A program of long-term support may not help people with addictions any more than a brief visit and treatment referral, a study suggests. The study included nearly 600 adults who abused alcohol or drugs. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group was assigned to a program of chronic care management. It included medical care at a primary care clinic. People also received addiction and psychiatric treatment. They got counseling to help keep up their motivation and prevent relapse. People in the other group saw a primary care doctor and received a list of addiction treatment resources. They also could get 4 sessions aimed at strengthening their motivation to quit, and follow-up care. After a year, 44% of those in the chronic care group had quit drinking or using drugs. About 42% of those in the other group also had quit.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
Men prone to kidney stones should drink plenty of water, get adequate calcium, reduce sodium, limit animal protein, and avoid foods that could make kidney stones more likely to form. Dietary restrictions depend on the stones the person tends to form.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
In a large national study, it took over two hours for people having a stroke to receive a drug to break up the blood clot in the brain causing the problem. It is vital to get to a hospital as soon as possible after noticing stroke symptoms.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
Exercise to strengthen an arthritic knee reduces pain and improves daily functioning. It is important to match the right type and amount of exercise to the arthritis condition. Severe knee arthritis limits the amount of exercise possible.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
Heart-healthy nutrition helps prevent prostate cancer and may slow the progression of low-risk prostate cancer to a more aggressive form. A key step is replacing animal fats and refined carbohydrates with healthier vegetable fats.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
In one study, women who exercised two days a week were just as fit as those who worked out six days a week, possibly because they had more energy to stay active on days when they weren’t at the gym.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
A three- to 10-day course of antibiotics is the standard treatment for a urinary tract infection (UTI), although having a urine sample and culture can confirm the infection so women don’t have to take antibiotics unnecessarily.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
New guidelines advise postmenopausal women at increased risk for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer to talk to their doctor about taking exemestane (Aromasin) as part of a preventive strategy.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
New research finds that having a high body mass index (BMI) can increase the risk of gallstone formation in women, independent of factors that may be associated with obesity.
Content restricted. Requires subscription
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage before dementia. There is no treatment yet to stop MCI from progressing, but a healthy lifestyle and optimal medical care may slow it down and improve day-to-day function.
Content restricted. Requires subscription