health-letter
Caffeine may help us produce more tears, but doctors don’t recommend it as a treatment for dry eye syndrome. Instead, use artificial tears, topical anti-inflammatory treatments, and sometimes procedures to plug tear ducts.
“Good” bacteria found in food and dietary supplements may help ward off illness. Called probiotics, these bacteria been shown to secrete protective substances that turn on the immune system and prevent pathogens from taking hold.
Treating varicose veins used to mean a trip to the operating room and general anesthesia. Now it is usually an office procedure that involves using heat to make the vein collapse.
All baby boomers-everyone born between 1945 and 1965-should be tested for hepatitis C. That’s because an estimated 1.5 million of them have hepatitis C, which can cause liver failure or liver cancer, but don’t know it.
A procedure known as hip resurfacing is emerging as an alternative to hip replacement. But not everyone has the right anatomy for hip resurfacing, and because of its track record, total hip replacement is best for people over 65.
Researchers now have better evidence that deep brain stimulation improves the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for up to three years after implantation.
Aerobic exercise is not enough to maintain good health in your older years. Strength training in older adults is very important because it can slow and reverse age-related declines in muscle mass and muscle endurance.
Although calcium supplements are under attack for a possible link to heart attack risk, Harvard experts question the link and note that such risks haven’t been found with calcium-rich foods. They recommend that you get most of your calcium from food.
Statins are effective at lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels and lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, conflicting literature debates whether statins are right for everyone.
Cataract surgery can help prevent hip fractures that result from falls. In a recent study, researchers noted that clear vision contributes significantly to postural balance and stability.