Modern Take on the Paleo Diet: Is it Grounded in Science?
Environmental Nutrition

There's a lot to like about the Paleo Diet. It's hard to disagree with the fact that our food system has changed drastically since the advent of agriculture, and even more so in the last few decades. Many health experts believe that the culprit of our rising rates of obesity and chronic disease is our dependence on highly processed foods and our sedentary lifestyle.

Pistachios' Rich Flavor and Health
Sharon Palmer, R.D.

Pistachios are packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber and minerals. Pistachios are also rich in phytosterols, which appear to lower cholesterol levels and protect from certain types of cancer. Recent studies have found that pistachios may lower risk of type 2 diabetes by improving blood sugars, and reduce inflammatory markers. Here's more on Pistachios

 

Certfied Organic

Decoding Organic Labeling
Rosel Kim

Ever wondered what goes behind the little 'certified organic' label on what you eat? Organic certification is a complex process involving many agencies to ensure that you get the difference in quality. Here's a guide as to who decides what's organic and what it mean to be organic

Full Without Food: Drug Therapy May Someday Replace Obesity Surgery
Claire Ainsworth

We're now starting to realize that the gut plays a bigger role in appetite and blood-sugar regulation than previously thought. Several groups are trying to develop drugs that enable people to get the effects of surgery without having to undergo any operation.

Detoxification Trends: Cleaning Up From the Inside Out
Lisa Tsakos

The idea behind a 'detox' is to rid the body of toxins. Environmental pollutants, pesticides, and drugs are normally removed by the body's natural processes of neutralization and elimination via the liver, lungs, colon, kidneys, blood, skin, and lymphatic system. If the toxins are not purged, it is believed that they can lead to the development of chronic disease.

The Real Cost of Fast Food
Lisa Tsakos

A fast-food meal may sound like a good deal, especially when you don't have time to prepare breakfast or lunch. A comparison of cost vs. nutritional value, however, paints a very different picture.

How Antioxidants Can Save Your Life
Michael Castleman - Live Right Live Well

Want to cut your risk of cancer in half? Want to substantially reduce your chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke? Want to live a longer, healthier life? The answer is simple: Eat more fruits and vegetables. For optimal health, experts say we should be striving for seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day

Big Breakfast Helps You Lose Weight
Nicole Gregory - Live Right Live Well

It’s those cravings that do us in -- cookies, ice cream, potato chips. The answer, however, is not to banish snacks from your home or to force yourself to resist those cravings through sheer strength of will. The key, according to a surprising new study, is to eat a big breakfast high in complex carbs and protein.

Omega-3 Power Boosts Health
Stacey Colino - Live Right Live Well

Omega-3 fatty acids, once found primarily in fatty fish, are being added to all sorts of foods, including fruit juices, soy milk, eggs, nutrition bars, cereal, yogurt -- even infant formula. In fact, they’ve become the wonder nutrient du jour, largely because researchers are discovering more and more health benefits associated with them.

Michelle Obama Vs. Childhood Obesity
Reader Comments

Michelle Obama is focusing on something vital for the future of America -- a healthy next generation. Mike Huckabee is showing sincerity in his commitment to the same cause -- and maturity as a human being, too. However, it looks like the USA has a fat chance for political and social maturity. Anyway, kudos to Mike and Michelle, and may you prosper in your endeavors!

H1N1 Swine Flu is Not Just A Hoax By Big Pharma
Debora MacKenzie, New Scientist Magazine

With official deaths remaining relatively low, the backlash against the H1N1 pandemic response is in full swing. Claims range from a massive overreaction by health authorities to a conspiracy cooked up by Big Pharma. But while swine flu may have boosted profits for vaccine manufacturers, the reality of the pandemic is more complicated.

Does Carbonated Water Harm Bones
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

Warnings about the harmful effects of carbonated beverages on bone emerge from time to time. The theory is that the phosphoric acid (phosphate) used to enhance flavor in some carbonated beverages can interfere with calcium absorption and result in the loss of calcium from bone. Fortunately, there's no good evidence that a high phosphate intake affects bone metabolism or bone density.

Deconstructing Detox Treatments: Myth or Health Restorative
Sharon B. Saloman

'Snake oil,' declares Robin Bernhoft, M.D., incoming president of the American Academy of Environmental Physicians, when asked what he thinks about over-the-counter diet detox kits. Since Dr. Bernhoft offers detoxification treatments in his Southern California clinic, his disapproval might seem out of place.

 

Prescriptions

Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Fill That Prescription
Deborah Kotz

Don't just swallow every pill your doctor orders without a second thought. Make an effort to educate yourself by asking about your prescriptions

 

Cleaning Naturally Improves Indoor Air Quality
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

From bleach to grease-busters to deodorizers, there are plenty of chemical cleaners out there to tackle your dirtiest, grimiest, bacteria-laden situations. However, many of those cleaning products contribute to indoor air pollution and poor health. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural cleaning solutions that will keep you and your family healthy and squeaky-clean ...

 

Whitening Products

Time for Tooth Whitening? Know Your Options
Harvard Health Watch

Perhaps you're self-conscious about your dingy teeth and you're thinking about whitening them. Dentists can perform or supervise various whitening procedures, and over-the-counter whitening products are available at drugstores and supermarkets. What's best for you depends on several things. Our focus in this article are whitening products. Here's a guide and tips to assist you

Is it Safe to Take High Doses of Vitamin D
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

On the basis of a blood test, my doctor wants me to take high doses of vitamin D for three months. I hear there are wide variations among laboratories performing these tests. Should I trust my first results, or take the test again? What are the risks of taking high doses of vitamin D?

Bad Breath and Body Odor, Be Gone
Clare Wilson, New Scientist Magazine

Aside from washing regularly, often all we do is daub ourselves with fragrances. 'Masking,' or covering up bad breath, body odor or other bad smells with nice ones, works OK, but these days there are more sophisticated strategies to tackle odors at their source

 

Swimming in frigid water

Dose of Frigid Weather Can Actually Be Good for Your Health
Harvard Health

Although a bit theoretical, cold weather may help us slim down by stimulating metabolically active brown fat. And in Scandinavia and Russia, many people actively seek out the cold: Wintertime swimming in frigid water is believed to do health wonders, and there's some science (not much, but some) suggesting that it might be so.

 

Sleep Disorders

The Nightmare Files: Sleep Disorders Remarkably Common and Varied
John Cline, Ph.D.

As a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep disorders, I've seen everyone from those who chase sleep each night to no avail to those who become unrecognizable characters once they enter never-never land. Here's a guided tour through some of my most memorable case files.

Under the Microscope: The Nutrition - Gene Connection
Victoria Shanta Retelny, R.D., L.D.N.

When it comes to how the body processes nutrients, each person's unique genetic makeup determines how their cells respond to what they eat. Genes can explain a number of nutritional phenomena, such as why some people can adhere to a low-saturated fat and high-plant food diet, yet still be prone to high blood cholesterol levels

You Can Beat the Heartburn Blues
Caroline Farquhar

Have you ever had one of those days? A great day with friends, a terrific meal, a few drinks ... then heartburn. How did it happen? You may be aware of some obvious reasons, but there are some surprising things you may not know about heartburn.

Common Indoor Allergy Triggers and How to Avoid Them
January W. Payne

If cold, wintry weather is keeping you indoors, remember: Year-round, that's home to many of the peskiest allergy and asthma triggers. So if you have allergies or asthma, it's a good idea to ensure that your home is as free of triggers as possible. Your doctor can help you develop a plan, but here's some advice to get you started

 

Health Benefits

Picking Through the Latest Science on Berries and Health Benefits
Sharon Palmer, R.D.

The health halo that crowns berries--the original 'superfruit'--hasn't slipped a bit over the years. Ever since it was discovered that berries have very high total antioxidant capacity, the public has had a veritable love fest with berries, making them its favorite fruit. Here's a guide to the health benefits of berries

Healthier Living: Strive for Fitness of Mind and Body
Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky

Working out more and eating healthier are typical New Year's resolutions, but healthier living isn't just about your body - it's also about a healthier state of mind. Resolving to be healthier in both mind and body is an admirable goal, and it's within anyone's reach. The first step toward a healthier mind and body is ...

