Recently added articles from Women's Health Advisor:
Vitamin D is critical for bone and brain health.
Jun 01, 2009; ... The relationship of vitamin D to bone health is well known--osteoporosis (low bone density), common in postmenopausal women, is often compounded by vitamin D deficiency. Recent studies show that vitamin D also plays a critical role in cognitive function and mood in women ....
Vitamin D offers myriad benefits: experts now recommend getting 1,000 International Unit of vitamins D3 per day, but most of us are far below this goal.
Jun 01, 2009 ... Vitamin D is best-known for the key role it plays in bone health, but evidence of its many other benefits continues to accumulate. In the past six months, higher vitamin D levels have been linked with a reduced risk of fracture, lower susceptibility to colds and flu, better brain function, ...
Preventive treatment with statin drug lowers risk of cardiovascular events.(FRONTLINE)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rosuvastatin (Crestor) taken by people with no history of cardiovascular events who achieved target levels of both LDL cholesterol (less than 70 milligrams per deciliter) and C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation (less than 2 milligrams per liter), ...
Old drug may be repurposed to ease symptoms of fibromyalgia.(FRONTLINE)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Naltrexone may have an "off-label" use--it helps reduce pain and fatigue in women who suffer from fibromyalgia, according to a small study published online April 17 in Pain Medicine. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist that was previously approved by the ...
Breast cancer metastasis may be predicted by newly identified marker.(FRONTLINE)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have discovered that the density of a new marker, called Tumor Microenvironment of Metastasis (TMEM), is associated with the spread (metastasis) of cancer to other organs via the ...
Psoriasis linked with higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.(FRONTLINE)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researchers who analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study found that women who had psoriasis were 63 percent more likely to develop diabetes and 17 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure than women without psoriasis. The study authors, who ...
Medication shown to improve symptoms in patients with restless legs syndrome.(FRONTLINE)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) were eliminated for more than half of RLS patients who took the drug pregabalin (Lyrica), according to a study presented at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in late April and early May. In the ...
Those old standbys, diet and exercise, may help prevent or slow Parkinson's disease: doctors are also encouraged by research into coenzyme Q10 and dance therapy.(NEUROLOGICAL HEALTH)
Jun 01, 2009 ... New research into the muscle-affecting Parkinson's disease (PD) indicates that such user-friendly steps as a Mediterranean-style diet and physical exercise (particularly dancing) may aid in preventing or delaying onset of PD. Claire Henchcliffe, MD, Director of the Parkinson's Institute at ...
Disc "disease" doesn't have to mean surgery: pain caused by changes in spinal discs is often relieved with medication, physical therapy, and/or acupuncture.(PAIN RELIEF)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Herniated, compressed, bulging, ruptured--all these words are used to describe the discs in your spine that cushion the spaces between your vertebrae. But what do they really mean, and if they cause pain, what treatments are available other than surgery? "Bulging, herniated, ...
Preserve your sight--and your independence--with diet and vitamins: eating the right foods and taking B vitamins may reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration.(PREVENTION)
Jun 01, 2009 ... The older you get, the greater your chances of experiencing some degree of vision loss. If the vision loss is severe enough, it can interfere with your ability to perform tasks of daily living, so it's important to take steps to protect your eyesight. Recent research has added two new ...
Use caution if taking a proton pump inhibitor and Plavix: the two-drug combo may cause dangerous side effects.(RISK REDUCTION)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Patients taking the common cardiac drug clopidogrel (Plavix) following a heart attack are at a significantly higher risk of a recurrence if they also are taking widely used stomach acid-lowering medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), according to a study that appeared online ...
I have a lump on my back that my doctor says is a lipoma. What is a lipoma, and should I have it removed?(ASK DR. ETINGIN)
Jun 01, 2009 ... A lipoma is a fatty tumor that forms between the skin and the underlying muscle layer. The most common locations for lipomas are the neck, shoulders, back, arms and legs. A lipoma is soft and moves easily if you press on it with a finger. Lipomas are usually less than two inches in ...
How can I find out if I am eligible for any medical research studies?(ASK DR. ETINGIN)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Visit the website at clinicaltrials.gov, where you will find a list of federally and privately supported clinical trials (studies) conducted in the United States and around the world. This website provides information about each trial's purpose, who may participate, where the trials will ...
My sister had a heart attack and was diagnosed with "STEMI" What does this mean?(ASK DR. ETINGIN)
Jun 01, 2009 ... "STEMI" stands for "ST segment elevation myocardial infarction." This type of heart attack (myocardial infarction) is caused by the blood supply to the heart being blocked for a prolonged period, and it affects a large area of the heart muscle. This type of heart attack will show up on an ...
Women and African-Americans are at increased risk for glaucoma.(FYI: NEWS FROM THE SOCIETY FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, appears to affect women and African-Americans more than any other groups. Because glaucoma, which is caused by increased pressure within the eye and leads to damage of the optic nerve, produces no symptoms in its early ...