Heart beat: Mental decline from arrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation, a common heart -rhythm disorder, may increase the risk of memory loss, a decline in thinking skills, or dementia.
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How to prepare for a safe vacation
Before going on vacation, people with heart disease should make sure it’s safe to fly and pack pertinent medical information and more than enough medications. Buying air ambulance or repatriation insurance before leaving home may also be wise.
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On call: Is mercury in fish dangerous?
To reduce concerns about mercury in fish, limit consumption of higher-mercury fish to two times a week, but eat lower-mercury species more freely.
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Research We’re Watching: Aspirin may lower melanoma risk
Aspirin may lower women’s risk for melanoma. The longer women take aspirin, the lower their risk appears to be. However, because aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, women need to use it with caution.
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Research We’re Watching: Radiation for breast cancer linked to heart problems
Women who receive radiation therapy for breast cancer are at greater risk for heart disease, especially if they have that therapy to the left breast, which is closest to the heart.
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In the journals: Testing for the ‘ulcer bug’ makes daily aspirin safer
Being tested for the bacteria that cause many ulcers and having the infection quashed with antibiotics can prevent ulcers in many people who take daily aspirin for heart protection.
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Natural ways to relieve constipation
Dietary changes, medications, and a lack of exercise often contribute to constipation in older women. Getting plenty of fiber and drinking four to six glasses of fluid each day are the best ways to prevent-and treat-constipation.
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7 Ways to make a visit to the doctor more successful
Doctor-patient relations are not always ideal. Sometimes the reason is that people do not adequately express their preferences and priorities to the doctor. It helps to ask specific questions about risks and benefits.
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Ask the doctor: Do I need to worry about floaters?
Floaters in the eye are usually harmless, caused by normal aging and shrinking of the vitreous-the fluid that fills the eyeball. Floaters that appear suddenly can lead to retinal detachment and may need to be treated.
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Should you take an erectile dysfunction drug to also ease urinary woes?
Taking an erectile dysfunction drug daily to treat erectile problems as well as urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate is not the best first choice for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Use standard medications and take ED drugs as needed.
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