The Aging Mouth - And How to Keep it Younger
Harvard Health Letters

Teeth, gums, and the rest of your oral cavity need extra care and attention if you want them to stay healthy in your later years. Aging isn't always pretty, and your mouth is no exception

Losing Weight is a Group Effort
Lisa Tsakos

If you've given up on your New Year's pledge to better manage weight and eating habits, it could be because you're taking the process too personally. Lifestyle and diet changes occur when you're ready for them. Getting the support of those around you is critical when you're trying to lose weight.

The Dawning of a Ripe Old Age
Longevity Researchers

If there were a pill that could add two decades to your life, would you swallow it? Not if you're like most people scientist Matt Kaeberlein asks -- they see it as an invitation to purgatory. But when the University of Washington longevity researcher dangles the prospect that those extra years would be spent spry and hale, not enfeebled and ill, they listen up.

Bringing Hospital Care Home
Harvard Health

Hospitals are going out of their way these days to make patients feel like they're at home. Here's a logical extension of these efforts: offering hospital-level care at home. That's the premise behind a movement called Hospital at Home. It's already established in parts of Europe. Now, several groups are trying to give it a toehold in the United States.

Did Heidi Montag's Plastic Surgery Go Too Far?
Deborah Kotz

Was reality TV star Heidi Montag's decision to have 10 cosmetic procedures in one day a sign of her low self-esteem and addiction to plastic surgery? Or was it a brilliant PR move to land her on the cover of People and launch her singing career?

Health, Hollywood, Plastic Surgery and Heidi Montag
Reader Comments

Hollywood sends a terrible message to young people with the way it celebrates plastic surgery and rail thin models. It's sad to watch a seemingly normal girl like Heidi turn into a superficial, appearance-obsessed Hollywood type

Top Cosmetic Treatments for Aging Skin
January W. Payne

No one likes looking older...which is why we spend billions of dollars every year on over-the-counter products, prescription creams and fillers, and, most drastically, cosmetic surgery. Do any of these actually work to reduce the signs of aging? In many cases, yes -- at least temporarily. Here's a quick guide to some of the most popular treatments and procedures

For Many, LASIK Surgery Safe, Reasonable Procedure to Consider
Dave Patel, M.D., Ophthamology, Mayo Clinic

LASIK (short for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) eye surgery is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The procedure has been widely used for many years to correct vision problems, and the surgery is often successful. But it's not for everyone. The effectiveness and safety of the procedure depends on ...

 

Simple Sopa Azteca (Chicken Tortilla Soup)

Recipes for Health: Can What You Eat Stave Off the Flu?
John La Puma, M.D.

My patient Rachel is taking a bite out of the flu. Now, with most of the flu season past, she wanted to know: Are there really foods she could load up on to help her avoid the flu and not make her gain weight? The answer is yes -- my Chicken Tortilla Soup recipes really does have healing properties and is also low in calories.

Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss: Therapy Can Ease Grief, Guilt
Harvard Health

More than 30,000 Americans, and roughly one million people worldwide, die by suicide each year. The aftermath of grief and bereavement extends much further, with a conservative estimate of six survivors left behind for every suicide death.

Depression Sometimes Expressed at a Young Age
Stephen Whiteside

Certainly kids can suffer from depression. If you're concerned about your child, a good first step would be to visit the doctor to discuss and evaluate the situation. Sometimes, symptoms that appear to be depression may be caused by an underlying medical condition. If the problem is depression, effective treatments for children are available.

Treating Low Back Pain Remains a Challenge
Harvard Health

Back pain is remarkably common. It affects most people during a lifetime. While most back pain gets better quickly, chronic back pain is also common. Yet, the cause of chronic back pain is often uncertain. Even worse, treatment is often ineffective. That's why so many people turn to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

When Should You Seek Emergency Care for Chest Pain
Harvard Health

If you have chest pain or discomfort, how do you know if it's serious enough to warrant emergency medical attention? A few general pointers to help

Hypoglycemia: Breaking the Vicious Cycle
Katrina Bertol

Do you ever find yourself feeling faint and irritable when you've skipped a meal? Do you feel fatigued, depressed or worried when you don't have enough food or gone too long between meals? Do you crave sugars and carbohydrates and feel immediate relief after eating them? You may be suffering from hypoglycemia, a common result of poor dietary choices and in some cases, genetics.

Prostatitis Often Challenging to Diagnose
Lance Mynderse, M.D.

A lot of men are familiar with certain prostate-related problems, such as the risk of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. But prostatitis is a painful syndrome that men seldom hear about.

Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson

The surgeons of tomorrow will include tiny robots that enter our bodies and do their work from the inside, with no need to open patients up or knock them out. While nanobots that swim through the blood are still in the realm of fantasy, several groups are developing devices a few millimeters in size.

Tracing Your Medical Roots: Crucial Information Might Save Your Life
Katherine Hobson

'Your family history is probably the best predictor of risk for your own health,' says Steven Keiles, president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. So pick a relaxed time and start quizzing your relatives. Here's a set of tips to get you started

Sodium and You: Still No Consensus on Salt Intake
Harvard Health

Most of the sodium in our diet comes from salt. Salt is about 40 percent sodium by weight. Sodium has many important biological functions -- transmitting nerve impulses, contracting and relaxing muscle fibers, and maintaining proper fluid balance. But Americans get much more than they need -- 3,400 mg of sodium per day, on average.

Cardiac Rehab Boosts Heart Health
Harvard Health

After having a heart attack or heart surgery, one of the best things you can do for your heart and your long-term health is to go through a cardiac rehabilitation program

Five Easy Healthy Diet Eating Habits to Adopt
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

As the New Year begins and while motivation is high, this is the perfect time to establish a few new healthy habits. Begin with your current lifestyle and either change a negative pattern, add a positive one, or both. Drastic changes in lifestyle or diet don't usually stick, but these new practices are worth a try

Hearing Loss: A Silent Epidemic
Harvard Health Watch

Everyone experiences hearing loss from time to time including temporary hearing loss. And a mild degree of permanent hearing impairment is an inevitable part of the aging process. But for millions of people, the problem is more serious. Fortunately, modern medical care can help ...

Wide Gap Between Top and Bottom Blood Pressure Numbers
Thomas H. Lee, M.D. - Harvard Health

My systolic blood pressure has been between 115 and 125 and pretty steady. The diastolic number is low (55-65) and seems to be falling. Is the difference between these two numbers important, and is the falling diastolic number something to worry about?

Some Blood Vessels More Prone to Blockages Than Others
Richard Lee, M.D. - Harvard Health

Are the coronary arteries more prone to developing blockages than arteries elsewhere in the body? When arteries from other parts of the body are used in bypass surgery, does their tendency to become blocked change?

Managing Pain: How to Use Prescription Drugs Without Becoming Addicted
January W. Payne

Prescription drug abuse has long been a problem for everyday Americans as well as pill-popping celebrities. About 48 million people, or 20 percent of Americans over age 12, have taken prescription medications -- often, the painkillers called opioids -- for nonmedical reasons. Here's how to use prescription drugs without becoming addicted

Another Reason to Get a Flu Shot: To Protect Your Heart
Harvard Health

If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, what are you waiting for? The hour or so it would take is nothing compared with the time you might spend fighting the flu or something worse

Banish Hangovers Naturally
Lisa Tsakos

What we call a hangover -- headaches, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound following excessive alcohol consumption -- is the end result of dehydration and toxicity. If adequate measures are taken while alcohol is being consumed or before going to bed, hangover symptoms might be averted. Here's a set of worthwhile tips and preventative measures

Solving World Health Issues a Few Dollars at a Time
Philippe Douste-Blazy and Daniel Altman

Starting in this quarter, hundreds of millions of people will have an unprecedented opportunity to help the world's most unfortunate inhabitants. When purchasing airline tickets through most major reservation Web sites or through a travel agent, consumers will be asked if they want to make a direct contribution to the fight against the world's three deadliest epidemics

Don't Skip Swine Flu H1N1 Vaccine
Howard LeWine, M.D.

