Multiple options to help men with ED, enlarged prostate
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I recently saw my doctor for urinary symptoms. He said that I have enlarged prostate. We decided to wait to start treatment. But now I wonder if I should take Cialis since the TV ads say it helps with symptoms from an enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction. […]
Five reasons to love dark, leafy greens
Dark, leafy greens — like kale, spinach and collards — are packed with fiber and vitamins A, C and K, and are also delicious raw, in a stir-fry, sauteed or added to dishes like casseroles, omelets or soups. You may already know that these greens are vitamin and nutrient powerhouses, but they also provide some […]
Obesity rates continue to rise
whatdoctorsknow.com New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that an escalation in the number of those considered obese or overweight in the United States continues. Obesity and excess weight, and their negative impact on health, have become a significant focus for physicians and other health-care experts in recent years. But research […]
Don’t shrug off shingles
Harvard Health Blog If you had chickenpox as a kid, there is a good chance you may develop shingles later in life. “In fact, one in three is predicted to get shingles during their lifetime,” says Anne Louise Oaklander, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Nerve Unit at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. The same varicella-zoster virus […]
How to ease the transition when you move to assisted living
Moving from your own home to an assisted living facility can present some emotional and logistical challenges. But for people who can no longer take care of all their needs by themselves, assisted living is an excellent option. “Often the move is triggered by a crisis, such as a fall or the loss of a […]
Stretch daily to stay flexible
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I walk with my neighbor daily. She stretches after every walk and keeps telling me I should do the same. Is stretching really necessary? A: Your neighbor is right! You may think of stretching as something performed only by runners or gymnasts. But we all need to […]
Cardiac assessment may show if heart issues need to be addressed
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a 49-year-old man with a strong family history of coronary artery disease. Although I used to compete in triathlons, I just don’t have that kind of stamina anymore, and I become short of breath pretty easily. Should this be cause for concern? I also don’t have much […]
A no-nonsense guide to clean eating
By Carrie Dennett, M.P.H., R.D.N., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter Have you jumped on the clean eating trend? Another example of “everything old is new again,” the concept of clean eating has gained popularity over the last several years in books, blogs and magazines, but it also has roots in the counterculture/natural foods movement of the 1960s. […]
Bright ideas for sun protection
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is not the only factor to consider when protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. “We all know SPF is important, but it extends beyond that,” said Ida Orengo, M.D., professor of dermatology and director of the Mohs/Dermatologic Surgery Unit at Baylor College of Medicine. “Diet, clothing and familiarity with […]
Protection from pertussis by the TdaP vaccine doesn’t last very long
Harvard Health Blog When my patients come in for their 11-year check-up, I give them the TdaP vaccine. I explain to them that a big part of the reason we give it is to protect them against pertussis, or whooping cough. I talk about outbreaks that are happening all the time, how it can be […]
Simple steps to relieve prostate symptoms
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I have a frequent urge to urinate and need to get up a three times per night to empty my bladder. According to my doctor, I have an enlarged prostate. Otherwise I am healthy. He suggested medication. Do I need to start treatment immediately? A: Doctors call […]
Easy ways to boost metabolism
So you’re trying to lose weight. Join the club! Wouldn’t it be great if you could just turn a knob and rev up your metabolism — your calorie burn — just like that? Well, we all hear about diet and exercise strategies that supposedly do just that. But do they work? Yes — and no. […]
Minimize risks of long-term acid blocker therapy
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I regularly take over-the-counter omeprazole for acid reflux and have been doing this for many years. Some days I need to double the dose. I would like to get off it. But when I stop the omeprazole, the heartburn comes right back. What can I do? A: […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: Prevent COPD flare-ups to improve quality of life
Q: My father’s doctor recently diagnosed him with a COPD exacerbation. What is this? How can it be prevented from happening again? A: Smokers and ex-smokers worry most about lung cancer. But another smoking-related disease causes more disability, more days in the hospital and almost as many deaths as lung cancer. The disease is COPD, […]
Finding cause of low blood pressure can help determine treatment
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What is considered “low” for the diastolic number in a blood pressure reading? What would a low reading mean? If the systolic number is within normal range, what can be done to alter the diastolic number? ANSWER: A blood pressure reading has two numbers, given in millimeters of mercury. […]
New depression screening guidelines outline very helpful, achievable goals
Harvard Health Blog Every once in a while, a simple idea comes along that has the potential to bring enormous health benefits. Screening for depression is one of them. It is a low-cost, high-impact intervention that should be a regular part of primary care medicine. This idea is not new, but it has gotten another […]
The Kid’s Doctor: How to calm a fussy infant
So you are home from the hospital with your newborn baby and suddenly realize that the babies you see on TV never cry, but your newborn is not reading the same script. All babies have some fussy times, and this is especially true of a newborn in the first few months of life. While a […]
Fast relief for occasional heartburn
Q: I get heartburn occasionally. On average, I have about three episodes per month. But once the heartburn starts, it can sometimes last all day. What do you suggest? A: Heartburn is caused by stomach acid moving up out of the stomach into the lower part of the esophagus. Reducing the overall acidity protects the […]
The best strategies to halt that pesky eye twitch
There’s nothing worse than trying to focus during the day with a pesky eye twitch that won’t stop flickering. You know what we mean — that repetitive, involuntary spasm of your eyelid muscle that occurs every few seconds for a minute or two. An eye twitch can be unpredictable. It may last for several days […]
What to eat and do to make holiday stress disappear
There’s a lot to love about the holidays — but there’s a lot to stress out about, too — especially when you spread yourself too thin. Stop stressing: There are some healthy foods, and solutions backed by science, that can help. Stressor: You’re missing the “happy” in Happy Holidays. How to beat it: Think about […]
When is it time for knee replacement?
