Women's Health Advisor back issues from July 2009:
Why you should know your CRP.
Jul 01, 2009; ... C-reactive protein, or CRP, is an index of inflammation. Elevated CRP levels have now been identified as a separate risk factor for heart disease. The recently published JUPITER study shows that elevated CRP levels are associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke in ...
What's your heart attack risk? Take preventive steps to manage factors that contribute to heart attack risk--diet, exercise and smoking cessation are key.
Jul 01, 2009 ... Over a million people have a heart attack every year in the United States. Heart attacks occur as a result of coronary heart disease (CHD), the number one killer of adult women. While women's awareness of the dangers of CHD is growing, as many as one-third of all women underestimate their ...
Testing that determines cancer risks is underutilized.(FRONTLINE)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase a woman's risk of breast and ovarian cancers, but many women who are at high risk of these cancers are not being tested--or even discussing testing with their physicians--according to research published ...
Older women more likely to have disabling conditions than men.(FRONTLINE)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While women are more likely to live longer than men, their golden years are more likely to be impacted by disabilities, many of which are due to obesity and arthritis, according to a study presented in May at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American ...
Menopause symptoms linked with bone density.(FRONTLINE)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Postmenopausal women who had vasomotor symptoms (VMS, including hot flashes and night sweats) had a lower bone mineral density (BMD) in their hips and spines than women without these symptoms, according to a study in the March/April issue of Menopause ....
Women have non-traditional stroke symptoms more often than men.(FRONTLINE)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In women, altered mental status is more likely to indicate the occurrence of a stroke, according to findings presented earlier this year at the 2009 International Stroke Conference. Altered mental status may manifest as confusion, disorientation, or a loss ...
Hypothyroidism in women appears to raise risk of liver cancer.(FRONTLINE)
Jul 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Women with a chronically underactive thyroid, a condition called hypothyroidism, were almost three times more likely to develop liver cancer than women with no thyroid disease, according to findings published in the May issue of Hepatology. Hypothyroidism, ...
The drinking dilemma: is it healthier to avoid alcohol altogether? As you age, moderation may be the key to gaining some health benefits and minimizing your risks.(RISK/BENEFIT ANALYSIS)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Studies touting the benefits and dangers of alcohol consumption make headlines every year. It can be confusing as you wonder if that glass of red wine you have with dinner is doing harm or helping to keep you healthy. To make the right choices, learn as much as you can about ...
FDA approves new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: Golimumab (Simponi), a drug similar to its predecessors, offers new "dose convenience" for patients with RA.(TREATMENT OPTIONS)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, chronic pain, and disability. According to the Arthritis Foundation, RA affects 1.3 million Americans. Early diagnosis and ...
Ensure your in-home blood pressure readings are accurate; when and how you use your home blood pressure monitor determines the accuracy of your readings.(SELF-CARE)
Jul 01, 2009 ... About 72 million Americans have high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA)--and it's a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. If you have the condition, a home blood pressure monitor can keep track of how well your medications and lifestyle modifications ...
New warnings for over-the-counter pain relievers: use caution when taking acetaminophen or NSAIDs.(DRUG CAUTIONS)
Jul 01, 2009 ... On April 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that over-the-counter pain relievers will be required to carry bolder warnings. Products containing acetaminophen will carry a warning about the risk of severe liver damage, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ...
Early detection of Alzheimer's disease: repetitive questioning is often a sign. Simple screening tests can provide even more clues.(DRUG CAUTIONS)
Jul 01, 2009 ... How often have you--or someone you know--struggled to find the right word while in conversation or forgotten where keys were set down only minutes ago? Such isolated moments are no reason to immediately start thinking about Alzheimer's disease. However, when someone complains of chronic ...
Is it true that drinking the water from my well could raise my risk of cancer?(ASK DR. ETINGIN)
Jul 01, 2009; ... More than 20 million Americans rely on their own private water supply, and although the Environmental Protection Agency regulates public water systems, it has no authority regarding private wells. This means that well owners generally don't have experts regularly checking the water's ...
My doctor has suggested I switch to generic versions of my medications to save money. Will these be as effective?(ASK DR. ETINGIN)
Jul 01, 2009; ... About half of all prescriptions filled in the U.S. are for generic drugs, which are required by the Food and Drug Administration to be the same as the branded drug in terms of active ingredients, purity and strength. The reason they're less expensive is because generic manufacturers don't ...
I seem to have an excessive amount of ear wax, and it's affecting my hearing. Is it safe to remove it myself?(ASK DR. ETINGIN)(Brief article)
Jul 01, 2009; ... Ear wax protects the ears from dirt, bacteria and damage, but in older adults it takes on a tackier, less fluid consistency that can result in buildup inside the ear. If it accumulates, it can cause a sensation of "fullness," as well as affecting your hearing and breathing. ...
Depression linked with a higher percentage of belly fat.(FYI: NEWS FROM THE SOCIETY FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH)
Jul 01, 2009 ... Visceral fat--the fat that surrounds your internal organs at your waistline--has been linked with depressive symptoms by researchers who published their findings in the May issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. Researchers measured visceral fat with a computed tomography (CT) scan and assessed ...