It's still too soon to call the H1N1 influenza A strain a weaker virus than the usual influenza virus. Yes, the total number of deaths caused by this flu is slightly below what many public health officials had expected. However, the scary fact is that the deaths are occurring in younger people.

Becoming a Vegetarian: Studies Confirm Health Benefits of Meatless Diet
Harvard Health Letters

Vegetarianism has become more appealing and accessible, thanks to the year-round availability of fresh produce, more vegetarian dining options, and the growing culinary influence of cultures with largely plant-based diets.

Add Some Vegetarian Dishes to Your Feasts & Diet
Dr. Edward Group

There are over 7 million vegetarians in America, according to a Vegetarian Times pools. It has also been reported that following a vegetarian lifestyle lowers your risk of developing many types of cancer, but it can mean a bit of sidestepping around the dinner table. Here's a set of interesting Vegetarian recipes

The Official Mayo Clinic Diet Program
Donald Hensrud, M.D.

Physicians and researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a dietary program that we can endorse. We believe there's enough evidence in the scientific literature and enough experience with it here at Mayo Clinic that we feel comfortable putting Mayo's name on this program. This is the official Mayo Clinic Diet.

Simple Steps to Managing Stress
Douglas MacKay, M.D.

In a world that often seems as though it's moving at the speed of light, it's hard not to feel stressed. Add the hectic pace and demands of the holiday season to the mix, and you have a recipe for stress and anxiety. Here's some simple steps for managing stress

Helpful Tips for Boosting Your Immunity
Lisa Tsakos

Everyone is talking about cold and flu season this year, thanks to the H1N1 media frenzy. While those of us who aren't giving in to the panic may suggest that it isn't that different from any other flu, the fact is, H1N1 is affecting age groups and populations that aren't typically affected by other flu strains. To avoid germs and boost immunity here are recommendations ...

Beneficial Bacteria: 7 Amazing Jobs Your Gut Bacteria Do
Katherine Hobson

Don't look now, but your gut is teeming with microbes--as many as 100 trillion of them. It may unnerve you to know that you're providing a home to a population of bacteria and other tiny organisms but they're not just squatters; some beneficial bacteria help you digest food and can protect against infection.

Napping May Not be Such a No-No After All
Harvard Health

The nap has long been the troubled stepchild of the unassailably hygienic and universally admired good night's sleep. However, recent research is showing that the daytime snooze may have benefits and not interfere with nighttime sleep.

How to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays
Lisa Tsakos

'Tis the season of decadent foods, overeating and weight gain. Many folks will put on anywhere from three to seven pounds in December alone. Why is it the holidays always seem to interfere with our best eating intentions? Rather than allowing food to ruin the festivities, these simple tips can help you maintain control of your diet and health

Stop Stress in its Tracks This Holiday Season
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

Between the end-of-year deadlines, holiday shopping budgets, crowded stores, long lines, and the odd family dust-up, stress is pretty much a given this time of year. And this year in particular, more of us are under more stress, thanks in part to the economy. But even if it feels like your stress is insurmountable, managing it is possible

Why Americans Should Not Fear Scientific Progress
Jessica Rettig

Science is advancing at a rate so fast that it is difficult to forecast where it will take us. According to Michael Specter, this uncertainty has developed into a widespread fear or denial of scientific progress across the nation. Specter identifies why Americans have grown to mistrust science. He recently chatted with Jessica Rettig about the dangers of resisting vaccines and the value of preventative healthcare

Could a Dose of Stem Cells Heal a Failing Heart
Sarah Baldauf

Many trials are underway testing the ability of an adult's own stem cells -- continuously produced and capable of becoming any of a range of cell types -- to regenerate heart muscle and restore blood flow.

Congress Fights Obesity With Healthcare Bills
Kent Garber

In 2018, more than half the adults in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, and South Dakota could be obese. That's just one of many alarming projections in a study released last week by Kenneth Thorpe, and it comes, appropriately, as Congress is grappling with how to best reform a healthcare system that is becoming wildly and unsustainably expensive.

Getting a Good Diagnosis: Even most experienced doctors can be thrown off by faulty thinking
Deborah Kotz

Doctors are stumped by symptoms all the time, and by prescribing the wrong medication, they often worsen the problem or even create a new one. Worse, misdiagnoses lead to an astounding 40,000 to 80,000 hospital deaths every year. Here's what you need to know to be sure you end up with the right answer

Crucial information from family health history might well save your life
Katherine Hobson

Most people are aware of their immediate family recent medical history on some level. But if pressed to be more specific, they might not be able to give all the details -- and those can be important. So pick a relaxed time and start quizzing your relatives. Some tips ...

Even if health care insurance worries end soon work as engaged informed patients just beginning
Bernadine Healy M.D.

True health reform may well take a generation, as the nuts and bolts of a massive new system are sorted out and assembled. But it seems clear that a sea change is coming in the way Americans experience and pay for healthcare. Consider the ways you'll be called upon to manage your healthcare in medicine's new era ...

Technologies that let patients consult with physicians online spreading rapidly
Megan Johnson

Many Americans are would-be prospects for online care. Half say they would be interested in using the Internet not only as an information source but to receive healthcare directly

Is a 'Cash Only' or 'Direct Pay' Doctor Right for You
January W. Payne

The cash-only model is based on the idea that rather than charging higher so-called retail rates for uninsured patients while negotiating discounted rates with insurance companies for covered patients, it's fairer -- and possible -- to offer reasonable rates to all

Some mental-health experts think 'parental alienation' should be an official diagnosis
Lindsay Lyon

Parental alienation, highly controversial, is being described as one in which children strongly attach to one parent and reject the other in the false belief that he or she is bad or dangerous

The Lure of an ADHD Treatment Minus the Meds
Megan Johnson

Supporters say, and the evidence backing them up is increasing, that Neurofeedback therapy can improve a child's ability to focus on tasks that challenge his attention span. While neurofeedback therapy takes weeks and costs thousands of dollars, the prospect of an alternative to years of medication tantalizes parents and therapists alike

When there's a choice of treatments, you can make your preferences count
Sarah Baldauf

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is one of 12 centers around the country testing a formal process of 'shared decision making' for a number of conditions that have two or more treatment options

Be smart if you take prescription opioids or find alternative forms of relief
January W. Payne

Michael Jackson's death has brought renewed attention to prescription drug abuse, which has long been a problem for everyday Americans as well as pill-popping celebrities.

Music Therapy Can Be Good for the Heart
Harvard Health Letters

Music can make you laugh or cry, rile you up or calm you down. Some say it's good for the soul. It just might be good for the heart, too. Make no mistake -- daily doses of Mozart won't clean out your arteries or fix a faulty heart valve. But music can help ease your recovery

Secrets to Getting the Right Medical Diagnosis
Deborah Kotz

Most people, at one time or another, have received an incorrect diagnosis or seen a doctor who's been stumped by their symptoms. Often, it doesn't much matter, since symptoms go away on their own. But misdiagnoses can also cost lives. Here are six secrets to apply when on the examining table

After a Heart Attack: Following Rehab Instructions Can Save Your Life
Harvard Heart Letter

One month after their attacks, more than 90 percent of the participants said they were taking all of the medications on the discharge list. In contrast, less than 50 percent were exercising as instructed, had stopped smoking, or were losing weight. Just one-third had enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program, one of the best things you can do to prevent a second heart attack.

Global Strategy to Deal With Alcohol Abuse
Andy Coghlan

The World Health Organization, between now and January, will be honing its draft of the first global strategy on reducing health damage from alcohol abuse, the fifth leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide.

Is a Tanning Bed Safer Than Sunlight
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.

It doesn't matter whether you get it from the sun or from artificial sources such as sun lamps and tanning beds -- ultraviolet (UV) radiation is linked to skin cancers (including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma) and to other sorts of skin damage, particularly premature skin aging (photoaging).

