Shocking news: Overdoing ICDs
Concern about possible overuse of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices has led to a reevaluation of their benefits and risks.
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Heart Beat: Dual-chamber pacemaker helps heart failure
Combining a biventricular pacemaker and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator may help prevent death from cardiac arrest better than the ICD alone.
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Fish oil questioned as treatment for heart disease
Results of several studies suggest that taking fish oil does not benefit people who already have some form of heart disease, but eating fish is still likely to offer health benefits to most people.
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Obesity: Unhealthy and unmanly
Roughly two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. For men, the extra pounds lead to health problems ranging from diabetes and high blood pressure to lower testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction.
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Heart Beat: Eyelids as windows into the heart
Small, yellow skin lesions that develop on the eyelids may be an indicator of heart disease.
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Ask the doctor: Generic vs. brand-name drugs: Any difference?
Some doctors strongly advise against the use of generic drugs with the argument that manufacturing processes are better controlled in branded medicines. What is your view?
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A wash worth its while?
Certain ingredients in some brands of mouthwash may help prevent bad breath, but some experts think that using a toothbrush on the tongue is more effective.
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What to do about gallstones
Women under 40 are at much greater risk of developing gallstones than men, due to the actions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
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Talking of walking in three easy pieces
Studies examine various aspects of the health benefits of walking: gait speed, use of hiking poles, and type of footwear.
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The shingles vaccine
For people who have had shingles, the question of whether or not to get the vaccine to prevent a recurrence is not easily answered.
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