Total hip replacements are routine, but there are options. These include hip resurfacing or anterior hip surgery. For an older man, a standard total hip replacement is a reliable, well-tested solution that could last for life.
Lung cancer screening is best for current or former smokers who are at relatively high risk of cancer. It’s important to weigh the risks and benefits of screening and to have it done at a location with experience diagnosing and treating lung cancer.
No stop-smoking tool is proven to be the best out of all the options, but they all work better than just going cold turkey. Combining different methods can be more effective than relying on only one.
For some common health conditions, exercise may have a benefit similar benefit to that of medication.
People who take a cholesterol-lowering statin drug may be slightly more likely to develop cataracts.
Currently, most diseases that are detectable by urine tests can be diagnosed earlier with blood tests. Since blood testing is more common in doctors’ offices now and urinalysis adds little new information, many doctors do not do it routinely.
Connected health means sending health information collected at home to doctors and nurses so they can help their patients with high blood pressure and other common conditions to improve their health.
A diet rich in added sugar is associated with an unhealthy diet. Using artificial sweeteners isn’t necessarily the answer, because these may heighten craving for sugary foods. For a healthier diet, gradually reduce added sweeteners.
There is no clear evidence that widespread, routine testing for dementia among people 65 and older is helpful in the long run.
New options today for clearing out the colon before colonoscopy can make the experience less disagreeable. New “colon preps” require drinking less liquid laxatives, in combination with taking pills. Chilled and flavored liquids may be more palatable.