Category: health-letter

I heard about a new test for prostate cancer that’s better than the PSA test. Should I get this test?

A MET is a metabolic equivalent, a measure of how much energy is expended doing a given exercise or activity. Researchers gauge levels of physical activity in METs. A chart shows various activities and how many METs they expend.

About 20 percent of people with pancreatic cancer are candidates for a surgery called the Whipple procedure that removes the part of the organ where most of this type of cancer originates.

Body mass index is the most well-known way of measuring fat stored in the body, but waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio measure different types of fat that may increase the risk of certain health problems.

I developed cellulitis in my arm and didn’t realize it was such a serious infection. It took three months to heal without treatment. Can you tell me more about cellulitis?

Following the now-established benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, research now shows that chocolate and coffee also provide some measure of benefit to health, as do sleep, sex, and a strong social network.

Temporary loss of smell, which affects the ability to taste, can be caused by a cold, allergies, head injury, or viral respiratory infection. A short course of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medication can sometimes resolve the problem.

Security devices used for inventory control in stores may interfere with the operation of pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

I had cardiac bypass surgery three years ago. I didn’t have a heart attack none of my heart muscle was killed. But two months ago, a stress test showed that the mitral valve in my heart is leaking. What could have caused it, and what can I do about it?

Further information about recently published articles on bowel prep before colon surgery, Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles, and the results of a study on platelet-rich plasma therapy.