The annual wellness visit, also called a preventive health visit, offers valuable insight for the doctor and patient. For many people, this is the only chance to have an in-depth conversation about their health, address concerns, look at preventive measures, and create health goals and expectations.
Listening to up-tempo music (135 to 142 beats per minute) may help make interval training exercise more enjoyable as well as more effective.
The FDA approved a new treatment, called lasmiditan (Reyvow), to treat migraine headaches. The pill is designed to relieve pain from migraines with or without an aura in adults. It is not designed to prevent migraines.
Female hair loss is a common problem. Causes of hair loss in women range from pregnancy and hormonal shifts to genetic causes or illness. Some hair loss is also caused by overuse of styling products and tools. Treatment for hair loss depends on the cause, but can include everything from medication to hair transplant surgery.
A study published in September 2019 found that people with mild cognitive impairment who drink heavily (more than 14 drinks per week) have a 72% higher risk for dementia than people who drink less than one drink per week.
Many medications have the potential for dangerous side effects. For example, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may cause an allergic-type reaction called angioedema; large daily doses of the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen can damage the liver and lead to liver failure; and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen even when taken as directed can still cause ulcers, stomach bleeding and kidney damage. When taking any medication, be sure to watch for side effects and report new symptoms to the doctor.
Medical imaging can reveal unexpected anomalies. An incidental finding might be a nodule or tumor (abnormal growths that may be benign or malignant) or a cyst (a fluid-filled or debris-filled sac). For example, the doctor may order a chest x-ray in a person with a bad cough to look for pneumonia, but the radiologist finds nodules instead. Such incidental findings can lead to more testing, more medical bills, and a great deal of anxiety.
Chimpanzees, which are humans’ closest evolutionary relatives, have hearts with thick, stiff walls. This adaptation reflects their need for short bouts of climbing and fighting. In contrast, prehistoric people had to hunt and gather food to survive, so the human heart evolved to have thinner, more flexible walls. These adaptations reinforce the importance of regular brisk walking or jogging throughout life to stay healthy. Young people who don’t exercise regularly may have hearts that more closely resemble chimpanzee hearts. This may contribute to high blood pressure later in life.
Several new cardiology technologies are gaining traction, including digital stethoscopes, handheld ultrasound devices, and a cuffless blood pressure monitor. Designed for use with smartphones or tablets, they hold the promise of faster, non-invasive diagnoses of various heart-related conditions. A lab-on-a-chip may help researchers find better anti-clotting medications, and a drug that lowers stubbornly high cholesterol with just two injections per year is being tested.
When doctors insert a stent into the heart’s artery, they usually enter the body through an artery at the top of the thigh. But for some people, using a vessel in the arm may be a safer and less costly option.