PEOPLE WITH HEART FAILURE EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF COGNITIVE DECLINE. THIS MEANS THINGS LIKE TROUBLE REMEMBERING ISSUES WITH LANGUAGE OR DIFFICULTY PLANNING. IT’S A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN THE HEART ISN’T …