Update From the Medical Journals: June 2007
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Asthma
Most people with asthma can manage the condition with medication. Attacks can be minimized by avoiding triggers such as smoke, allergens, dust, mold, certain medications, and pet dander.
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Heart Beat: A weight loss “secret”: Calories matter
A comparison of several different diet strategies found that the choice of diet is less important than cutting daily calorie intake and exercising enough to burn extra calories.
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Focus on hormones: Estrogen therapy – benefits in the timing?
Estrogen is beneficial for controlling symptoms of menopause, but its benefits for younger women seem to become risks for older women, so it should not be taken to prevent heart disease.
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Treating prostate cancer, Part II: Determining its severity
When a diagnosis of prostate cancer is made, tests such as PSA level and Gleason score provide valuable information about the stage of the disease and its probable progression, so doctors can determine the best course of treatment for each patient.
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Chocolate and your health: Guilty pleasure or terrific treat?
Dark chocolate may promote beneficial activity in the body such as lower LDL cholesterol and a slight decrease in blood pressure, but because it is high in calories and fat, it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy lifestyle.
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Resistant hypertension needs special attention
Blood pressure that stays high even when three or more medications are taken is called resistant hypertension. In such cases lifestyle changes are especially important, and there may be underlying causes such as sleep apnea.
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PSA — Old Controversies, New Results
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In Brief: Drop in breast cancer may reflect decline in hormone use
The recent decrease in new breast cancer cases in women over 50 appears to be linked to the decline in the use of hormone therapy for symptoms of menopause.
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Bringing hospital care home
A movement called Hospital at Home seeks to provide professional-caliber meeical care at home to people who need care but do not need to be hospitalized.
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