To minimize the risk of heart attack, people with heart disease who need a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain relief should start with the lowest dose of the least risky NSAID (naproxen) for the shortest period of time possible.
Suspected triggers for migraine with aura may not be as strong as some people think. Research suggests that a person who experiences migraines with aura can cross a trigger off the list if exposure to it for three months doesn’t cause a problem.
In people without diabetes, an egg a day does not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. In all people, eating eggs lowers the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Sugar-sweetened beverages, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, appear to be associated with higher risks of developing type 2 diabetes in both men and women. Coffee and tea appear to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Experts do not recommend routine cardiac stress testing in otherwise healthy people to check for hidden heart problems. But the procedure is useful for diagnosing chest pain, unexplained fatigue, and other possible signs of heart disease.
People who have shingles can take famciclovir and valacyclovir to kill the virus and alleviate pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen may also be added. The use of glucocorticoid medicines for pain is debated.
With aging, many people wake during the night and have trouble falling asleep again. It’s important to adopt good sleep habits before considering sleeping pills for persistent insomnia. Counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy can also help.
When a new depression medication medicine doesn’t lessen symptoms early in treatment, adding a form of psychological counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy can help.
Arthroscopy is a popular technique for shoulder surgery. It’s recommended to repair torn rotator cuff tendons (which keep the arm bone in the shoulder socket), dislocated shoulders, and torn ligaments, as well as to remove bone spurs and cartilage.
The main reason to take a magnesium supplement is a documented low body magnesium, usually identified by a low blood level. A normal blood level range is 1.7 to 2.2 milligrams per deciliter. For most healthy people, it’s best to get magnesium from food.