6 quick tips for digestive health
If you’re one of the 70 million people affected by digestive problems you probably know that diet plays a role in how you feel. While optimizing your digestive health typically takes trial and error — and the guidance of a health-care provider — there are some helpful changes you can make to your diet that […]
How to banish aches and pains
Harvard Health Letter Is your back bothering you? Do your hamstrings hurt? Is your neck or shoulder sore? If so, you’ve got a lot of company. Garden-variety tightness, aches, and pains in the major muscles and joints — especially the lower back — are among the most common day-to-day health complaints, according the National Center […]
Stopping foodborne illness means faster testing, vigilance at home
By Heidi Godman, Harvard Health Blog The steady stream of reports about foodborne illness is making me think twice about what’s on my dinner plate. This year alone, we’ve seen dozens of food recalls, including one involving frozen tuna that was linked to 62 cases of Salmonella infection, and another that implicated ice cream in 10 […]
How water and health are connected
By Rachel Moeller Gorman, EatingWell.com Water accounts for 60 percent of our body — or about 11 gallons or 92 pounds inside a 155-pound person — and is essential to every cell. We use water to cool our body with sweat, to circulate oxygen and fuel to our organs and take away waste products via […]
Thanksgiving Tips: How to Indulge While Making Healthy Choices
By Laura Drucker There are plenty of ways to be healthier on Thanksgiving that don’t include depriving yourself. Being conscious of what you’re eating allows you to indulge without overdoing it. Check out these tips for a healthy holiday: 1. Simple swaps Thanksgiving is notorious for rich food, but all that cream and butter can […]
7 steps to choose the best Obamacare health insurance plan for 2016
By Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger Personal Finance Q: I bought my health insurance policy with a subsidy through Healthcare.gov last year. What do I need to do during open enrollment this year? Do I have to sign up again, or will I be reenrolled automatically? A: If your plan is still available, you don’t need to […]
Minimal risk of bone loss with inhaled corticosteroids
By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I was recently diagnosed with COPD. I am a 55-year-old woman. Should I be concerned about taking Advair because of its effect on bone mineral density? A: Advair is an inhaled medication that combines salmeterol and fluticasone. It’s prescribed to control asthma symptoms and help relieve coughing and shortness of […]
Folic acid supplement prior to pregnancy can help ensure a healthy baby
By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I’m hoping to get pregnant later this year. I consider my diet to be well balanced. Do I also need additional vitamins? A: It’s terrific that you’re thinking about how to have a healthy baby before you become pregnant. Eating a diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and healthy grains is […]
Pitching in when caregivers need help
By Meghan Streit, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report When you’re caring for a sick spouse or parent, it can be difficult to find time to enjoy hobbies, exercise or even schedule routine appointments such as dental checkups. As a result, caregivers sometimes suffer from depression, increased anxiety and deteriorating health. Diane Everett figured out a way to […]
Presence Health Breaks Ground on New Cancer Center
By Laura Drucker As part of its growing ambulatory care services, Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center broke ground on Nov. 5 for its new $12.3 million Center for Cancer and Specialty Care in Ukrainian Village. The new cancer center will offer a one-stop approach to patients, who often must visit several campus locations […]
Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: Is Your Family at Risk?
According to the American Diabetes Association, someone in the United States is diagnosed with diabetes every 19 seconds. Now, imagine that person being diagnosed is your child. And now imagine that your child’s condition could have been prevented. Childhood diabetes is typically associated with type 1 diabetes—previously known as juvenile diabetes—where the body loses its […]
E. coli may hold one of the keys to treating Parkinson’s
Source: University of Michigan whatdoctorsknow.com E. coli usually brings to mind food poisoning and beach closures, but researchers recently discovered a protein in E. coli that inhibits the accumulation of potentially toxic amyloids — a hallmark of diseases such as Parkinson’s. Amyloids are formed by proteins that misfold and group together, and when amyloids assemble […]
8 key nutrients vegetarians need
EatingWell.com Going meatless even a few days a week may be a healthier option for you and for our planet. If you are limiting your intake of meat, make sure you’re getting enough of these eight key nutrients to help you maintain a balanced diet. 1. Calcium helps build bones and teeth, and also helps […]
Is your medication making you depressed?
Harvard Health Letters Be on the lookout for mood swings, sleeplessness, and anxiety when starting certain medications. We all get the blues from time to time. But if signs of depression, such as prolonged hopelessness or trouble concentrating, seem to come out of nowhere, the cause may be in your medication regimen. “I think most […]
Breast reconstruction may still be an option years after mastectomy
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Six years ago, at age 37, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy. I remained cancer-free until nine months ago, when the cancer returned. This time, I opted for a double mastectomy without reconstruction. If I decide to have breast reconstruction down the road, are my options limited since […]
5 reasons to focus on fiber
By Denise Webb, Ph.D., R.D., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter When you think of dietary fiber, you may think of foods, like bran, that help move things along in your intestinal tract. And you would be right, at least partially. However, dietary fiber does a lot more than just benefit your intestines. A fiber-rich diet may also […]
Which immunotherapy is right for your allergies?