Q: I have osteoarthritis. My right knee is especially painful and stiff. How do I know when the time is right for knee replacement surgery? Answer: You are not alone. Millions of Americans face this very question. And more than 700,000 of them will have one or both knee joints replaced this year. The usual […]
Methods for taking a child’s temperature vary with age
Throughout the year, especially during flu season, the questions surrounding how to take a child’s temperature and how to treat a fever seem never ending. So let’s jump right in with a discussion on taking temperatures in children of all ages. There are many different thermometers out there, and many different methods for taking a […]
How much calcium do women really need?
Like many women, you may have memorized the minimum daily calcium requirement — 1,000 milligrams (mg) a day for women ages 50 and younger and 1,200 mg for women over 50 — and followed it faithfully in an effort to preserve your bones. You’ll probably be surprised to learn that many health authorities don’t agree […]
Simple ways to prevent kidney stone recurrence
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I recently had a kidney stone. The pain was awful. Fortunately I passed it. What can I do to prevent another one? A: It’s so important that you are thinking about avoiding another one. In about half of people who have had one, kidney stones strike again […]
Breastfeeding gets a lift from advocacy, education campaigns
The Kid’s Doctor An editorial concerning breastfeeding was published last year in The New York Times. It was written by Courtney Jung, who is a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, and it was quite interesting to me as she wrote that “the moral fervor surrounding breast-feeding (sic) continues unabated, with a […]
Bright light alters metabolism
Source: Northwestern University Exposure to bright light could affect your metabolism, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. Northwestern scientists found bright light exposure increased insulin resistance compared to dim light exposure in both the morning and the evening. In the evening, bright light also caused higher peak glucose (blood sugar) levels. Insulin resistance is the […]
New gene shown to cause Parkinson’s disease
Source: Northwestern University Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a new cause of Parkinson’s disease: mutations in a gene called TMEM230. This appears to be the third gene definitively linked to confirmed cases of the common movement disorder. Scientists provided evidence of TMEM230 mutations in patients with Parkinson’s disease from both North America and Asia. They […]
Eat Your Medicine
Photos by Kyle Edwards Filling a grocery cart with good foods can be as important to your overall health as filling a prescription. Many studies have shown that eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits offers many health benefits including reducing incidences of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiac disease. But beyond that, many foods […]
How to select the best vegetables this fall season
Four vegetables in season now — broccoli, chard, mushrooms and potatoes — are delicious in fall dishes. See what these four vegetables have to offer nutritionally, and how to pick the best at the market. Broccoli Studies at Johns Hopkins University have shown that compounds in broccoli, rich in antioxidants, may be beneficial in fighting […]
The Fitness Column: Fitness Fads Aren’t for the Real You
We’ve become obsessed with fitness fads. Trends like Crossfit, Orangetheory, Shred415, P90X and hot yoga are great methods for being fit and active, but they’re not always effective for achieving whole body health. To get your body looking and feeling like you want it to, you must commit to working hard and providing your body […]
Research shows clear benefits to colon cancer screening no later than age 50
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is a colonoscopy still recommended for everyone when they turn 50? Are there other options? I am 54 and have no health issues and no family history of colon cancer, so have not yet been screened. ANSWER: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that everyone between the ages […]
Guide to Medicare open enrollment for 2017
Get ready to be bombarded with mailings and TV ads for Medicare plans. Open enrollment for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans runs from until December 7, so this is your opportunity to reassess your coverage for 2017. Even if you’re happy with your plan, you may be taking a new drug or your […]
Health Mastery: To Your Own Self Be Aware
“You are here at a Conscious Parenting Summit,” award-winning author and international speaker Shefali Tsabary, PhD, told a gathering at Chicago’s Bodhi Center in October. “If you don’t want to be conscious of how you parent, you aren’t in the right place.” To be or not to be: conscious. Am I more concerned about my […]
The Kid’s Doctor: Middle ear issues can be remedied without surgery
I read an intriguing study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal about children who have persistent middle ear fluid (otitis media with effusion). The problem is fairly common and is often a reason that children will undergo a day surgical procedure to insert tympanostomy tubes (ear tubes). In fact, my 11-month-old granddaughter just had tubes […]
Menstrual irregularities not uncommon in decade prior to menopause
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 41 and have had regular periods (every 28 days) my entire life, until recently, when I didn’t have a period for more than two months. It was then extremely heavy and lasted much longer than is typical for me. Should I be concerned? Do I need to […]
Are you too young to have a stroke?