Parasites: Our Uninvited Guests
Caroline Farquhar

The definition of a parasite is an organism that lives off or in another organism, obtaining nourishment and protection while offering no benefit in return. Human parasites are often harmful to the body and can cause illness and disease.

Careful Food Choices Can Lower Your Cholesterol
Harvard Health

It's easy to eat your way to an alarmingly high cholesterol level. The reverse is true, too. Changing what you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream. Doing this requires a two-pronged strategy ...

Low Blood Pressure Not Normally a Cause for Concern
John Graves, M.D., Nephrology/Hypertension, Mayo Clinic

Unless it causes troublesome symptoms, low blood pressure (hypotension) usually isn't a cause for concern and doesn't require treatment. If low blood pressure begins to cause symptoms that interfere with your daily activities, though, talk to your doctor about ways it can be managed

How Schools and Parents Can Prepare for Swine Flu
Zach Miners

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting approximately 44,000 cases of swine flu and at least 114 pediatric deaths since April, schools across the country are considering how to deal with a mass outbreak

Healthy Dose of Sadness May Be Good For You
Jessica Marshall, New Scientist Magazine

Misery is inconvenient, unpleasant, and in a society where personal happiness is prized above all else, there's little tolerance for wallowing in despair. Especially now that we've got drugs for it. But is this really such a good idea?

Game On: Are Video Games Harmful
Harvard Health Letter

Violent and possibly addictive, video games have become a major part of American childhood. What should parents do?

Why is Peanut Butter Healthy If It Has Saturated Fat
Walter C. Willett, M.D.

The presence of saturated fat doesn't automatically kick a food into the unhealthy camp. Olive oil, wheat germ, and even tofu -- all healthy foods -- have some saturated fat. It's the whole package of nutrients, not just one or two, that determines how good a particular food is for health.

Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables
Lilian Presti

We've all heard of the kid who won't eat anything except chicken fingers and hot dogs -- and maybe you recognize this child well because he or she is yours. Although most children aren't this extreme, many are still not eating as much healthy foods as their parents would like

Organic or Not, Eating More Fruit and Vegetables Can Improve Health
Donald Hensrud, M.D., Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic

Is organically grown produce better for you than non-organic fruits and vegetables? The answer to your question depends on what you mean by 'better for you.' Many people assume that 'organic' automatically equals 'good,' particularly when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Whether or not that's true for you depends on the factors you're considering

When Money Talks: Financial Fears Today's Top Stressor
Karen Wright, Psychology Today

Financial worries are keeping Americans of all income levels up at night: In a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association money ranked as the top stressor for 8 out of 10 respondents. Almost half reported growing concern about the ability to provide for their families' basic needs. However, psychologists and economists alike say that much of this stress results not from actual material circumstances ...

Time to Switch to an Online Personal Health Record
Katherine Hobson

A host of Web-based personal health records, or PHRs, have been rolled out over the past few years, including offerings from Internet heavyweights Google and Microsoft. The pitch: a central repository for all your health information--from family history to lab results to cholesterol readings--gathered from all those disparate sources, and ways to share it with doctors or other people that you deem appropriate. Plus, cool tools that draw on your information to alert you

Exercise and dieting aside, behavior and biology appear to have a real influence on weight
Sarah Baldauf

Weight loss depends largely on getting the balance right between calories consumed and calories burned. Yet, as evidenced by individuals' struggle to control weight and also by the nation's alarmingly increased rate of overweight and obese residents in recent decades, mastering this seemingly simple formula is no small task. Here are factors that may be working against your efforts to control your own weight

Are You at Low Risk for Heart Disease? Probably Not
Deborah Kotz

A recently released study sounds pretty shocking: Fewer than 10 percent of Americans qualify as being at low risk for heart disease according to the study That's a decrease from 15 years ago, when 10.5 percent of us fell into the low-risk category. So the news here is that we're going backward despite the fact that experts know a lot more today about preventing heart disease than they did a decade or two ago

7 Things To Know Before Logging on for Counseling
Lindsay Lyon

Online counseling holds tremendous promise, advocates say, because it bulldozes the barriers that bar people from face-to-face treatment, such as disability, distance, or hectic schedules. The anonymity also is alluring. But even staunch proponents of telemental health say that tapping into online therapy through E-mail and instant messaging requires caution.

Stressed Out: Warning Signs of Burn-Out Should Not Be Taken Lightly
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

Stress is viewed as a psychological problem, but its physical effects are very real. What we perceive as a stressor, whether physical, emotional or mental, poses a threat to homeostasis, or our well-being.

Gastric Bypass Limits Absorption of Food - Including Vitamins and Minerals
Daniel Herley, M.D.

Bariatric surgery limits the amount of food a person can eat and digest. Three and one-half years ago, the most common bariatric operations were gastric banding (lap banding) and gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y). The kind of procedure you had is a factor in determining the amount of supplemental vitamins and minerals needed following surgery. Both types of surgery limit food intake, but only gastric bypass limits absorption of food, including vitamins and minerals.

Botox: Beyond Cosmetic Fixes
Harvard Health Letters

Today, most of us are familiar with botulinum toxin as Botox, the popular cosmetic treatment approved in 2002 to minimize the appearance of glabellar lines -- vertical furrows between the eyebrows that become more pronounced as we age. By preventing muscle contractions that cause facial lines, Botox smooths the skin and makes it look younger

Avoid Poisons & Toxins: Use Natural Cleaning Products
Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky

Avoiding unsafe cleaning products is just as important as identifying safe ones. About 100,000 chemicals are used commercially, and the production of chemicals doubles every seven years. Cleaning products are among the most toxic substances that can be found in the average home. Most household cleaners are hazardous to health and the environment

Diet Plays an Important Role in the Quality of Sleep
Lisa Tsakos

While numerous medical issues such as chronic pain or sleep apnea can interfere with a restful slumber, stress and an overactive nervous system is the culprit for most of us. We may not have much control over work schedules or stress levels, but sleep can be positively or negatively influenced by diet.

Crohn's Disease Symptoms Vary Widely Among Individuals
William Tremaine, M.D., Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the lining in the digestive tract. Anyone can get Crohn's disease but it develops more often in young people than in older adults. Most individuals who have Crohn's are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 30. Evidence suggests ...

Unless Recommended By a Doctor, Colon Cleansing Should Not be Attempted
Mark Larson, M.D., Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic

In general, colon cleansing is not a good idea. Sometimes, it is necessary for people preparing to undergo a medical procedure or examination, such as a colonoscopy or a colon X-ray. But unless a doctor has recommended it as preparation for such a procedure, I strongly discourage people from colon cleansing. It can cause traumatic injury to the colon and result in long-term medical problems. ....

Vitamin D Deficiency Common But Easily Treated With Supplements
Philip Hagen, M.D., Preventive Medicine, Mayo Clinic

It's well established that vitamin D helps with calcium absorption and helps keep bones strong. There's also evidence that vitamin D helps reduce the risk of common cancers, muscle and joint pain and perhaps even multiple sclerosis. For some people, it's difficult to get proper amounts of vitamin D from the usual sources, which are diet and sunshine. Dr. Philip Hagen of the Mayo Clinic provides suggestions in this article to compensate for Vitamin D defiency.

Healthy, Natural School Lunch is Easier Than You Think
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

As you cruise down the supermarket aisles with kids asking for all sorts of junk for their school lunches, it can be difficult to resist the urge to grab those pre-packaged, all-in-one lunch meals. But healthy, homemade lunches that your kids will want to eat are actually easier than you might think.

Newborn Screening Can Identify a Variety of Treatable Conditions
Dietrich Matern, M.D., and Piero Rinaldo, M.D., Ph.D.

The blood taken from your baby after she's born will be examined to find out if she has any of a variety of treatable conditions. This procedure, called newborn screening, is very important because these conditions can be most effectively treated when they are identified early, before symptoms appear.

