Heart Beat: Blood pressure reading affected by eating
Eating before having a blood pressure test can artificially lower the reading by a few points.
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Hypertension and diabetes – double trouble
People with hypertension should be tested for diabetes. Treating both conditions with lifestyle changes (exercise, weight loss, quitting smoking) can substantially reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
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On the horizon: Targeting nerves to heal the heart
The body’s nerve system regulates heart rate and blood pressure, so researchers are looking at ways to use nerve stimulation to treat cardiovascular conditions.
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Age no bar to routine mammography
Traditionally, mammography has not been recommended for women over 70, but as this age group grows in size, evidence is starting to support the position that breast cancer screening makes sense for older women.
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Botox: Beyond cosmetic fixes
Most people are familiar with botulinum toxin (Botox) as a treatment to lessen the appearance of facial wrinkles, but it has other medical uses, such as treating uncontrollable muscle spasms and anal fissures.
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On call: Shy bladder syndrome
I often find it difficult or impossible to pass urine in a public men’s room. I’m 41 and healthy. I have no problem urinating at home. Last week I couldn’t urinate at a friend’s house, and I had to go home early to use the bathroom. What can you suggest?
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Off-pump bypass surgery: Promise unfulfilled
Off-pump bypass surgery was touted as a better alternative to the traditional method, but findings show the two types yield similar results.
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In the journals: Coffee drinking lowers mortality risk in women
Researchers found an association between increased coffee consumption and a lower death rate, primarily due to fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease.
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Managing irritable bowel syndrome without special drugs
The FDA removed the drug Zelnorm, used to treat IBS, from the market due to concerns about increased risk of heart disease. Other mediciations and some over-the-counter products may help relieve discomfort from IBS, depending on the symptoms.
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Medical memo: Insecticides, testosterone, and fertility
Researchers found that men who had been exposed to chlorpyrifos, an insecticide, had lower testosterone levels and lower sperm counts.
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