If you’re a young or middle-aged adult, you may think strokes only happen to senior citizens. But experts say you’re never too young for a stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. “Although stroke incidence is lower for younger people, strokes can happen at any age,” says stroke […]
Choosing an OTC pain reliever for osteoarthritis
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I have osteoarthritis in both knees. What’s the best over-the-counter pain reliever? A: Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life around the globe. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint. But it strikes the knees, hips, spine and hands most often. The chance […]
7 strategies to deal with weight-loss plateaus
You’re losing weight at a nice, steady pace, and then, all of a sudden, the scale doesn’t budge, even though you’re following your eating and exercise program. Time to panic? Not at all. You’ve probably just reached a plateau, part of nearly everyone’s weight-loss odyssey. Generally, you’re able to shed pounds more easily at first […]
Six tips for a healthier Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is all about abundance — or, often, overabundance. Your Uncle Tom wants to bring his favorite butter-laden mashed potatoes, your sister has convinced you to make a creamy green bean casserole, and your mother-in-law insists there be both pumpkin and apple pie (with ice cream on the side, of course). With all the rich […]
Annuities that pay off for the sick
The vast majority of seniors don’t have long-term-care insurance. For all but the wealthiest, deteriorating health or an imminent need for care can raise real concerns about running out of money. One solution: a medically underwritten single-premium immediate annuity. Like traditional immediate annuities, these contracts offer a lifetime of monthly payments in exchange for a […]
How to get insurance if you can’t work
As you approach your final 10 or so years of work, did you ever think how you’d pay the bills if you became seriously ill for an extended period? Whether you are self-employed or work for a company, perhaps you should consider a long-term disability insurance policy. Such a policy protected Steve Silverman’s income when […]
How to Save in Both an HSA and an FSA
Q: I signed up for a high-deductible insurance policy at my new job, but my employer offers a flexible spending account rather than a health savings account. I had an HSA with my previous employer. Can I keep my HSA if I want to contribute on my own and also contribute to the FSA? A: […]
How to take supplements safely
Environmental Nutrition Newsletter More than half of Americans use dietary supplements, including multivitamins and botanical supplements, in tablet, capsule, liquid and powder form, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While dietary supplements–products intended to add further nutritional value to the diet–may seem like a “natural” solution to health protection, as well as […]
How to pick healthy condiments at a barbecue
When you’ve been handed a burger at a backyard barbecue, chances are you make a beeline for the condiment table. But how well do you know the nutrition status of your favorite burger and hot dog toppings? While they may seem harmless, the usual suspects — mustard, ketchup, mayo and relish — can actually be […]
Deciding when to get that first mammogram
whatdoctorsknow.com The American Cancer Society’s breast cancer screening guidelines could cause many women to wonder when they should have their first mammogram. The society recommends that all women begin having yearly mammograms at age 45, and switch to having mammograms every other year starting at age 55. The guidelines were published last October in the […]
Staying active during your period
Harvard Health Blog This past August, her exuberance, emotion and enthusiasm had already made Fu Yuanhui the most famous Chinese athlete at the Olympics. After winning a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke with a personal best, she nearly exploded with excitement: “I was so fast! I’m really pleased! I’ve already … expended my […]
Stress raising your blood pressure? Take a deep breath
Harvard Health Blog Stress is rampant, and high blood pressure (what doctors call hypertension) is on the rise. So it’s no wonder patients often ask if stress is causing their hypertension. We have no proof that stress alone can cause persistently elevated blood pressure. (Part of the reason is that high-quality studies quantifying stress are […]
What’s New in Colon Cancer Testing?
No one looks forward to a colonoscopy, or the bowel prep that goes with it. But colon screening — testing to look for cancer before symptoms start — helps saves lives. Screening can find colon cancer early when it’s small and easier to treat, or even prevent it altogether. Colonoscopy, however, is just one of […]
Restrictive diet usually not necessary to control symptoms of GERD
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m 62 years old and am having difficulty keeping healthy weight on due to GERD and reflux. I am really confused about what foods and beverages I should avoid, and what foods will not make my reflux act up. What do you recommend mature adults who have this condition […]
Anti-depressants can help break itch-scratch-itch cycle
The Medicine Cabinet-Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I’ve been suffering from a skin rash for many years. Patches of my skin constantly itch. And the skin has become thick and leathery. I’ve tried everything, but nothing helps. Recently, I saw a new doctor and he diagnosed this problem as neurodermatitis. He suggested an anti-depressant. How […]