Ask the doctor: Is it safe to fly with heart failure?
I was just diagnosed with heart failure. My husband and I like to travel. Is it okay for people like me to fly?
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Stomach-protecting drug could block Plavix
Many people who take aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) to prevent blood clots also take a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) to ease the gastrointestinal bleeding the other medications can cause. But a study found that PPIs can limit the effectiveness of Plavix.
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Ask the doctor: Do beta blockers and ACE inhibitors help or harm the heart?
Is my long-term use of beta blockers and ACE inhibitors setting me up for heart failure? I understand these drugs keep my heart rate low. If the heart is a muscle, and muscles are strengthened by exercise, won’t slowing the heart weaken it?
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By the way, doctor: Is it safe to take a pill that eliminates periods?
Some of my friends are excited about the new oral contraceptive that eliminates periods. But it worries me. Does anyone know what happens when you stop menstruating for a long time? It just seems unnatural.
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The dubious practice of detox
Various types of body detoxification processes, such as fast diets and intestinal cleansing, have become popular. Generally there is no medical evidence to support their claims of effectiveness, and there are risks to some of the procedures.
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In brief
Brief updates on why diabetics should limit their consumption of eggs, attempting to patch a hole in the hearts of some migraine sufferers, and a possible connection between clogged vein grafts and depression.
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Allergic rhinitis: Your nose knows
Allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, can be a minor seasonal nuisance or a troubling year-round problem. Most people can find relief by taking an antihistamine and by avoiding the allergens that trigger the irritation.
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Sodium, salt, and you
Public health officials and agencies contend that most people should reduce their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams per day or less. The average American tends to consume more than twice this amount per day.
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Ask the doctor: Are there different kinds of heart failure?
Several years ago, a friend in my sewing circle was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. My doctor just told me I have heart failure. Are these the same condition or different ones?
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Ask the doctor: Is it okay to travel to a high altitude with high blood pressure?
Some friends invited me to accompany them to Rocky Mountain National Park. I would love to go, but I have high blood pressure and worry that high altitudes are dangerous for people with this condition. Is that the case?
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