health-letter
The commonly used bone-strengthening drugs called bisphosphonates may provide the same level of benefit for men as they do for women. It appears the drug zoledronic acid (Reclast) significantly reduced spinal fractures in men with osteoporosis.
Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can bring weeks of pain relief without the risks of oral NSAIDs. Topicals are best for people who have occasional joint pain, when other methods of treatment have failed.
A cup of beans or lentils each day, when combined with a low-glycemic diet, may help lower blood sugar levels and coronary artery disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. Legumes help dampen blood sugar responses and lower blood pressure.
People with a 70% blockage in the carotid artery and symptoms such as a mini-stroke may want to have surgery to unblock the artery sooner rather than later. Other options include angioplasty with stent placement and blood-thinning medicines.
Testosterone therapy is popular but controversial. Treatment makes men feel better. But diagnosing low testosterone is tricky, and doctors debate whether T therapy raises risk for blood clots, heart disease, and prostate cancer.
Living at 6,000 feet of altitude causes the heart to work more efficiently. It results in more oxygen-carrying red blood cells and less fluid in the blood.
It appears that colon cancer patients whose tumors have a mutated form of the PIK3CA gene may live longer if they take aspirin. Aspirin may also help fight other kinds of cancers and protect heart health.
An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) helps establish a healthy heart rhythm and prevent sudden cardiac death. But psychosocial support needed to adjust to life with an ICD is often overlooked after the devices are implanted.
Staying active and connected can extend optimal physical and mental health in the 90s. Pursuing leisure activities and not smoking are also key.
In the past 20 years, the National Institutes of Health and many academic centers have begun to seriously put “alternative” therapies to the test. Some are flunking out, and some are passing the test.