By Andrew Smith, M.D., and Timothy J. Sullivan, M.D. Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, can help people who suffer from allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy), allergic conjunctivitis and allergic asthma caused by allergens such as pollen, mold, animal dander and house dust mites. Patients who receive immunotherapy are safely injected with small but increasing […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Many factors can raise risk of osteoporosis
By Bart Clarke, M.D., Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mother was diagnosed with osteoporosis when she was in her 80s. My sister and I are now in our 60s, and my sister is concerned that we’re at high risk for the disease. I thought osteoporosis was just part of aging, especially for […]
The Kid’s Doctor: Not all earaches require antibiotics
By Sue Hubbard, M.D. Parents are so SICK of their children being SICK and I must agree … it is time for everyone to stop coughing and sniffling and get well. And that means fewer ear infections, as well. Ear infections are one of the most common reasons that a parent brings a child to […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Regular skin checks can help catch melanoma, other skin cancers early
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: When I was in my teens and 20s, I regularly used a tanning bed. I’m now 43 and very worried about melanoma, so I go to a dermatologist every year for a skin check. I have numerous moles, but the skin check only takes about five minutes. Is this enough time for […]
The Genetic Shortcomings of Growth Hormone Deficiency
By Brett Dworski For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a short guy. You could say that shortness—being vertically challenged—runs in my family, being that the tallest person in it, my Uncle Mike, is 5’10”. Standing 5’6” is not the worst thing in the world. There are certainly more dire problems to have. […]
What People Really Want to Know About Medicare
By Janet Bodnar, Kiplinger Personal Finance The likelihood that high-income recipients will see a major hike in their Part B premiums in 2016 is adding to the general angst and confusion that often goes along with enrolling in Medicare. Contributing editor Kim Lankford, our insurance specialist and author of our Ask Kim column, says she […]
Many safe choices available to help whiten teeth
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What’s the most effective way to whiten teeth? Is it worth it to pay for treatment from a dentist, or do the over-the-counter options work just as well? Are they safe for your teeth? ANSWER: There are quite a few choices available if you want to whiten your teeth. The approved products […]
Eating to ease arthritis pain
By Carrie Dennett, M.P.H., R.D.N., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter More than 50 million Americans — one in five adults — have arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation, making it the No. 1 cause of disability in this country. The condition is marked by inflammation in one or more of your joints, resulting in joint pain and […]
4 secrets to buying long-term care insurance
By Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report For aging baby boomers, planning for long-term care costs becomes more pressing every day. But the insurance that helps cover those costs is surging in price, while the benefits are becoming skimpier. As costs rise, health care experts are engaging in a fierce debate about whether the coverage is […]
Protein in the brain can put the brakes on binge drinking
Source: University of North Carolina School of Medicine A new study led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers has found that a naturally-occurring protein in the brain can act to suppress binge alcohol drinking, a major public health problem estimated to cost the U.S. more than $170 billion each year. The study, […]
Evidence is brewing for tea’s heart benefits
Harvard Health Letters Black or green, hot or iced, tea is gaining in popularity. Many cities and shopping malls feature specialty tea shops, and bottled teas vie for space on store shelves. The Tea Association of the U.S.A. says the tea market has quadrupled over the past two decades. Tea’s purported health benefits — many […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Double vision can often be effectively treated
By Rachel C. Mercer, M.D., and John J. Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Tribune Content Agency DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have double vision in my right eye and can read with glasses, but distance is not very clear. What causes double vision? Is there a procedure to correct it? ANSWER: A number of conditions can lead to […]
Dizzy? It might be low blood pressure
By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: Over the last couple months, I began getting dizzy. My blood pressure gets very low. If I don’t sit down right away, I pass out. My doctor thinks I have neurally mediated hypotension. What is this, and how is it treated? A: Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) is a condition of […]
Looking For Autism
By Claire McCarthy, M.D. Autism isn’t exactly something parents want to find in their child, so it’s understandable that parents might feel uneasy about looking for it. But looking for autism is important — and something that has become part of routine pediatric care. Currently, one out of every 68 children has been diagnosed with […]
Diet pattern a strong defense against strokes
By Clare Tone, M.S., R.D., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter About 500,000 first-time strokes occur every year in the U.S. Since high blood pressure is the number one risk factor, it’s no surprise that managing high blood pressure through diet is a key focus. In October 2014 the American Stroke Association and the American Heart Association released […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: Trapped nerves can happen in many sites
By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: What is a trapped nerve? How does it happen? A: The term “trapped nerve” refers to a condition in which a nerve is compressed or pinched. This causes pain, numbness, weakness or other symptoms. There are many sites and causes of nerve compression. Here are some of the common ones: […]
Breast Cancer Statistics
Getting smart about dense breast tissue
