Ask the doctor: Are generics as good as brand-name drugs?
My doctor says I should switch to the generic version of Lipitor, but is it really the same as Lipitor?
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Month: January 2012
A good grilling: Answering FAQs about our Healthy Eating Plate
Dr. Walter Willett, chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, answers questions about the Healthy Eating Plate.
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Conversation with a Harvard doctor: Talking about heart failure
The Health Letter talks with a cardiovascular expert about the two types of heart failure and the available treatment options.
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Ask the doctor: Is there a connection between diabetes and sleep apnea?
I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. Is there any connection between the two?
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What is a tailor’s bunion?
As with the big toe, pressure from shoes can cause a bunion on the little toe.
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&%!!# helps when you’re hurting
British researchers found a correlation between cursing and increased tolerance of pain.
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Here’s a trio of suggestions for enjoying good health
The Health Letter offers three specific strategies that can help you lead a healthier life.
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Cold out? Why you need to wear a hat!
An explanation of why you can get cold without a hat, even if the rest of you is bundled up well.
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Niacin + a statin does not add up to benefit
Adding niacin to a statin may boost HDL cholesterol, but this does not necessarily lead to a reduction in risk for a heart attack or stroke.
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Sex Called Safe for Most Heart Patients
Most heart patients are healthy enough to have sex, the American Heart Association (AHA) says. In a new statement, the group tries to clear up questions about what’s known about sex and heart disease. Heart patients should ask a doctor if they can safely have sex. Some may need heart rehab first. But most eventually get the doctor’s OK, even after a heart attack. Generally, the AHA says, if you can climb two flights of stairs without chest pain or gasping for breath, you can have sex. The risk of having a heart attack is two to three times higher during sex. But that’s still only a slight increase in a person’s overall heart attack risk, the AHA says. Only about 1% of heart attacks are caused by sex. Research suggests that the risk of sudden death from sex is greatest for a married man having an affair with a younger woman in an unfamiliar place.
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