My platelet count has always been on the low side – 110,000. I don’t have any symptoms. But a recent lab report mentioned “giant platelets.” Is this something to worry about?
The FDA is recommending a genetic test for people prescribed warfarin, to search for variants of certain genes that can affect the drug’s effectiveness. But there is not enough evidence yet that the test makes using the drug safer.
Rotator cuff tendinits is the most common shoulder injury. The best course of treatment is to rest, apply ice, take ibuprofen, and do stretching and strengthening exercises.
I seem to get three or four sore throats a year. I don’t want to run to my doctor for antibiotics every time. How can I tell when I need treatment and when I don’t?
Silver is sometimes used as an antibacterial agent, but products containing silver are being sold as supplements meant to be taken internally. This can cause stomach problems, kidney damage, or argyria (blue spots on the skin).
The body’s ability to fight off illness declines with age. A study found that participating in regular tai chi sessions boosted the immune system responses of older people.
Researchers with the Framingham Heart Study have developed a new tool to assess overall risk of cardiovascular disease by assigning points to various risk factors, then aligning total points with levels of risk.
The chemical acrylamide, which forms as a byproduct of cooking many baked and fried foods, was thought to cause cancer, but subsequent research has not supported this view.
Brief reports on the use of compression stockings by stroke survivors, and the benefit of adding a second blood pressure medication.
Coronary microvascular disease, which affects the smallest arteries in the heart, is difficult to detect because of the small size of the vessels, but tests are improving, and awareness of the condition among doctors is growing.