Above image: four level breast density scale By Laura Drucker Chiqeeta Jameson woke up with a start one morning in 1998. “I have breast cancer,” the 41-year-old announced to her sleeping fiancé. “Are you talking about that lump on your right breast?” he asked, without opening his eyes. Jameson’s declaration “was just some instinctual thing,” […]
What Doctors Know: The leading cause of female infertility
By Bonnie Ward, UC San Diego Health As women, we’re used to hearing jokes about our fluctuating hormones causing problems. In fact, the expression “feeling hormonal” is commonly used (often in a tongue-in-cheek manner) to describe a woman in a particularly irritated mood. While most of us take such ribbing in stride, the truth is […]
It’s time for Medicare open enrollment
By Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger Retirement Report You may be feeling the post-summer blues, but don’t let the doldrums keep you from making money-saving Medicare moves. Although it’s easier just to keep your current Medicare Part D prescription-drug plan or your Medicare Advantage plan, it’s best to look at all the options for 2016 during open […]
Flu vaccination: Win some, lose some
If you got a flu shot last year and it didn’t work, don’t reject vaccination. During last year’s battle of The People vs. Influenza, the virus gained the upper hand. Early in the 2014-15 flu season, a new strain of the virus emerged against which the existing vaccine offered virtually no protection. Hospitalizations for flu […]
Additional tests advisable before deciding on treatment for hypothyroidism
By Marius N. Stan, M.D., Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic DEAR MAYO CLINIC: At my last checkup, the doctor told me I have borderline hypothyroidism and gave me a prescription for medication to treat it. She said she’d check my thyroid again in six months. Will I have to take this medicine for the rest of my […]
Snoring solutions help turn down the volume
Harvard Health Letters If your wife or sleep partner often seems bleary-eyed and resentful in the morning, you may be one of the millions of adults who snore habitually — a condition that affects twice as many men as women. Snoring occurs when your upper airways narrow too much, causing turbulent airflow. This, in turn, […]
Caffeine can boost exercise performance, but watch the dosage
By Howard LeWine, M.D., Harvard Medical School Q: A friend drinks a cup of coffee one hour before exercise. She claims it improves her performance. Is this true? A: Yes, assuming she drinks caffeinated coffee. A cup of decaf might make her think she’s exercising harder, but it’s the caffeine that boosts performance. Caffeine’s positive […]
Doctor-rating websites offer helpful but limited advice
By Julie Corliss, Harvard Health Letters If you’ve ever used the Internet to find a health care provider, chances are you’ve run across doctor-rating sites like Healthgrades.com or RateMDs.com. In addition, websites that offer reviews of everything from restaurants to repairmen (such as Yelp and Angie’s List) also feature critiques of doctors, dentists, and other […]
Gum disease more dangerous than you might think
Harvard Health Letters People with gum disease–which begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film known as plaque builds up around your teeth–are almost twice as likely to have heart disease as those without it. The reasons behind this link aren’t completely clear. One possibility is that people without access to good dental care may also lack […]
Probiotic supplements boost gut-friendly microbes
By Marcia McCulloch, M.S., R.D., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter Your gut is home to trillions of friendly microbes, which are primarily bacteria, but also include some yeasts, which support health. You acquire these probiotics naturally, at birth, but many factors can affect the composition and number of your gut microbes over time, such as diet, antibiotic […]
EatingWell: Everyday activities can help you keep fit and stay active
By EatingWell editors, EatingWell.com In a review that appeared recently in the International Journal of Obesity, a group of scientists suggested that Americans spend too much time talking about how our toxic food environment and couch potato ways are making us fat. Perhaps there are other reasons we’re plumping up, the experts proposed. Among their […]
Got Milk (Intolerance)?
By David Himmel, with reporting from Brett Dworski My mother tells me she never liked mint chocolate chip ice cream until she became pregnant with me. Since I was born, she hasn’t touched the stuff. But this isn’t about my mom. This is about me and how much I love ice cream. I love milk, […]
Learn how to combat medical ID theft
By Lisa Gerstner, Kiplinger Personal Finance The problem: A crook uses health insurance information to get medical care and prescription drugs in your name. Scare factor Medical ID theft is hazardous not only to your finances — in the form of big bills and depleted insurance benefits — but also to your health. Mixed information […]
Not all processed foods are unhealthy
Harvard Health Letters Nutrition gurus often urge us to spurn processed foods in favor of whole ones. But not all processed foods are necessarily bad. “Most food needs to go through some sort of processing for it to even be edible and digestible,” says Stacey Nelson, a registered dietitian and manager of clinical nutrition at […]
‘Tech Neck’ yet another hazard of the electronic age
Source: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health whatdoctorsknow.com When Mom nagged you to “sit up straight,” she likely had no idea how important that advice would become, thanks to our reliance on smartphones and tablets. One study suggests that the average person spends 2-4 hours every day on electronic devices. That’s thousands […]
Some diet changes seem to reduce risk of ovarian, other cancers
By Karen Collins, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., F.A.N.D., Environmental Nutrition Newsletter More than 21,000 U.S. women may expect a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2015, making it the fifth most common cause of cancer death among women. Ovarian cancer often has no symptoms at early stages, so the disease is generally advanced when diagnosed, with only […]
If more people learned CPR, more lives could be saved
By Daniel Pendick Harvard Health Blog Cardiac arrest is the ultimate 911 emergency. The heart stops sending blood to the body and brain, either because it’s beating too fast and too erratically, or because it’s stopped beating altogether. Oxygen-starved brain cells start to die. Death occurs in minutes — unless a bystander takes matters into […]