A new study of men with early prostate cancer found no difference in death rates whether they received surgery or no treatment. The study adds to recent evidence that prostate cancer may be overtreated in the United States. The study included 731 men with early prostate cancer. Their average age was 67. They were randomly assigned to have immediate surgery or no treatment. People in each group lived an average of about 13 years after the study began. Nearly 6% of men in the surgery group and just over 8% in the no-treatment group died of prostate cancer. That difference was small enough that it could have been caused by chance. But there was some evidence of benefit for men with a score of 10 or higher on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Prostate cancer deaths were 33% lower for men with these higher scores who had surgery rather than no treatment.
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The herbal treatment milk thistle does not help people with hepatitis C infection, a new study finds. The study included 154 people with hepatitis C who had not responded well to standard treatments. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. Two of the groups took milk thistle extract, in 2 different doses. The other group took placebo (fake) pills. After 6 months, 2 people in each group showed signs of improvement. Those taking milk thistle did no better than those taking the placebo. The Journal of the American Medical Association published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it July 17.
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For people in the hospital, a miniature sensor attached to the torso can transmit vital information about the heart and breathing to doctors and nurses in the hospital.
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Elderly people with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator that has never “fired” can consider having the device turned off.
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How does food lower cholesterol, and how much do I need to eat to make a difference?
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Taking calcium supplements in an effort to strengthen bones may not be good for the heart. It’s best to get calcium from dietary sources such as milk, yogurt, tofu, and spinach.
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Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators can stop a potentially deadly heart rhythm and restore a healthy one. Repeated bending and flexing can cause their leads to fail. Replacement or removal is an option.
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It’s never too late to protect your skin from the sun, and you may even be able to reverse any damage that’s already been done. Techniques include anti-aging creams, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, photorejuvenation, and microdermabrasion.
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In a study of more than 400,000 men and women, those who drank six or more cups of coffee a day were 10% less likely to have died during the course of the study.
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New evidence-based recommendations from the American Heart Association answers questions about resuming sexual activity after a heart attack that many people (and their doctors) are too embarrassed to bring up.
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