Women's Health Advisor back issues from February 2007:
Could your leg pain be PAD? Recognizing the warning signs of peripheral arterial disease can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.(peripheral arterial disease)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Do your legs feel tired and achy? Have you noticed any pain or cramping when you walk or climb stairs? If so, you may be among the estimated 8-12 million Americans who have peripheral arterial disease (PAD), blockages of the arteries that supply the legs. Having PAD puts you at a two to ...
Another dilemma about taking hormones.(hormone therapy and breast cancer)(Editorial)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007; ... "What should I do about my hormone therapy?" I get asked this countless times by healthy women in their 50s and 60s, who started estrogen years ago for menopausal symptoms. Studies generally show an increased risk of breast cancer after years of hormone therapy (HT). But the new ...
Balance exercises are better than tai chi for preventing falls.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Numerous studies say tai chi improves balance and helps older people avoid falls. However, new research from the University of Michigan finds that an exercise program that focuses on increasing step length and speed is slightly better at improving mobility and balance. The 10-week study ...
Training helps cognitive function in older age.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A randomized clinical trial has found that older people who get specialized cognitive training report improved mental functioning and have less decline in their ability to perform daily activities. The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study was ...
Some women may be able to take a break from osteoporosis drugs.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Women who have a good response to bisphosphonate drugs to prevent or treat osteoporosis may be able to take a "vacation" from the medications after five years. The 10-year Fracture Intervention Trial Long-Term Extension (FLEX), a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of alendronate ...
Potential Alzheimer's "fingerprint" found.(use of biomarkers)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A test for specific biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid may one day be able to identify people with early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Scientists at the Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, identified a panel of 23 biomarkers in spinal fluid during autopsy ...
Big decline in breast cancer rates: a new study finds a link to a drop in combination hormone therapy use--should you quit HT?(hormone therapy)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Breast cancer rates have been declining in recent years and provocative new research suggests part of the reason may be due to women quitting hormone therapy (HT) in 2002, after a major clinical trial found an increased risk of invasive breast cancer among older women taking the ...
The bottom line on "bioidentical" hormones.
Feb 01, 2007 ... Concerns about the risks of hormone therapy and a highly-publicized book by actress Suzanne Somers (Ageless, 2006, Crown) have fueled interest in so-called "bioidentical" hormones. Such products include over-the-counter (OTC) versions sold in health food stores and over the Internet and ...
New ways to manage dry eye: these treatments can help put an end to eye irritation.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Every time you shed a tear, you're actually protecting your eyes. Your eyes need a constant layer of tears, comprised of a unique layer of oil and other fluids, to keep their surface moist. Without adequate moisture, eyes can become dry and irritated. Symptoms can include a sandy or gritty ...
6 Tips for healthy winter travel: don't forget prescriptions, shots, and emergency supplies.(www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm)(www.tsa.gov)(www.internationalsos.com)(www.medexassist.com)
Feb 01, 2007 ... 1. Take your best shot. The first item on your travel to-do list should be a flu shot if you haven't had one yet, says Henry W. Murray, MD, an infectious disease and travel medicine specialist, and professor of medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Air travel is one ...
Alternative to hip replacement: a new procedure resurfaces a bad hip rather than replacing it, providing greater mobility.
Feb 01, 2007 ... If you have severe hip pain from osteoarthritis (OA) that's not relieved by painkillers, exercise, or physical therapy, you may want to consider the new alternative to hip replacement. The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System, approved in 2006 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ...
New ultrasound test may mean fewer breast biopsies.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A new, noninvasive technique that uses ultrasound to perform a "biopsy" could immediately tell the difference between a benign breast lump and cancer, helping some women avoid surgical or needle biopsies. Up to one million women undergo such biopsies each year, and it can take weeks to ...
Depressed seniors benefit more from talk therapy.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... An analysis of eight clinical trials finds that talk therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is better than medication for depression in older adults. The trials compared various forms of CBT alone or in combination with medication, compared with the "usual care" ...
New prevention and screening guidelines for women at every age.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... In addition to cancer screening and key immunizations, older women should be offered testing for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), says the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Women over 65 are among the fastest-growing groups with HIV. Here are other important ...
Ask Dr. Etingin.
Feb 01, 2007; ... I keep hearing about outbreaks of E. coli from eating fresh produce. How worried should I be about E. coli? E. coli is a bacterium that exists normally in the colon. The recent outbreaks in fresh produce are due to contamination with a particularly virulent strain, E. coli ...
Macular degeneration may affect women more than men.(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the number one cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. AMD robs a person of sharp, central vision and can lead to serious visual impairment in both eyes. Women appear to be at greater risk than men, one reason being that women ...