Women's Health Advisor back issues from August 2007:
Maintaining healthy bones: beyond meds.
Aug 01, 2007; ... Peak bone mass is achieved at age 30. After that, bone density deteriorates, so if you don't eat dairy products (at least three servings daily of cheese, yogurt or milk), you should be supplementing with calcium. Family history may be more important than any other risk factor ....
New weapons in the war on osteoporosis: a wide spectrum of drug therapies now give women with osteoporosis more options and better outcomes.
Aug 01, 2007 ... Protecting your bones as you get older should be a top priority. Osteoporosis, the most common bone disease, afflicts more than 8 million Americans, the majority of whom are postmenopausal women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Unfortunately, preventive measures--eating ...
New gene test determines need for breast cancer chemotherapy treatment.(FRONTLINE)(Clinical report)
Aug 01, 2007 ... Researchers at Loyola University Health System have developed a test that can show how likely a woman is to see a recurrence of breast cancer if chemotherapy is not included as part of her treatment. The 21-gene test of the breast cancer tumor produces a score which ranks from low to high ...
Soy nuts may improve blood pressure, cholesterol in postmenopausal women.(FRONTLINE)
Aug 01, 2007 ... Substituting soy nuts for other protein sources may lower your blood pressure and LDL ("bad") cholesterol, according to a study published in the May issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers placed 60 women on the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet, which calls for 30 ...
Folic acid supplements cut your chances of having a stroke.(FRONTLINE)
Aug 01, 2007 ... A review of eight studies of folic acid supplementation shows that the treatment can cut the risk of stroke by 18 percent, according to research published in the June issue of The Lancet. One study showed that a group who took the supplements for three years cut their odds of having a ...
Moderate alcohol consumption lowers heart attack risk.(FRONTLINE)
Aug 01, 2007 ... One alcoholic beverage a day may reduce your chances of having a non-fatal heart attack, but getting drunk even once a month can increase your chances of having a heart attack sixfold. A study published in the May issue of Addiction looked at 320 women, ages 35 to 69, who had survived ...
Diabetes patients urged to talk with doctors about rosiglitazone.(FRONTLINE)
Aug 01, 2007 ... While controversy continues to surround the use of the diabetes medication rosiglitazone (Avandia), patients taking the drug should talk with their doctors about alternative medications before deciding whether to halt its use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which urged the drug's ...
Coping with carpal tunnel syndrome: this common condition can be very painful, but effective treatments can reduce your suffering.(TREATMENT OPTIONS)
Aug 01, 2007 ... Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common ailments treated by Michelle Carlson, MD. That's because everyone is at risk for this painful condition, which occurs when the median nerve in the forearm becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist. Fortunately, doctors can ...
Hot flashes and your heart: a serious warning sign? Study shows link between hypertension and hot flashes, but both are treatable.(MENOPAUSE)(Report)
Aug 01, 2007 ... Many women choose to live with hot flashes rather than treat them with medication. But according to a study in the March/April issue of Menopause, women with hot flashes have higher blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Are hot flashes really something to leave ...
Quality sleep preserves and protects memories: normal age-related changes in the brain can still affect our recall, but new research shows a solid connection between sleep and memory retention.(MENOPAUSE)
Aug 01, 2007 ... Few people would argue the fact that a bad night's sleep interferes with our mental sharpness the next day. But new research indicates that a quality night's sleep not only helps you process information during the day but also strengthens your memories from the day before. ...
Can black cohosh lower your breast cancer risk? Preliminary findings suggest the answer is "yes," but experts say more research is needed.(SUPPLEMENTS)
Aug 01, 2007 ... Many women stopped taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms following the announcement of the Women's Health Initiative findings that taking HRT increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Instead, many have tried plant-based supplements to relieve ...
Treat depression, protect your health: new studies show depression is linked to serious health problems. Reduce your risk by seeking help.(TREATMENT)
Aug 01, 2007 ... It's more important than ever for women who are depressed to recognize their symptoms and get help, research shows. Not only does depression steal productivity and zest for life and increase the risk of suicide, but it also has been linked to serious health conditions. An ...
Ask Dr. Etingin.
Aug 01, 2007; ... What is BMI and what does it measure? BMI stands for "body mass index" and is a measure of total body fat. Your BMI is a number determined by your weight and your height. To get your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiply by 703. BMI is ...
Ask your health care providers about gender-specific drug effects.(FYI: NEWS FROM THE SOCIETY FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH)
Aug 01, 2007 ... A majority of American women report that they always or frequently read the labels of their prescribed or over-the-counter medications to see if they might work differently in women--but few discuss this issue with their doctor or pharmacist, according to a recent survey of 1,516 American ...