Osteoporosis - Bone Up On Bone Health
by Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky

Osteoporosis is a silent condition in which bones become less dense and more likely to fracture. It's a major health threat for an estimated 10 million Americans with the disease and 34 million Americans with low bone mass. Often called a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences, bone density decreases partly because hormone levels (such as estrogen and testosterone) decrease as people age.

How Your Feet Work - And 3 Steps For Keeping Them Healthy
Harvard Health Letters

Standing and walking on two legs has many advantages but it does mean we ask a lot of our poor two feet. They need to provide a steady base for the rest of the body to perch upon. They serve as shock absorbers as we walk, smoothing out the impact of landing with a force that exceeds our body weight. Run, and there's even more force and a need for cushioning. They act as levers that propel us forward -- and occasionally in other directions.

By the Way, Doctor: Flip-flops - How Bad Are They
James P. Ioli, D.P.M.

Researchers at Auburn University have found that wearing flip-flops alters the way one walks, changing the gait in subtle ways that can lead to serious sole, heel, and ankle problems.

Make Sure Your Long-Term-Care Insurer Pays Up
Kimberly Lankford - Kiplinger Personal Finance

In many cases, getting a long-term-care claim approved is the easy part. It's the ongoing paperwork that drives families crazy, especially if you have to submit home-care reports with details of daily care. Mary's story has a happy ending, but it provides a cautionary tale for policyholders -- and their caregivers.

Health Technology: The Net Doctor Will See You Now
Lisa Grossman, New Scientist Magazine

If you regularly turn to a search engine to find out whether, say, you should put ice on a twisted ankle, you're far from alone. Sixty-one percent of American adults seek out health advice online, according to a survey published in June by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Obama Advisers: Swine Flu Could Infect Nearly Half of U.S. Population
By Queenie Wong

President Obama's science advisers warned recently that swine flu could infect nearly half the U.S. population this fall and winter and cause up to 90,000 deaths, mostly in kids and young adults. The estimate is double the deaths normally associated with the seasonal flu.

What Parents Should Know About Swine Flu Shots
Nancy Shute

The questions I asked at my daughter's well-child doctor visit this week were not happy ones: They were all about what to do if the swine flu pandemic gets much worse this fall and she becomes sick. I left the pediatrician's office just as worried.

8 Facts to Know About Palliative Care: Misconceptions abound
Sarah Baldauf

The term "palliative care" often conjures tones of a death knell, but the reality of what such services provide -- and when they can and should be recruited -- might be surprising. While death might ultimately become a part of the conversation, recruiting such care is not just about dying.

9 Safe Ways to Help Cure Insomnia
January W. Payne

Insomnia -- difficulty falling or staying asleep -- can wreak havoc on people's lives. And with the coroner's finding that Michael Jackson died from a lethal dose of the anesthesia medication propofol (Diprivan), which the pop star reportedly received routinely because of his chronic inability to sleep, it's a good time to revisit safe ways to help cure insomnia.

7 Things That Make Sleep Apnea Worse
Lindsay Lyon

More than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing and many are unaware, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Untreated, sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, memory loss, obesity, parasomnias, and insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes

What a 'Power' Breakfast Really Looks Like
Liz Wolgemuth

It's become increasingly clear that the method for the most effective morning meal -- the true power breakfast, one geared for optimum success -- is a highly personal choice. To be sure, the one thing that most experts seem to agree on is the importance of eating breakfast, often called the most important meal of the day.

Choosing Between Urgent Care Center, In-Store Clinic and ER
Sarah Baldauf

Primary-care physicians are not the only game in town. In fact, depending on where you live, you may have several places to turn, including an urgent care clinic and an in-store "retail clinic" set up in a grocery store or pharmacy along with the local hospital emergency department. The inevitable question then becomes: Which level of care should you seek -- and for what ailments?

Why People Leave the Hospital Against Medical Advice
January W. Payne

A new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reveals that people who leave the hospital against doctor's orders are at higher risk of adverse health outcomes and have increased hospital readmission rates, compared with patients who follow doctors' advice.

Kindness and Corporations: Sensitivity Does Have a Place in the Workplace
Judith Sills, Ph.D., Psychology Today

You could argue that the milk of human kindness is pretty much curdled at the office when it stirs images of weakness, naivete, self-promotion, or self-defense. All the downsides notwithstanding, there is a strong current of kindness stubbornly running through some workplaces. And where it flows, people smile more. They work harder, too.

Why and How to Put Together a Family Medical History
Katherine Hobson

Most of us are aware of our family medical history on some level -- we're pretty familiar with our parents' recent ailments, for example, and probably could tell you what our grandparents died from. But if pressed to be more specific, we might not have all the details -- and those can be important. The information a detailed family medical history offers might change your own medical care or provide a needed incentive to make better lifestyle choices.

Pain Medications: What You Need to Know About Acetaminophen, Darvon & Darvocet

It has been a tough few months for pain medications -- both prescription and over the counter. This news has left some consumers scratching their heads about which pain medications to take, doctors say. The public has been receiving mixed messages about painkillers lately. According to several experts, here's what consumers need to know about these pain medications

10 Salt Shockers That Could Make Hypertension Worse
Deborah Kotz

Does too much salt cause high blood pressure, or doesn't it? That debate has raged for decades, with a slew of studies finding "yes" and a slew of others finding "no." Two new studies published in the journal Hypertension tip the scales in favor of reducing sodium -- particularly for those 1 in 4 Americans who have high blood pressure. If you're unexpectedly getting too much sodium, here are some likely culprits ...

The Skinny on Alcoholic Beverages and Weight Loss
Katherine Hobson

if you already do drink moderately, you may be getting some health benefits. And there may be strategies you can adopt that can fend off a beer belly

3 Lousy Reasons to Consider an Antidepressant Medication
Lindsay Lyon

New research shows Americans have become increasingly accepting of psychiatric medications such as antidepressants, the use of which is on the rise. For some people, the drugs are essential. But others appear willing to use antidepressants for reasons that experts say may be unwise. Antidepressants are the most routinely prescribed class of drugs in the United States. However -- as acceptance of psychiatric drugs rises -- are people flocking to antidepressants for good reasons?

How Much Vitamin D Should You Be Taking
Deborah Kotz

What vital nutrient may protect against cancer, heart disease, stroke, bone fractures, and a host of other diseases? Experts on vitamin D are quick to answer, and, by their reckoning, many Americans are sorely lacking in the nutrient. Just this week, new data from a government-run health and nutrition survey found that most kids weren't getting enough vitamin D

Vitamin D and Kids: How Much Sun Should They Get to Stay Healthy
Nancy Shute

Right after I coated my kid with SPF 70 sunscreen and dropped her off at camp this morning, I picked up the newspaper and read: "Millions of Children in U.S. Found to be Lacking Vitamin D." Sunscreen was listed as a main culprit for the deficiency, which can put children at risk of developing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, heart disease, and weak bones. Yikes! ...

Principles of Conservative Prescribing: Do You Really Need All Those Pills
Harvard Health Letter

People who genuinely need medications should take them; indeed, getting people to take medications as prescribed is a persistent problem. But there's some questioning of prescribing practices these days, much of it inspired by a growing conviction that American health care has become too dependent on expensive medications.

Finding Effective Treatment For Chronic Pain
January W. Payne

Chronic pain is a problem that -- when healthcare, lost income, and lost productivity are taken into account -- is estimated to cost about $100 billion in the United States each year. More than a quarter of Americans age 20 or older, or about 76.5 million people, say they've experienced pain that lasted longer than 24 hours

Hybrid Hearts for Transplant: Could Stem Cells Solve Rejection Problems
Andy Coghlan, New Scientist Magazine

Human organs for transplant are scarce. One option is to engineer organs from scratch in the lab, using artificial scaffolds. While bladders and skin can be grown in the lab, growing more complex organs and their intricate blood-vessel networks, has proved tricky.

