
How � and why � to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

UTI in older women: Why postmenopausal women are susceptible to urinary tract infection, and what to do about it

Can a routine vaccine prevent dementia?

Some adults may need a measles booster shot. Who should get one and why?

Less butter, more plant oils, longer life?

Healthier planet, healthier people

Counting steps is good � is combining steps and heart rate better?

Appendix pain: Could it be appendicitis?

Can saw palmetto treat an enlarged prostate?

How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond
Diseases & Conditions Archive
Articles
Healthy travel: Don't let this common hazard spoil your best-laid plans
Long road trips also carry a risk of deep-vein thrombosis. Take a break to stretch your legs every hour or so. Image: Thinkstock |
Long trips come with an increased risk of blood clots deep in the leg veins, which can have serious complications.
Ask the doctor: I'm 75. Do I need a geriatrician?
Q. My doctor, an internist, just retired, and my health plan is asking me to designate a new primary care physician. I'm 75. Would there be advantages to choosing a geriatrician as my new doctor?
A. First, a disclaimer: I am a geriatrician. So my short answer is, "Yes, of course!" But my reasoned, unbiased answer would be, "It depends." If you are a generally healthy 75-year-old woman, a family physician or internist will be able to take excellent care of you. Geriatricians are trained to care for older adults with complex illnesses and are expert in managing the care of people who are frail. Improving your ability to function, and the quality of your life, are the guiding principles of geriatric medicine. We are expert at managing complexity and uncertainty, working with families, and caring for people with serious illnesses who are approaching the end of life. A geriatrician would be a good choice if you have physical or cognitive impairment, if you take a lot of medications, or if your friends and family are involved in your medical care. For people who have several medical problems, we emphasize the role of patient and family preference in making medical decisions, with the patient's goals as our primary focus.
Pelvic organ prolapse: You're not alone
Exchanging information with friends is one way to remove the stigma of pelvic organ prolapse. Image: Thinkstock |
Few women realize how common pelvic prolapse is—and how easily treated. Here are five things you should know.
Ask the doctor: Any health benefits in dessert drinks?
It appears that moderate |
Q. Do the protective effects of alcohol extend to dessert wines and liqueurs, or do those have too much sugar?
Common pain relievers add bleeding risk to afib treatment
The abnormal heart rhythms from atrial fibrillation (afib) can form clots that, in turn, trigger strokes. To prevent that, people with afib take a blood-thinning medication to prevent clotting. But also taking common over-the-counter painkillers can block clotting too much and lead to dangerous bleeding, according to a study in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Danish researchers examined health records of more than 150,000 people with afib. A third of them had also been prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). These common pain relievers interfere with the body's natural clotting function. Paradoxically, some NSAIDs have also been linked to higher risk of thromboembolism, or a clot that forms in the body and travel to the lungs, brain, or elsewhere.
Stay a step ahead of urinary tract infections
Drink plenty of fluids to help flush out bacteria in the urinary tract. Drink enough each day so that your urine is almost clear in color. Image: Thinkstock |
Keep hydrated, and empty your bladder often to stave off these risky infections.
Ask the doctor: Calcium supplements: Not routinely recommended
Dairy products are good sources of calcium. |
Q. My internist told me to take calcium because I have osteoporosis. However, I heard that blockages in heart arteries could also contain calcium. Am I hurting my arteries by taking calcium supplements?
A. Doctors often recommend calcium supplements for people with osteoporosis, and I'd advise you to follow your physician's advice, as calcium is important for bone health. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for calcium for adults is 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams (mg) a day; dairy products are the best sources. For healthy people who get enough calcium in their diets, the role of calcium supplements is less clear, although some people hope that taking them may help preserve bone strength.
Ask the doctor: Diagnosing restless legs syndrome
Image: Thinkstock |
Q. For many years, I have felt like my legs have to constantly move, and sometimes I feel crawling sensations when I am resting. Do I need to be tested for restless legs syndrome?
A. Your symptoms are consistent with restless legs syndrome (RLS), a common condition marked by uncomfortable sensations in the legs or a need to move them to relieve the discomfort. There is no test to confirm RLS, so it's diagnosed based on symptoms alone.
Short of breath? Here's what you can do
Image: Thinkstock |
Both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be managed successfully with the right medications.
Shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and wheezing are well-known symptoms of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Yet the two disorders have separate causes. COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is primarily due to changes in lung tissues brought on by smoking and abetted by aging. Asthma is essentially an allergic reaction that causes muscle spasm and mucus secretions that close the airways.
What you can do for dizzy spells
When you sense the ground spinning under your feet, it could be vertigo. But there may be a simple remedy.
An episode of dizziness is one of the things most likely to drive you to the doctor—and for good reason. The sense that you're literally losing your footing can be terrifying.

How � and why � to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

UTI in older women: Why postmenopausal women are susceptible to urinary tract infection, and what to do about it

Can a routine vaccine prevent dementia?

Some adults may need a measles booster shot. Who should get one and why?

Less butter, more plant oils, longer life?

Healthier planet, healthier people

Counting steps is good � is combining steps and heart rate better?

Appendix pain: Could it be appendicitis?

Can saw palmetto treat an enlarged prostate?

How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond
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