Category: health-letter

How do I know whether I’m approaching menopause if I’m taking birth control pills?

Doctors and nutritionists have long warned of the dangers of saturated and trans fats. But unsaturated fats are beneficial, particularly if eaten in place of carbohydrates.

Meat and dairy products contain naturally occurring trans fat, and studies are suggesting that the small amounts of this fat in animal products may actually be good for us.

Aerobic exercise has clear cardiovascular benefits, but with aging, strength training is equally important. Building and maintaining muscle helps with balance and mobility, and helps older people stay healthy.

I am 55 and have a bad right knee from playing lots of sports. I am interested in getting a partial knee replacement. I’ve heard that the recovery is shorter and the result is better than a total replacement. What do you think?

I have injury-related osteoarthritis in my right ankle. My orthopedic surgeon said, in essence, that it’s ankle fusion or nothing for me – and that there are no means of surgically restoring cartilage. What do you think?

After Dr. Kenneth Arndt answered a question about toenail fungus, a number of readers sent us their favorite remedies. We asked Dr. Arndt to comment on several of them.

There is still no cure for a cold, and cold medications have come under scrutiny and criticism. Some people may get better results taking separate medications for fever, cough, and congestion, rather than a combination product.

I heard that human growth hormone can help people after surgery. Is that true?

The benefits of aspirin for those at risk for heart disease are clear, but for women under 65 who are not at risk, there is no benefit to a daily aspirin. There is evidence that taking aspirin regularly may reduce the risk of stroke, regardless of age.