Surgery Not Only Option for Treating Spinal Stenosis
Mark Dekutoski, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery

Spinal stenosis is a common condition that results from changes to the spine as aging occurs. Symptoms vary in character and magnitude but can most often be effectively treated with nonsurgical therapies, such as medication and physical therapy. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Effectiveness of Laser Spine Surgery for Pain Relief Remains Unproven
H. Gordon Deen, M.D., Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic

Spine surgery can be performed using several different tools, including a laser. Laser spine surgery has been around since the 1980s but it has never been studied in a controlled clinical trial to determine its effectiveness. Most neurosurgeons don't use lasers for spine surgery because there are no clear benefits to laser surgery over more well-established spine surgery techniques

Embryonic Stem Cells & Other Stem Cells Promise to Advance Treatments
Katherine Hobson

While the attention of the public and ethicists has been focused on embryonic stem cells, research into other kinds of stem cells -- including the adult bone-marrow stem cells -- has been advancing and, in some cases, exploding. Adult stem cells have been used in bone marrow transplants for 40 years, and trials are expected to expand their use. Meanwhile, many scientists predict that induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, created by turning back the biological clock of normal adult cells, will one day supplant embryonic stem cells.

Treating Heart Failure: The Smartest Approach
Deborah Kotz

About 5 million people in the United States have heart failure, and 300,000 die from it every year. Indeed, heart failure -- the heart can't pump enough blood through the body -- is the most common reason older folks wind up in the hospital, and more than 1 in 4 heart-failure patients must be hospitalized again within a month of being discharged, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. That's despite the fact, the American Heart Association contends, that most of these rehospitalizations are preventable.

Getting Medical Advice on the Web from Other Patients
Nancy Shute

Using the Web as a medical resource is hardly novel: More than 3 in 5 Americans say they have done so. Growing numbers, however, go online not just to do research but to share their medical stories with others -- and to contribute, like Anderson, to "crowd-sourced" sites where individuals can compare their symptoms and treatments with those of other members and of patients outside the group.

High-Tech Hospital of the Future: Technology Transforming Way Medical Systems Work

The investment hospitals are making in change has basically two goals: to improve clinical care and slash error rates, and to reduce patient stress, encouraging healing. Ironically, one of the most anticipated developments is that technology will allow hospitals to do a better job of keeping people out of them.

High-Tech Medical Devices, Treatments & Cost of Medicine
Katherine Hobson

Experts say that spending on new health technology--not just fancy machines but also drugs, devices, and procedures -- makes up as much as two thirds of the more than 6 percent annual increase in healthcare costs

Chad Mirkin, Nanoscientist and Chemist: Early Detection of Disease

What makes Mirkin a dynamo is his acumen in recognizing how scientific insights can be applied to unmet real-world medical needs. In the mid-1990s, when nanoscience was in its infancy, scientists in Mirkin's lab created a kind of nanoparticle that, they found, changed from red to blue when it encountered mutated DNA. By using the color-changing particles, Mirkin reasoned, he could design tests to highlight genetic markers for many diseases, including cancers.

Era of Personalized Medicine
Katherine Hobson

Personalized medicine focuses on those variations and aims to match each patient with the therapy most effective for them -- not just for the average patient. To find out where it's headed, we interviewed to Edward Abrahams, executive director of the Personalized Medicine Coalition, whose members include governmental, academic, nonprofit, and for-profit entities

Things to Avoid When Trying to Cut Health Costs
Kimberly Lankford - Kiplinger Personal Finance

Everyone's looking for ways to trim expenses including ways to reduce healthcare and health-insurance costs. However, people have been making big mistakes in an attempt to save money. Avoid the following pitfalls, which can actually end up costing you more money

Power of Positive Thinking Is Psychology's Latest Focus
Lindsay Lyon

Positive psychology itself is a relatively nascent field. Formally founded a decade ago by the University of Pennsylvania's Martin Seligman, its emphasis on what goes right with people was a sea-change from psychology's traditional preoccupation with what goes wrong -- from depression and anxiety to mental illness of all flavors. ...

 

Swine Flu Pandemic

H1N1 and Its Descendents: Where This Pandemic Flu Came From - and Where it Might Go
Harvard Health Letters

Already, 2009 is not a typical year. We're in the midst of a flu pandemic caused by a virus that first emerged in Mexico in mid-February. Billions are being spent on preparedness plans. And millions of Americans may line up this fall to get two kinds of flu vaccines, one for the regular seasonal flu that comes around every winter and another for the pandemic strain. So far, the 2009 pandemic has been more widespread than lethal.

Vive la Resistance to Flu
Debora MacKenzie

Vaccinating people against swine flu may be a lot easier than anyone dared hope, as it turns out that people have an unexpected degree of immunity to the pandemic now sweeping the world.

Air Kisses, Hugs, and Other Ways to Avoid Getting Swine Flu
Deborah Kotz

In an effort to contain swine flu, the French Health Ministry this week called for citizens to avoid "all direct contacts between people and particularly with sick people," which means no kissing or shaking hands.

4 Flu Vaccine Doses for Kids This Fall -- but Where and When
Nancy Shute

This may go down in history as the most confusing flu season ever, given that a vaccine for the new H1N1 swine flu isn't yet available, but the plain old seasonal flu vaccine is. Talk about a recipe for pandemonium at the pediatrician's office!

Seasonal Cold or Swine Flu? Moms Face Tough Calls
Deborah Kotz

I sent my 11-year-old son to school today with a stuffy nose and mild cough, as I've done countless times in the past. Now, though, I'm wondering whether I should have kept him home. How do I know it's really a garden-variety cold and not the swine flu?

Still Confused About Swine Flu Shots? Kids Under 10 Will Need 2
Nancy Shute

The National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases made it easy to think that all children will need just one swine flu immunization, but that's not true. The younger a child is, the less well his or her immune system responded to the swine flu vaccine in clinical trials. So children under age 10 will need two doses of swine flu vaccine, one month apart, according to the NIAID itself.

Better Ways Medicine Can Beat Back Swine Flu
Bernadine Healy M.D.

Yes, today's swine flu outbreak could change quickly. But it's time to give up the ghosts of 1918 that so haunt our medical thinking. Our challenges today are not what they were when we had nothing to offer but are more about knowing just what to offer, when, and to whom. This swine flu pandemic promises to teach numerous lessons that will inform future crises. Some are already evident

Swine Flu Advice for Pregnant Women and New Moms
Deborah Kotz

Pregnant women and parents of newborns should do the following: Get a seasonal flu vaccination now, since it's currently available; get the H1N1 vaccine in mid-October when it first becomes available; and call the doctor immediately if they have signs of the flu, such as fever, chills, coughing, or a sore throat.

5 Ways College Students Can Protect Themselves from Swine Flu
By Nancy Shute

Kids are going back to college this week, and swine flu is, too. The University of Kansas has already reported cases on campus, as have other schools. Parents can be forgiven for thinking, "Yikes!" But schools have been busy getting prepared over the summer, presuming that the new H1N1 flu virus will be a serious factor in the fall. The federal government has been busy, too, with new advice for parents and students on what they should do

Swine Flu: 14 Things You Need to Know to Keep Yourself Safe
Nancy Shute

The Swine Flu outbreak could peter out, like a 1976 swine flu outbreak did. Or the virus could spread easily from one person to the next, sparking a pandemic in which millions of people are infected. Here's the rundown on what we know so far, as well as the options for avoiding swine flu and for treating it if you get it.

 

Obesity

Why You Should Think Twice Before Using Alli or Other Weight Loss Aids
Deborah Kotz

When it comes to losing weight, we'd all love that quick fix: a pill, shake, heck, even surgery to ease our efforts. Unfortunately, weight-loss aids -- even when approved by the Food and Drug Administration -- come with risks as well as benefits.

Need To Lose Weight? 10 Ways to Conquer Emotional Eating
January W. Payne

Do you blindly turn to food as a source of comfort when you're feeling upset? Since emotional overeating doesn't provide any lasting satisfaction and can lead to health problems, it's far better to find other ways to deal with the stresses of daily life. That's the premise of a book out this month ...

Smart Choices Program Aiming to Improve Food Purchasing Decisions
Katherine Hobson

The Smart Choices program puts a green check on the front of products produced by participating manufacturers as long as the foods meet certain nutritional standards. (It also shows calories and serving size.) The program replaces the individual guidance systems that some companies had used.

