Category: health-letter

I read in the Health Letter that one of the nutrition experts eats five servings of fish a week. Why so much? And isn’t there a risk from the contaminants?

Progress has been made in the field of hair regrowth, but the treatments, whether medication or surgery, are expensive, and there is no guarantee of success.

Beta blockers are used to treat a variety of conditions, but some studies have questioned their effectiveness. Those already taking a bta blocker for high blood pressure do not necessarily need to switch to a different medication.

People who quit smoking can expect their risk of related illness to decrease to about the same level as that of people who have never smoked, although it can take several years for this to happen.

Digital mammography is poised to replace the standard version, but studies show them to be about equal in effectiveness at detecting cancers, depending on age and breast density. Ultrasound and MRI are also useful tools for detection in some women.

It is now understood that heart disease affects men and women differently, so doctors should consider these gender differences in diagnosis and treatment.

I have been taking Avodart for my BPH, along with Flomax, but finasteride may be less expensive. Should I switch?

The shingles vaccine Zostavax has not turned out to be as popular as was expected, due in part to its high cost and questions about its effectiveness.

Opioid drugs like morphine are the most effective pain relievers, but constipation is a typical side effect. it is therefore advisable to take a stool softener and a laxative when taking an opioid.

The prevalence of CT scanning has had a marked impact on medical diagnosis, but the radiation from a CT scan is much higher than from a traditional x-ray, and people who undergo repeated scans may be at increased risk for cancer.