Smart Snacking Key to Combating Obesity
Deborah Kotz

Big news today: We're getting fatter. Obesity rates in adults increased in 23 states and didn't decrease in a single state over the past year. Here's some types to help us all from the temptations of snacking.

Fighting the High Costs of Obesity plus 7 Other Secrets to Living Younger
Deborah Kotz

You've heard it all before: Don't smoke, get fat, drink to excess, or skip breakfast. But how much do these health habits really factor in? Well, actually, quite a lot. Two new studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association identify specific health habits that help us live younger by avoiding heart failure and high blood pressure.

The Huge Health Toll Obesity Takes on Kids
Sarah Baldauf

Chronic disease in the United States, much of it associated with obesity, accounts for 70 percent of deaths and 75 percent of healthcare costs, and the epidemic of childhood obesity is positioning kids to live up to -- if not exceed -- older generations' track record of chronic ailments. About two thirds of U.S. adults and one fifth of children are overweight or obese.

 

Health Ailments

By the Way, Doctor: Should Diabetes Treatment Be Changed
Nancy Keating, M.D., M.P.H. - Harvard Health Letters

You have type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes. This type of diabetes is caused mainly by insulin resistance. Normally, insulin helps usher blood sugar (which is the same thing as glucose) out of the bloodstream and into cells where it is used for energy.

Ready for Ragweed Season - Tips to Help Fight Pollen Allergy
January W. Payne

It's ragweed season, and for people with this pollen allergy, that means miserable symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, trouble sleeping, asthma attacks, and itchy skin, eyes, nose, or throat.

7 Common Digestive Problems and How to End Them
Sarah Baldauf and January W. Payne

There's something about digestive difficulties that makes them hard to discuss in polite company--which leaves many of us suffering one problem or another in silence. Yet fixes can be as simple as making informed lifestyle changes or taking over-the-counter remedies.

Immune System Response to Infection Varies
Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D.

Your immune system is like an army that is ready to spot and stop invaders like the viruses that cause chickenpox and the flu. Your immune system also goes to war when an old infection comes back to life. But after the battle is over, your immune system quiets down and waits for the next fight.

Insect Repellants: Some of Our Favorite Products Can Carry Dangers of Their Own
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

Fear and warnings about West Nile virus and other insect-transmitted disease have driven sales of repellents up by 36 percent over the past two years. Recent studies, however, are suggesting that some of our favorite products carry dangers of their own.

Treat Mini-Strokes As An Emergency, Not a Gentle Warning
Harvard Health Letters

Transient ischemic attack needs a new name. At the outset, there's little difference between a TIA and the most common kind of stroke, an ischemic stroke. The big thing that separates a TIA from a stroke is how long it lasts.

Low Platelet Count Often Related to Underlying Disorder
David Steensma, M.D., Hematology, Mayo Clinic

Low platelet count -- the medical term is thrombocytopenia -- can affect your blood's ability to clot. If platelet levels fall low enough, severe bleeding is possible. Often, the problem is related to an underlying disorder. Once that disorder is treated, platelet counts usually improve.

Can You Avoid Arthritis Knee Pain by Building Thigh Muscles
Deborah Kotz

Millions of older women suffer the pain and stiffness of arthritis, especially in their knee joints, which can severely curtail everyday activities like climbing stairs or getting out of a car. It turns out there may be a way to protect our knees and avoid the discomforts of aging: strong thigh muscles.

 

Health: Fitness, Weight Loss & Exercise

13 Ways to Add Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet
Harvard Health Letters

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is a cornerstone of good health. It helps control blood pressure and cholesterol, keeps arteries flexible, protects bones, and is good for the eyes, brain, digestive system, and just about every other part of the body. But many of us have trouble putting that knowledge into practice and getting five or more servings per day.

Fitness: Strength Training A Healthy Addition to Your Exercise Regimen
Harvard Health Letters

Physical activity guidelines say all American adults should be doing muscle-building exercises at least twice a week. These exercises are supposed to be of moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups. They would most commonly involve a light weight-lifting program of some kind.

Personal Trainer: Walking - DS
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

In case you missed this oddball trifle from Nintendo, the basic idea is that you walk around with a small digital pedometer in your pocket or clipped to your purse, and every day you sync the little doodad with your Nintendo DS. A creepy Mii then gives you fitness advice, shows you a graph of how many steps you have taken, and describes your walking pattern in terms of an animal.

 

Health: Nutrition & Diet

Foods Surprisingly High in Added Sugar
Sarah Baldauf

Added sugars, which are sprinkled on and processed into packaged foods and beverages, have become all too common in the American diet, says the American Heart Association. The group argues that sugar bingeing is helping drive the uptick in metabolic changes in the American population, including the exploding obesity rate, and has now recommended an upper limit on daily consumption ...

Nicotine Replacement Therapy Not Meant for Long-Term Use
By Lowell C. Dale, M.D - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

The purpose of nicotine gum is to deliver small doses of nicotine to your body, which allow you to better manage your withdrawal symptoms and cravings as you quit smoking. However, long-term use of nicotine replacement therapy could potentially cause other health problems.

 

Health: Mental Wellness

Why People Tell Lies & Why White Lies Can Be OK
Ulrich Boser

A growing body of research shows that people lie constantly, that deception is pervasive in everyday life. One study found that people tell two to three lies every 10 minutes, and even conservative estimates indicate that we lie at least once a day.

Medical Memo - Hearty Humor

Mark Twain may have exaggerated a bit when he claimed that "Humor is mankind's greatest blessing." Still, a chuckle a day may help keep the doctor away and perhaps help stave off heart attacks and strokes.

Women's Health

Mayo Clinic: Healthy Young Women Should Undergo Important Health Screenings
Robin Molella, M.D.

Your periodic exam is an opportunity to identify behavioral health risks and create strategies to minimize them over time. Research continues to highlight behaviors that make a significant difference in longevity. They are ...

Annual Gynecological Exam May be Necessary Even After Hysterectomy
Petra Casey, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic

I am age 70 and had a complete hysterectomy about 20 years ago for benign fibroids. Do I need to get a gynecological exam every year when I'm not having any problems? I do get a mammogram every year.

Women's Health - How Much Calcium is Enough

On the one hand, we've been told to take calcium pills to keep bones strong, prevent osteoporosis, and reduce the risk of fracture. On the other, information seems to keep popping up that calls into question the value of calcium -- and even suggests that large amounts might be counterproductive.

Hormones Linked to Ovarian Cancer: What to Do
By Deborah Kotz

For some menopausal women, taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone (or estrogen alone for women who have had hysterectomies) is the only way to get relief from sleep-disrupting night sweats and hot flashes. But they're also warned about the increased risk of breast cancer associated with hormone use.

Too Many Breast Cancers Diagnosed by Mammograms?
By Deborah Kotz

When it comes to breast cancer, there are certain dogmas that we accept as fact: First, a malignant tumor -- allowed to grow unchecked -- will eventually spread throughout the body and kill. Second, regular mammograms are a must for women over 40 to find every mass before it turns deadly. The trouble is, these "truths" aren't substantiated by scientific evidence.

Treating Female Pattern Hair Loss
Harvard Women's Health Watch

About one-third of women experience hair loss (alopecia) at some time in their lives; among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss often has a greater impact on women than on men, because it's less socially acceptable for them. Here are some medical treatments that may help.

Recession's Impact on Women's Health
By Deborah Kotz

Sure, we're worried about the economy, but just how much of an impact is it having on women's health? Actually, quite a lot

Fertility Medication Does Not Put Baby's Health at Risk
Charles Coddington III, MD - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

I'm trying to get pregnant and my doctor suggests Clomid (clomiphene). Are fertility drugs harmful (physically or intellectually) to the baby?

Men's Health

Medical Checklist for Healthy Men in their 30's
Philip Hagen, M.D. - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

There's no need to be embarrassed about being an infrequent visitor to your doctor's office. At your age, if you are healthy and not taking regular medication, you don't need much health care. But it is wise to focus energy on staying healthy and developing habits that will keep you healthy for many years.

Health: Aging

Long-Distance Caregiver: Careful Planning Key to Protecting Aging Parents
Christopher J. Gearon

Adult children often first realize that Mom or Dad needs help when there's a sudden hospitalization or a frantic call from an overwhelmed parent. In many instances, a child will discover evidence of a parent's deterioration during a visit. If you're too far away to monitor a parent, you have a couple of options ...

Finding Health Coverage Before Medicare: A Primer
Susan B. Garland

It's bad enough that your retirement savings are evaporating. But if you lost your job, retired early, or are turning to self-employment, you'll need to budget for health coverage. And the tab could be hefty. However, You do have options if you need to find insurance on your own ...

Mayo Clinic: Hip Pain May be Relieved by Treatments Other Than Surgery
Edward Laskowski, M.D.

Hip pain can be a sign of many medical conditions. Some disorders, such as severe arthritis could, in time, require a hip replacement. But others, such as bursitis, can be managed with much less invasive treatment options. Exercise may help in some situations, but not all. Before you pursue treatment for hip pain

Calorie-Restricted Diets and Other Ways to Avoid Aging
Deborah Kotz

University of Wisconsin researchers found that feeding rhesus monkeys 30 percent fewer calories over a 20-year period seemed to slow down the aging process, protecting them from age-related illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Animals fed less "appear to be biologically younger than the normally fed animals," the study authors wrote.

Alzheimer's Caregiving: Day-to-day Challenges

Bath time, mealtime, and bedtime are among the hardest parts of the day. Alzheimer's disease has a profound emotional impact on the family members who must cope with a loved one's irrevocable decline.

 

Research Finds that Many Older People Can't Get Up After a Fall
Harvard Health Letters

About 35 percent of people over age 65 fall in their homes at least once each year. That figure increases to 50 percent for those ages 75 and over. Most of the resulting injuries are minor, but falls can also cause major lacerations, fractures, head trauma, and other injuries that may lead to hospitalization, disability, nursing home care, and premature death.

Sexuality & Seniority
Harvard Men's Health Watch

For many men, sexuality is one of the things that change over time. It's usually a gradual, almost imperceptible process that begins in middle age. Whereas most older men retain an interest in sex, it's generally a far cry from the preoccupation with sex that's so common in youth. Although interest is retained, desire tends to wane. And even when the spirit is willing, the flesh may be weak.

Health: Medications, Prescriptions & Drugs

Ask the Harvard Experts: Pros and Cons of an Insulin Pump
Mary Pickett, M.D.

Advantages and disadvantages of switching to an insulin pump rather than continuing with multiple daily injections

Mayo Clinic: Little Known About Long-Term Antidepressant Use
J. Michael Bostwick, M.D.

Unfortunately, we don't know much about long-term problems that could come from taking antidepressants. In the United States, some antidepressants have been available for more than 50 years. Newer antidepressants -- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Lexapro, Luvox, and others -- are around 20 years old

Principles of Conservative Prescribing: Do You Really Need All Those Pills
Harvard Health Letter

People who genuinely need medications should take them; indeed, getting people to take medications as prescribed is a persistent problem. But there's some questioning of prescribing practices these days, much of it inspired by a growing conviction that American health care has become too dependent on expensive medications.

Does Blood Pressure Medication Cause Weight Gain

Some blood pressure drugs, particularly Cardura and Inderal, can cause weight gain, even up to 10 pounds a month in some susceptible individuals. But there are ways to control it ...

New Guidelines Refine Aspirin Prescription

Aspirin was once used mainly to relieve pain, ease fever, and get rid of hangovers. Today it's best known for its ability to protect hearts. This 100-year-old drug is a mainstay for treating heart attacks, and it also helps ward off heart attacks and the most common kind of stroke. But limited evidence on aspirin's preventive effects has made it difficult for experts to give encompassing recommendations about who benefits from daily aspirin and how much to take.

American Healthcare Reform & Challenges

The Next Steps for Kennedy's Cause: Healthcare Reform
Kent Garber

Senator Ted Kennedy was out of sight this summer, fighting the brain cancer that finally claimed his life, but up until his last days he was still at work, following C-SPAN's healthcare reform coverage and calling his Washington colleagues.

genetics - gene therapy

Anthony Atala: Grinding Out New Organs One at a Time
Megan Johnson

Anthony Atala was the first to build a functioning organ from scratch -- a bladder made cell by cell -- and put it into a patient, a child whose own bladder was congenitally deformed. Since that breakthrough a decade ago, the 50-year-old pediatric urologist, director of Wake Forest University's Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has moved on to cobbling up bones, heart valves, muscles, and some 20 other body parts.

Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire: Gene Therapy to Reverse Near-Blindness
Deborah Kotz

The partners have restored much of the vision in patients who have a rare genetic form of severely impaired eyesight called Leber's congenital amaurosis, in which a mutated gene prevents the retina from manufacturing a nutrient vital to eye health. The technique eventually could be tried to treat macular degeneration.

Early Treatment with Bayer Drug Can Drastically Lower the Risk of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

First international study on the prevention of diabetes; Better and more cost-effective treatment possible. Patients with impaired glucose tolerance who receive treatment with acarbose at an early stage can not only prevent type II (adult-onset) diabetes from developing but can also drastically lower the risk of cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction. These findings of the large-scale international STOP-NIDDM Study were recently presented at the 21^st International Bayer Pharma Press Seminar in Munich. "The clock starts ticking long before diabetes is diagnosed," warned the Principal Investigator of the Study, Professor Jean-Louis Chiasson from Montreal, Canada. According to Professor Chiasson, the findings of the STOP-NIDDM Study confirm that impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a condition regarded as a precursor stage to diabetes, has to be treated at an early stage if cardiovascular complications which frequently take a fatal course are to be avoided.

West Nile Virus Underlines Threat From Mosquito-Borne Diseases

West Nile virus is spreading rapidly across the United States and poses a significant threat to human health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

New Tool for Mammography Can Help Detect Breast Cancer More Effectively

The government re-affirmed the importance of early breast cancer detection with its recent update to guidelines recommending that women age 40 and older have mammograms. A new computer-aided tool can make mammograms even better by highlighting potential areas of concern, and ultimately increasing early detection.

Insect Repellent Helps Prevent Insect-Borne Diseases - Naturally

Many people are changing their perceptions about mosquitoes - from an itchy annoyance to a potential health risk. Already this year, reports of mosquito-borne encephalitis (West Nile and St. Louis) have been recorded in central Florida and Louisiana. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20,000 confirmed cases of insect-related illnesses in humans are reported each year.

Drinking Purple Grape Juice Reduces Breast Cancer Cell Growth in Animal Study

A new study finds that drinking purple grape juice reduces breast cancer cell growth in animal study.

Stress & the Expectant Working Mom

For nearly one million working women who become pregnant each year, juggling stress in the workplace along with stress that comes with being pregnant can be a tall order. First among them is how to work and manage a healthy pregnancy at the same time.

People With Diabetes Fear Disability More Than Death

Singing Artist Gladys Knight Urges Americans with Diabetes to "Know More, Do More" to Reduce Their Risk of Deadly Heart Attacks and Strokes

AdvaMed Highlights How Medical Technologies Play a Key Role in Combating Bioterrorism

New medical technologies are under development to improve detection, prevention, and surveillance of bioterrorist attacks, health care experts reported at a recent meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives Medical Technology Caucus on Capitol Hill.

New Hope for Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

Femara® (letrozole tablets) Data Demonstrate Survival Advantage in First-Line Hormonal Treatment of Post-Menopausal Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

Kids Are Not As Healthy And Fit As They Could Be

Health and Fitness Habits Get Worse As Kids Enter The Teen Years. Are children leading healthy lifestyles? Not always, according to a new survey.

Surgeon General Releases Preliminary Findings On Health Disparities and Mental Retardation

Comments from Surgeon General David Satcher at the conference on Health Disparities and Mental Retardation at a news conference in Washington, D.C.